מַחְשֹׂף (mach.soph)
mach.soph
exposing
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun machsoph describes the act of stripping or laying something bare, specifically referring to the removal of bark from wood. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Genesis 30:37, where Jacob prepares fresh branches for his flock.
In this narrative, Jacob peels white streaks into the exposed wood to create a visual contrast. This detail is part of a larger story about breeding strategies and divine blessing, rather than agricultural technique. The word captures the physical result of that labor: bare, stripped stems.
Its singular occurrence highlights how specific vocabulary can anchor a unique biblical moment. Translators often render it as "stripping" or "peeling," focusing on the action that reveals the wood's inner color against its natural surface.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word machsoph appears only once in Scripture, describing Jacob’s careful work of peeling bark from fresh branches to reveal the white wood beneath. This simple act of exposure was part of a larger story where God’s blessing became visible through ordinary means. It reminds us that God often uses our honest efforts and transparent actions as the setting for His faithfulness.
In your own life, moments of vulnerability can feel like stripping away protection, yet they may also be the very places where hope becomes clear. Just as the peeled branches created a contrast that drew attention, your openness before God and others can become a witness to grace. Trust that even when you feel exposed, you are held by One who sees the heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] peeling of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַחְשֹׂף֙1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 30:37
Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, and plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
This verse captures the physical act of peeling bark to reveal white streaks, anchoring the unique narrative moment where Jacob’s labor intersects with divine provision.