לִשְׁכָּה (lish.kah)
lish.kah
chamber
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 19 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun lishkah refers to a room or chamber within a larger structure. It appears nineteen times in the Hebrew Bible, with significant usage in Jeremiah, Nehemiah, and First Chronicles. The word describes enclosed spaces that serve specific functions, ranging from private quarters to public halls.
Context determines its precise meaning. In Nehemiah 13:8-9, lishkah denotes the storerooms in the temple where offerings were kept, highlighting its role in storage and administration. In Jeremiah 36:19, it refers to a room in the king’s palace, illustrating its use as an official or private space for counsel and safety.
Translators render lishkah variously as "chamber," "room," "cell," or "hall" depending on the setting. The term emphasizes structure and function rather than architectural style. It consistently points to a defined interior space within a building, whether used for storage, privacy, or official duties.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When you read about a chamber in Scripture, think of it as a specific place set apart for a purpose. Whether it was a storeroom for tithes or a quiet room for prayer, these spaces show that God cares about order and dedicated areas for His work. The temple chambers were not just architectural details; they were functional parts of worship where offerings were kept safe and where people could meet with God away from the noise of the crowd.
This word reminds us that we too have places in our lives meant for specific spiritual tasks. Just as the Levites tended to the rooms of the house, you might find that setting aside a quiet corner or a regular time helps you focus on prayer or study. It is about creating space—physically and mentally—for what matters most. When life feels chaotic, remembering that God provides structure can bring a sense of peace and stability to your daily walk.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 19 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] room of5×
- the/ store-rooms3×
- the/ rooms2×
- in/ [the] room of2×
- the/ rooms of1×
- the/ room1×
- rooms1×
- over/ [the] store-room of1×
- from/ [the] room of1×
- a room1×
- [were] in the/ rooms1×
- [the] room/ towards1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִשְׁכַּ֣ת2×
- הַ/לְּשָׁכ֔וֹת2×
- הַ/לְּשָׁכ֑וֹת2×
- מִ/לִּשְׁכַּ֖ת1×
- לִשְׁכָּ֣ה1×
- לִשְׁכָּ֑תָ/ה1×
- לִשְׁכַּת֙1×
- לִשְׁכַּ֗ת1×
- לִשְׁכַּ֖ת1×
- לְשָׁכ֛וֹת1×
- לְ/לִשְׁכַּ֛ת1×
- הַ/לִּשְׁכָּֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 13:8
It grieved me severely. Therefore I threw all Tobiah’s household stuff out of the room.
This verse highlights the word by showing how a chamber could be misused for personal gain, requiring decisive action to restore its sacred purpose.
-
Jeremiah 36:10
Then Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the book in Yahweh’s house, in the room of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the new gate of Yahweh’s house, in the ears of all the people.
Here the chamber serves as a public hearing space where Scripture is read aloud, emphasizing its role in communal worship and instruction.
-
I Chronicles 9:26
for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the rooms and over the treasuries in God’s house.
The text links the chambers directly to treasuries, showing their practical function in safeguarding the resources dedicated to God's house.