מִשְׁחָה (mish.chah)

mish.chah

anointing; consecrated portion

H4888 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 24 verses

H:N-F

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 24 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-F

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun mishchah refers primarily to a consecrated portion or a special allotment designated for sacred use. In the Priestly writings of the Pentateuch, it most frequently describes the share of holy things reserved for the priests, such as grain offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings. This usage highlights that certain parts of sacrifices were not merely food but set apart as belonging to God’s ministers.

Less commonly, the word can denote the anointing oil itself or the act of anointing used to consecrate objects or people. However, its dominant sense in Scripture is legal and ritualistic, focusing on the distribution of holy resources. The term appears twenty-four times, with the majority of occurrences found in Numbers 18, where God details the portions due to Aaron and his sons.

This distinction clarifies that mishchah is not just about the liquid oil but often about the resulting sacred share. It underscores a system where the priesthood’s livelihood was tied directly to the holiness of the offerings brought by the people, ensuring that those serving at the tabernacle were supported by the consecrated parts of the sacrifices.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word mishchah often points to a consecrated portion set apart for God’s ministers. In the Old Testament, this was not just about ritual oil but about the tangible support provided to those serving in the tabernacle. It reminds us that God cares for the practical needs of His servants, ensuring they are sustained by the holy offerings brought by the people.

When we read about these portions, we see a system built on gratitude and reverence. The priests did not work for wages in the modern sense but received their share as a gift from Yahweh through the community’s worship. This arrangement highlighted that their livelihood was directly tied to the holiness of the sacrifices.

For us today, this concept invites reflection on how we support those who serve in spiritual leadership. It encourages a spirit of generosity, recognizing that caring for ministers is an act of honoring God Himself. We can trust that God provides for His work through the willing hearts of His people.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.

<the>/ anointing15×
anointing of3×
to/ a portion1×
the/ anointing1×
for/ anointing1×
anointing/ their1×
and/ [the] share of1×
[the] anointing of1×
[is] [the] share of1×
<the> anointing of1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

הַ/מִּשְׁחָ֔ה9×
מִשְׁחַת\־3×
הַ/מִּשְׁחָה֙2×
הַ/מִּשְׁחָ֑ה2×
מָשְׁחָתָ֛/ם1×
מִשְׁחַ֧ת1×
מִשְׁחַ֥ת1×
מִשְׁחַ֤ת1×
לְ/מָשְׁחָ֣ה1×
לְ/מָשְׁחָ֛ה1×
וּ/מִשְׁחַ֣ת1×
הַ/מִּשְׁחָה֒1×

Key Verses

Numbers 18:8
Yahweh spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I myself have given you the command of my wave offerings, even all the holy things of the children of Israel. I have given them to you by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever.

This verse explicitly links the giving of holy things to the 'anointing,' establishing the priestly portion as a divine right tied to their consecrated office.
Leviticus 7:35
This is the consecrated portion of Aaron, and the consecrated portion of his sons, out of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister to Yahweh in the priest’s office;

Here, the term defines the specific share Aaron and his sons received from the fire offerings, clarifying it as their permanent sustenance.
Exodus 29:7
Then you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head, and anoint him.

While focusing on the oil, this verse illustrates the act of anointing that sets the priest apart, which is the root meaning behind the consecrated status.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does mishchah mean in the Old Testament?

It primarily refers to a consecrated portion reserved for priests, though it can also mean the anointing oil or the act of anointing. In most contexts, it describes the share of holy offerings given to support those serving at the tabernacle.

Is mishchah only about liquid oil?

No. While it can denote the sacred perfume, its dominant usage in passages like Numbers 18 refers to the food portions given to priests. The word connects the act of anointing with the resulting right to receive holy things.

Why is this word important for understanding priestly duties?

It shows that the priesthood was supported by the community’s worship. The portion was not a salary but a divine allotment, emphasizing that serving God involved both spiritual consecration and physical provision.

Every Occurrence (24 verses across 3 books)

Exodus 14 verses

Exodus 25:6

oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,

Exodus 29:7

Then you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head, and anoint him.

Exodus 29:21

You shall take of the blood that is on the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron, and on his…

Exodus 29:29

“The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, to be anointed in them, and to be consecrated in them.

Exodus 30:25

You shall make it into a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy…

Exodus 30:31

You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to me throughout your…

Exodus 31:11

the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they…

Exodus 35:8

oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,

Exodus 35:15

and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of…

Exodus 35:28

with the spice and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

Exodus 37:29

He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.

Exodus 39:38

the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door of the Tent,

Exodus 40:9

“You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its…

Exodus 40:15

You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. Their…

Leviticus 8 verses

Numbers 2 verses