מַשְׁבֵּר (mish.ber)
mish.ber
birth
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mishber literally means a place of breaking forth or an opening. In Scripture, it is used specifically to describe the mouth of the womb, capturing the moment of birth as a rupture or passage through which life enters the world. This term appears only three times in the Bible, found in II Kings 2:24 and twice in Hosea (13:13 and 15:13).
Its root conveys the idea of breaking or bursting open, emphasizing the physical intensity of delivery rather than just the event itself. The sources note that this word highlights the womb as a site of breach, framing childbirth as a dramatic exit. In Hosea, the prophet uses this visceral imagery to describe the pain and tragedy of miscarriage or stillbirth, where the "breaking forth" is thwarted.
Translators often render mishber simply as "womb" or "birth," but the literal sense of an opening or breach adds a layer of physical reality. It reminds readers that ancient Hebrew thought viewed birth not just as a biological process, but as a powerful, forceful emergence from confinement into life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mishber carries a raw, physical weight that modern language often softens. It does not simply mean 'birth' as an abstract event; it refers to the actual opening of the womb, the moment of breaking forth into the world. This imagery captures the intensity and vulnerability inherent in entering life. When we read this term, we are reminded that human existence begins with a dramatic passage from confinement into light.
In the biblical narrative, this word appears in moments of profound crisis. It is used to describe situations where life is on the brink but lacks the strength to fully emerge. This reality resonates deeply with those who have faced the fear of loss or the struggle of bringing something new into a difficult world. The text acknowledges that birth is not always easy, and that the journey from conception to arrival can be fraught with pain and uncertainty.
Yet, this visceral language also highlights the preciousness of life itself. To be born is to break through barriers and enter community. For believers, this physical reality points to a deeper spiritual truth: God is the author of life who sustains us even when we feel weak or unable to deliver what He has placed within us. We find comfort in knowing that our Creator understands the full weight of bringing life into being.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- birth2×
- at/ birth of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַשְׁבֵּ֔ר2×
- בְּ/מִשְׁבַּ֥ר1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 19:3
They said to him, “Hezekiah says, ‘Today is a day of trouble, of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.
This verse uses the concept of birth to metaphorically describe Judah's desperate state, where they are ready to be born but lack the strength to complete the process.
-
Isaiah 37:3
They said to him, “Hezekiah says, ‘Today is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to give birth.
Parallel to II Kings, this occurrence emphasizes the helplessness of a nation that has reached the point of birth but cannot deliver its children due to overwhelming trouble.
-
Hosea 13:13
The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son, for when it is time, he doesn’t come to the opening of the womb.
Here the word describes a tragic failure of birth, where the 'opening of the womb' is not entered, symbolizing Israel's rejection of God and resulting in spiritual death.