דְּמֶשֶׁק (de.me.sheq)
de.me.sheq
silk
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun demesheq appears only once in the Bible, in Amos 3:12. Its exact meaning remains uncertain among scholars, with translations offering "silk" or "damask" as possible renderings. The word describes a fine textile, likely a luxury fabric given its rarity and context.
Amos uses it to illustrate how little survives divine judgment: just as a shepherd rescues only two legs or part of an ear from a mauling beast, so only fragments of wealth or status remain after God’s wrath. The specific type of cloth is less important than the image of loss—what was once valuable is reduced to scraps.
Because the term occurs in such a limited context, its precise texture or origin cannot be confirmed. It serves as a concrete detail in Amos’s prophecy, emphasizing the thoroughness of judgment rather than providing information about ancient textile production.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word demesheq appears only once in Scripture, nestled within Amos’s stark warning to Israel. It describes a fine textile, likely silk or damask, associated with luxury and comfort. In this context, it highlights the fragility of worldly security. Even the most expensive furnishings cannot protect against divine judgment.
Amos uses this image to show how little remains after God’s correction. Just as a shepherd saves only scraps from a lion, so too will the proud be reduced to fragments. This reminds us that our true safety lies not in wealth or status, but in faithfulness to God.
When life feels unstable, we can find peace in knowing that God sees beyond our external circumstances. He values our hearts over our possessions. Trusting Him brings a deeper security than any material comfort ever could.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ with/ silk of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בִ/דְמֶ֥שֶׁק1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 3:12
Yahweh says: “As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria on the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed.”
This verse uses demesheq to contrast the fragility of luxury with the thoroughness of divine judgment, showing that even high-status items are reduced to scraps.