4275. mechetsah
Lexical Summary
mechetsah: Half, middle, division

Original Word: מֶחֱצָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mechetsah
Pronunciation: mekh-tsaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (mekh-ets-aw')
KJV: half
NASB: half
Word Origin: [from H2673 (חָצָה - divided)]

1. a halving

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
half

From chatsah; a halving -- half.

see HEBREW chatsah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chatsah
Definition
half
NASB Translation
half (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מֶחֱצָה noun feminine half, of spoils; — absolute מֶחֱצָה Numbers 31:36; construct מֶחֱצַת Numbers 31:43 (both P).

Topical Lexicon
Semantic Scope

מֶחֱצָה (mechetzah) denotes “half,” the precise midpoint of a whole. Unlike related Hebrew terms that may carry metaphorical shades, מֶחֱצָה is strictly quantitative, underscoring exact division.

Biblical Setting

The word appears twice, both in the record of Israel’s victory over Midian (Numbers 31). Moses, acting on divine instruction, orders that the plunder be halved—one portion for the warriors, the other for the congregation (Numbers 31:26-47).
Numbers 31:36: “The half given as the share to those who went out to war numbered 337,500 sheep.”
Numbers 31:43: “this half belonged to the congregation, from the 337,500 sheep.”

Historical Background

In Ancient Near Eastern culture victorious armies commonly claimed spoils outright; Israel’s halving of the plunder is striking. The practice assumed that the battle—and its outcome—belonged to the LORD (Proverbs 21:31). Therefore the booty is distributed not by the strongest but by divine ordinance. By further requiring a tithe-like tribute from each half (Numbers 31:28-30, 41-47), the LORD embeds worship and priestly support into the mechanics of war.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Ownership and Justice. Halving the spoils affirms that the LORD is “possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:22). Warriors, though risking their lives, are stewards rather than proprietors.
2. Communal Solidarity. Non-combatants receive an equal half. The community’s welfare is interwoven with the army’s success (compare Joshua 22).
3. Priesthood Sustained by Grace. From each half a tribute is dedicated to the LORD—one in 500 from the warriors, one in 50 from the congregation—underlining that priestly ministry depends on God-ordained provision (1 Corinthians 9:13).

Canonical Resonance

• Half-shekel atonement money (Exodus 30:13-16) parallels the idea that each Israelite owes an equal price for redemption, rich and poor alike.
• Half-tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 14:4; 1 Chronicles 5:18) reminds readers that God’s apportionment can divide even tribal inheritances for His sovereign purposes.
• Half-portions in Solomon’s temple dedication feast (1 Kings 8) echo generous division as an act of worship.

Christological and Eschatological Trajectory

While מֶחֱצָה itself is quantitative, its narrative context anticipates the Gospel pattern: victory achieved by the Representative Warrior (Christ) results in equitable distribution of spoils to His people (Ephesians 4:8; Romans 8:17). The tribute given to the priest mirrors Christ, our High Priest, receiving honor from the winnings of His own conquest over sin and death.

Ministry Applications

• Stewardship: Leaders should handle resources as trustees of divine property, modeling transparency and fairness.
• Provision for Ministry: Congregations ought to ensure material support for those set apart to serve (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
• Unity Between Front-Line and Home-Front: Missionaries and senders share equally in the reward (1 Samuel 30:24; Philippians 4:17).

Summary

מֶחֱצָה illuminates a moment when Israel, at the LORD’s command, balanced martial achievement with communal responsibility and priestly devotion. The term’s plain meaning—“half”—becomes a vehicle for profound theological affirmations: God’s justice, the equality of His people, and the ongoing pattern of victory, sharing, and worship that reaches its fullness in Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
הַֽמֶּחֱצָ֔ה המחצה מֶחֱצַ֥ת מחצת ham·me·ḥĕ·ṣāh hammecheTzah hammeḥĕṣāh me·ḥĕ·ṣaṯ mecheTzat meḥĕṣaṯ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Numbers 31:36
HEB: וַתְּהִי֙ הַֽמֶּחֱצָ֔ה חֵ֕לֶק הַיֹּצְאִ֖ים
NAS: The half, the portion
KJV: And the half, [which was] the portion
INT: become and the half the portion out

Numbers 31:43
HEB: וַתְּהִ֛י מֶחֱצַ֥ת הָעֵדָ֖ה מִן־
NAS: now the congregation's half was 337,500
KJV: (Now the half [that pertained unto] the congregation
INT: (Now the half the congregation at

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4275
2 Occurrences


ham·me·ḥĕ·ṣāh — 1 Occ.
me·ḥĕ·ṣaṯ — 1 Occ.

4274
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