מוּסָךְ (me.sakh)
me.sakh
portico
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun musakh refers to a covered structure or portico, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible at 2 Kings 16:18. In this specific instance, King Ahaz constructs it within the temple precincts, indicating an architectural feature designed to provide shelter or a transitional space.
Lexical sources describe it as a "covert" building, suggesting a roofed area that offered protection from the elements while remaining open to the surrounding environment. The term is rare and its exact structural form remains somewhat obscure outside this single royal context.
Its usage highlights the physical modifications Ahaz made to align Judah’s worship with Assyrian practices. By adding this covered walkway or porch, he altered the temple’s layout to accommodate foreign religious customs, a detail that underscores the historical tension between traditional Israelite worship and imperial influence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word musakh describes a covered walkway or portico, appearing only once in Scripture at 2 Kings 16:18. King Ahaz used this architectural feature to modify the temple’s layout, aligning Judah’s worship with Assyrian customs. This single term captures a moment of significant religious compromise.
When we encounter such details, it reminds us that faithfulness often involves guarding the integrity of our worship against external pressures. The portico was not merely a building addition; it symbolized a shift in loyalty. We are invited to examine our own lives for similar compromises, ensuring that our practices reflect genuine devotion rather than cultural convenience.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] covered structure of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מוּסַ֨ךְ1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 16:18
He removed the covered way for the Sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s outer entrance to Yahweh’s house, because of the king of Assyria.
This verse records King Ahaz removing the existing portico to accommodate Assyrian influence, highlighting the word's connection to religious compromise.