מִקְשֶׁה (miq.sheh)
miq.sheh
hairstyle
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun miqsheh refers to an artistic or elaborate arrangement of hair, often understood as a carefully styled coiffure. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 3:24, within a list of items that will be removed from Jerusalem’s women as part of a divine judgment. The context suggests it denotes not just any hairstyle, but one created with skill and attention to detail.
Lexical sources note its possible connection to the root for "turning" or "working," hinting at hair styled through twisting or curling. Some scholars compare it to the work of a turner shaping wood, emphasizing the craftsmanship involved in creating such an appearance. This rare word highlights how personal adornment was viewed as a sign of status and beauty in ancient Israel.
Its solitary use in Isaiah underscores the sudden loss of social markers during times of national crisis. By removing miqsheh along with other luxuries, the text illustrates how external signs of prosperity vanish when judgment falls. The word serves as a vivid example of how even subtle details like hair could carry cultural weight.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word miqsheh describes an elaborate hairstyle, one crafted with care and skill to signify beauty and social standing. In Isaiah 3:24, its sudden replacement by baldness marks a stark shift from prosperity to judgment. This vivid image reminds us that external markers of status are fleeting and subject to change.
While we often invest time in our appearance, this passage invites a deeper look at what truly endures. The loss of such adornment highlights the temporary nature of worldly prestige. Our hope rests not in how we look or how others perceive us, but in the steadfast love of God that remains constant through every season.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- well-set hair1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִקְשֶׁה֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 3:24
It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.
This verse contrasts the miqsheh with baldness to illustrate the sudden removal of social status and beauty during divine judgment.