Magor-Missabib
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Magor-Missabib in the Bible?
The phrase 'Magor-missabib' (fear on every side) was employed by the prophet Jeremiah as a symbolic name for Pashhur ben Immer, the temple official who imprisoned him, and subsequently adopted as a recurring motif in Jeremiah's writings to depict the pervasive anxiety and military threats facing Judah.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding this idiom clarifies the emotional and political tension in Jeremiah's narrative, revealing how the prophet used personal persecution to illustrate the collective vulnerability of the nation under siege.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Magor-Missabib. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Magor-Missabib in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Magor-Missabib clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Magor-Missabib." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/magormissabib/