מִסְכֵּן (mis.ken)
mis.ken
poor
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective misken describes a person who is poor or in a state of poverty. It appears only three times in the entire Old Testament, and all occurrences are found within the book of Ecclesiastes. This extreme rarity makes it a distinctive term for economic lack in biblical literature.
While other words like dal or evyon also denote poverty, misken is unique to the reflections of Qoheleth. Its limited usage suggests it may carry specific nuances related to the existential vulnerability discussed in that book, rather than serving as a general term for the poor found elsewhere in Scripture.
The word highlights the tangible reality of financial hardship within the philosophical inquiries of Ecclesiastes. By restricting its appearance to this single book, the text emphasizes how economic disparity intersects with themes of vanity and justice under the sun.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word misken appears only three times in the Old Testament, always within Ecclesiastes. It describes a person who is poor, highlighting their vulnerability and lack of resources. In these rare instances, the text does not just note economic status but explores how wisdom interacts with social power.
For your faith life, this word reminds us that value is not determined by wealth or influence. The biblical narrative shows that even those with little can possess wisdom that saves communities. It challenges us to look beyond outward appearances and recognize the dignity in every person, regardless of their financial standing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- poor2×
- the/ poor [person]1×
- <the>/ poor1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִסְכֵּן֙1×
- מִסְכֵּ֖ן1×
- הַ/מִּסְכֵּן֙1×
- הַ/מִּסְכֵּ֖ן1×
Key Verses
-
Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
This verse contrasts a poor but wise youth with an old foolish king, showing that wisdom holds more value than royal status or age.
-
Ecclesiastes 9:15
Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
Here the poor man’s wisdom delivers the city, yet his contribution is forgotten, illustrating the tragedy of unrecognized virtue.
-
Ecclesiastes 9:16
Then I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
The text notes that the poor man’s wisdom is despised and unheard, highlighting how society often marginalizes those with little power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word misken mean?
How is misken different from other words for poor?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Ecclesiastes 3 verses
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
Ecclesiastes 9:15Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
Ecclesiastes 9:16Then I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not…