מִפְלָשׂ (miph.la.s)
miph.la.s
swaying
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun miphlas is a rare Hebrew word meaning to sway, poise, or balance. It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, found in Job 26:7 where it describes how God hangs the earth over nothingness. The image suggests a delicate equilibrium, as if the planet were suspended on a pivot without tipping.
Its root relates to motion and instability, yet here it conveys stability through divine control. Translators often render this single occurrence as "hangs" or "balances," capturing the sense of something held in place despite its tendency to move. The word highlights the tension between chaos and order, showing how God maintains the cosmos with precise care.
This unique usage emphasizes God’s power to sustain creation without visible support. By choosing a term associated with swaying, the text acknowledges the fragility of the world while affirming that divine hand prevents it from falling. It serves as a poetic reminder that stability comes not from physical anchors but from God’s sustaining presence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word miphlas appears only once in Scripture, found in Job 26:7 where it describes how God hangs the earth upon nothing. This rare term captures a delicate balance, suggesting that the world is suspended in a state of perfect equilibrium. It acknowledges the fragility of creation while affirming that divine control prevents chaos from taking over.
For your faith, this offers comfort. Stability does not come from visible anchors or human strength but from God’s sustaining presence. Even when life feels unsteady, you can trust that the Creator maintains order with precise care. His power holds all things together, offering peace in the midst of uncertainty.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] balancing<s> of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִפְלְשֵׂי\־1×