מִפְשָׂעָה (miph.sa.ah)
miph.sa.ah
hip
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 miphṣāʿâ refers to the hip or buttock, specifically describing the stepping region of the body. It is a concrete anatomical term used to identify a physical part of a person’s lower torso.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 1 Chronicles 19:4. The text recounts how King Hanun of the Ammonites shaved off half the beards of David’s envoys and cut their garments at the buttocks. This act was intended to humiliate the messengers, as exposing or mutilating this area was considered a severe insult in the ancient Near East.
The rarity of miphṣāʿâ highlights its specific use in this historical narrative. Translators typically render it as "buttocks" or "hips" to convey the physical nature of the disgrace described in the passage.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word miphṣāʿâ refers to the hip or buttock, appearing only once in Scripture within a story of profound humiliation. In 1 Chronicles 19:4, King Hanon shaved the beards of David’s messengers and cut their garments at the hips to disgrace them. This specific act targeted a part of the body associated with modesty and dignity, making the insult deeply personal and public.
When we encounter such harsh treatment in the Bible, it reminds us that human conflict often stems from pride and a desire to demean others. The messengers suffered shame not because they deserved it, but because of another’s cruelty. This narrative invites us to consider how we respond when our dignity is attacked or when we witness injustice against those who serve faithfully.
God sees the hidden wounds caused by such actions. While the text records this painful event, it also points to a God who values every person’s worth. We are called to protect the vulnerable and reject behaviors that seek to strip others of their honor. In times of conflict, we can trust that our suffering is known and that true justice belongs to the Lord.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ buttock[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מִּפְשָׂעָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 19:4
So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle at their buttocks, and sent them away.
This verse uniquely uses miphṣāʿâ to describe the specific location where garments were cut, highlighting the deliberate nature of the humiliation inflicted on David's envoys.