ma.chah denotes wiping something away, from names and sins to living things, tears, writing, and a dish.

The verb most often marks the removal of a name, memory, sin, or disgrace; it also describes eliminating people, living things, cities, or works, and occurs for physical wiping or washing away from a surface.

1. Erasing names, memory, sin, or disgrace · dominant

   In Deuteronomy 25:19 the Qal imperfect calls for Amalek’s memory to be removed, while Deuteronomy 25:6 uses a Niphal imperfect for a dead brother’s name not being removed from Israel. Isaiah 43:25 and Isaiah 44:22 place Qal forms with transgressions and sins; Psalm 109:14 uses a Niphal jussive in the request that a mother’s sin not be removed.

   Deuteronomy 25:19Deuteronomy 25:6Isaiah 43:25Isaiah 44:22Psalm 109:14Proverbs 6:33
2. Removing living things or what has been made · common

   Genesis 6:7 and Genesis 7:4 use first-person Qal forms for the announced removal of every living thing from the ground, and Genesis 7:23 describes every living thing as removed from the earth. Ezekiel 6:6 uses a Niphal sequential perfect where works are among things brought to an end, while 2 Kings 14:27 speaks of Israel’s name not being removed from under heaven.

   Genesis 6:7Genesis 7:4Genesis 7:23Ezekiel 6:62 Kings 14:27Proverbs 31:3
3. Wiping or washing from a surface · occasional

   Numbers 5:23 uses a Qal sequential perfect for writing oaths and washing them off into bitter water. In 2 Kings 21:13 the APB renders the clause “I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish,” and Proverbs 30:20 describes a woman who “wipes her mouth.” Isaiah 25:8 likewise places the form with tears being wiped away from every face.

   Numbers 5:232 Kings 21:13Proverbs 30:20Isaiah 25:8

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses the APB uses “blot out,” “wipe out,” “wiped away,” and “wash them off,” with “destroy” also appearing in contexts of removal. These renderings show the verse-level presentation rather than fixed English equivalents for each form.