מֵישָׁא (me.sah)
me.sah
Mesha
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Meshah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 8:9. It identifies a man from the tribe of Benjamin who lived during the era of the Divided Monarchy. He is listed as the son of Shaharaim and his wife Hodesh.
His birth took place in Moab, a detail that highlights the complex movements of Israelite families beyond the borders of Judah and Israel. The name itself carries the meaning "freedom," a significant concept for those navigating life among neighboring nations.
This single mention preserves his place within the lineage of Benjamin, connecting him to brothers such as Jobab and Elpaal. By recording names like Meshah, the biblical text affirms the continuity of tribal identity even when families were dispersed or living in foreign lands.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Meshah appears only once in Scripture, tucked into the genealogy of Benjamin in 1 Chronicles 8:9. It identifies a man born to Shaharaim and Hodesh, specifically noting that this birth took place in Moab. This detail is significant because it shows that members of Israel’s tribes were living outside their ancestral lands, navigating life among neighboring nations.
While the name itself carries the meaning "freedom," its primary biblical function is to preserve tribal identity. The chronicler records these names not just as historical data, but as a testament to God’s faithfulness in maintaining lineage even when families were dispersed. For readers today, this reminds us that our place in God’s story is secure, regardless of where we find ourselves geographically or culturally.
This single mention connects Meshah to his brothers Jobab and Elpaal, anchoring him firmly within the tribe of Benjamin. It affirms that every individual, no matter how briefly mentioned, has a defined place in the broader narrative of God’s people. Such records offer comfort, showing that God keeps careful track of His family across generations and borders.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Mesha1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֵישָׁ֖א1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 8:9
By Hodesh his wife, he became the father of Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,
This verse uniquely places Meshah’s birth in Moab, highlighting the dispersion of Benjaminite families beyond Israel's borders during the Divided Monarchy.