מִשְׁאֶ֫רֶת (mish.e.ret)
mish.e.ret
kneading
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun mish’eret refers to a household vessel used for kneading dough, essentially a trough or deep bowl. In the ancient Near East, this was not merely a piece of kitchenware but a functional tool essential for daily sustenance. The sources identify it as the container where grain was transformed into bread, highlighting its role in basic food preparation.
This word appears in only three verses, all within the Torah: Exodus 12:34, Exodus 16:23, and Deuteronomy 28:17. Its presence in the Passover narrative (Exodus 12:34) is particularly striking, as it describes the unleavened dough carried by the Israelites fleeing Egypt. The haste of their departure meant there was no time for the dough to rise, so they baked it in these kneading troughs instead.
Deuteronomy 28:17 uses mish’eret in a curse, wishing that the baskets and kneading troughs of the people become cursed. This imagery connects physical labor with divine blessing or judgment. The trough represents the fruit of honest work; to curse it is to strike at the very means of survival and provision for the household.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mish’eret refers to a deep bowl or trough used for kneading dough, a simple but vital tool in ancient households. It represents the quiet, daily labor that turns raw grain into sustaining bread. In Exodus 12:34, this vessel carries the unrisen dough of Israel’s hasty departure from Egypt, symbolizing both urgency and trust in God’s immediate provision.
This object also appears in blessings and curses (Deuteronomy 28:5, 17), showing how ordinary work is tied to divine favor. When your kneading trough is blessed, it means your labor yields fruit; when cursed, it reflects a loss of peace and productivity. The word reminds us that God cares about the details of daily sustenance.
For believers today, mish’eret invites reflection on how we view our own work. Whether in busy seasons or times of waiting, our efforts are seen by God. We can bring our ordinary tasks to Him, trusting that He sanctifies even the simplest acts of preparation and care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ kneading trough/ your2×
- kneading troughs/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מִשְׁאַרְתֶּֽ/ךָ\׃2×
- מִשְׁאֲרֹתָ֛/ם1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 12:34
The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders.
The kneading trough carries unleavened dough during the Exodus, highlighting the haste of Israel's departure and God's provision in urgency.
-
Deuteronomy 28:5
Your basket and your kneading trough shall be blessed.
The blessing of the kneading trough signifies God’s favor on the daily labor that sustains the household.
-
Deuteronomy 28:17
Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed.
The curse upon the kneading trough illustrates how divine judgment can disrupt even the most basic means of survival.