מִרְשַׁ֫עַת (mir.sha.at)
mir.sha.at
wickedness
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 mîrshaʿat appears only once in the Old Testament, found in 2 Chronicles 24:7. In this specific context, it translates to wickedness or lawlessness. The verse describes how the sons of Athaliah had broken into the temple of the Lord and dedicated its sacred vessels to Asherah and other idols, an act characterized by this term.
While the common word for wickedness in Hebrew is raʿah, mîrshaʿat carries a distinct nuance of lawlessness or transgression against established order. Its rarity suggests it was reserved for particularly severe breaches of covenant or religious duty. Here, it highlights the profound disorder introduced into the house of God by royal descendants who violated its sanctity.
Translators typically render this rare term as wickedness to convey the moral gravity of the act. The usage underscores that the offense was not merely bad behavior but a fundamental disruption of the holy space and the worship owed to Yahweh. This single occurrence preserves a specific vocabulary for describing deep, structural sin within the community of faith.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mîrshaʿat appears only once in Scripture, marking a moment when sacred trust was shattered. In 2 Chronicles 24:7, it describes how the descendants of Athaliah turned the temple into a place of idolatry. This is not just general bad behavior; it is a specific violation of what belongs to God. The term highlights the gravity of taking holy things and redirecting them toward false gods.
For your faith, this word reminds us that our worship matters deeply. When we treat spiritual privileges as ordinary or selfish, we risk disrupting the order God intends. It calls attention to the seriousness of keeping our hearts aligned with His holiness. The text shows that such actions have real consequences for the community.
Yet, history also shows restoration. After this breach, Joash repaired the temple and returned focus to Yahweh. This offers hope: even when disorder enters, God’s people can turn back. We are invited to guard our own spiritual spaces with care and reverence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ wickedness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מִּרְשַׁ֔עַת1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 24:7
For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up God’s house; and they also gave all the dedicated things of Yahweh’s house to the Baals.
This verse uses mîrshaʿat to label the specific act of desecrating the temple by giving sacred vessels to Baal, showing the word marks a structural breach of covenant rather than simple moral failure.