מִשְׁגֶּה (mish.geh)
mish.geh
mistake
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 mishgeh refers to a simple error or oversight, appearing only once in the Old Testament at Genesis 43:12. In this narrative, Jacob instructs his sons to bring extra silver when they return to Egypt, specifically covering "any mistake" that might have occurred during their previous transaction. The term captures the idea of an unintentional slip rather than a deliberate act of deceit.
Its rarity in Scripture highlights its specific function as a legal or commercial safeguard. By acknowledging the possibility of mishgeh, the text reflects a practical concern for accuracy in trade. This single usage underscores how ancient Israelites navigated human fallibility within economic relationships, relying on preparation to mitigate the risk of accidental fault.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mishgeh appears just once in the Old Testament, found in Genesis 43:12. Jacob tells his sons to bring extra silver when they return to Egypt because money had been returned in their sacks. He suggests this might have been an oversight, a simple mistake rather than theft. This rare term helps us understand how ancient people dealt with human error in daily life.
For your faith, this verse offers comfort. It shows that God’s people were not perfect and often made mistakes. Jacob did not assume malice; he allowed for the possibility of an accident. This perspective encourages patience and grace when misunderstandings happen in our own relationships. We can trust that God understands our limitations.
Recognizing mishgeh reminds us to be gentle with ourselves and others. When errors occur, they do not always reflect bad character. Sometimes life is just complicated, and things get mixed up. This small detail in Scripture invites us to approach conflicts with a spirit of fairness and understanding.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was] a mistake1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִשְׁגֶּ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 43:12
and take double money in your hand, and take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight.
This verse uniquely uses mishgeh to describe the possible accidental return of silver, highlighting Jacob's desire for honesty rather than suspicion.