מִסְחָר (mis.char)
mis.char
merchandise
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun mischar appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in 1 Kings 10:22. It refers to merchandise or commercial goods, specifically listing the items brought by the fleet of Hiram alongside gold, silver, ivory, and apes.
Lexical sources note that the precise meaning of this word is somewhat doubtful. Its rarity suggests it may be a loanword or a term with a specialized trade context that has not survived in later Hebrew usage. Translators typically render it as "merchandise" to fit the list of valuable imports from Ophir.
Because it occurs in such a specific historical account of King Solomon’s wealth, the word serves as a concrete marker of international trade networks rather than a theological concept. Its single occurrence highlights the extent of Solomon’s economic reach without offering broader semantic range for study.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word מִסְחָר appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 1 Kings 10:22. It describes the valuable goods brought by King Solomon’s fleet from Ophir, alongside gold, silver, and exotic animals. This single mention highlights the vast international trade networks that existed during Solomon’s reign.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God can use economic systems and global connections to fulfill His purposes. Solomon’s wealth was not just for personal gain but supported the building of the Temple and the administration of justice. We see that material resources, when placed under God’s sovereignty, can serve holy ends.
While we may not deal in ivory or apes today, the principle remains: all resources are gifts from God. Whether through trade, work, or generosity, Christians are called to steward these blessings wisely. This rare word points to a time when Israel’s influence reached far and wide, showcasing God’s provision on a global scale.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] merchandise of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מִסְחַ֖ר1×