מִסְכֵּנֻת (mis.ke.nut)
mis.ke.nut
poverty
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun miskēnūt denotes a state of poverty or scarcity. It appears only once in the Old Testament, within Deuteronomy 8:9. In this context, it describes the land of Canaan as one that lacks nothing, specifically contrasting its abundance with the condition of lacking basic necessities.
The word is derived from the root s-k-n, which relates to dwelling or inhabiting. This etymology suggests that poverty is not merely a lack of wealth, but a state where one cannot securely dwell or establish oneself. The scarcity mentioned in Deuteronomy highlights how the land’s fertility ensures that its inhabitants do not face this precarious existence.
Translators typically render miskēnūt as "poverty" or "scarcity." Its single occurrence underscores the theological point that the promised land is a place of provision, where the threat of destitution is removed. This stands in sharp relief to the wilderness wanderings, where scarcity was a daily reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Deuteronomy 8:9 paints a vivid picture of abundance, using a rare Hebrew word for poverty to highlight what God provides in the Promised Land. This term describes not just empty pockets, but a state where one cannot securely dwell or establish a home. It points to the deep insecurity of lacking basic necessities like food and shelter.
For your faith life, this offers a comforting contrast. The wilderness was a place of daily scarcity, but God’s promise is for a land of stability. You do not have to live in fear of destitution or instability. Instead, you can rest in the provision that allows you to settle and thrive.
This assurance invites trust. When life feels precarious, remember that God desires to provide a foundation where you can dwell securely. His care removes the threat of want, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ scarcity1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְ/מִסְכֵּנֻת֙1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 8:9
a land in which you shall eat bread without scarcity, you shall not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper.
This verse uses the word to define the land's abundance by explicitly stating that its inhabitants will not experience this state of lacking basic necessities.