מִשְׁחַת (mish.chat)
mish.chat
mutilation; corruption
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mishchat refers to a state of ruin, appearing in Scripture with two distinct but related meanings: physical disfigurement and ritual corruption. In Isaiah 52:14, it describes the severe marring of a figure’s appearance, so battered that his looks are unrecognizable compared to other men. This usage highlights the depth of suffering and humiliation.
In Leviticus 22:25, the word shifts to a legal context, describing animals with defects that make them unfit for sacrifice. Here, it signifies a ritual flaw or corruption that disqualifies an offering from being accepted. The term bridges the physical reality of damage with the theological requirement of wholeness in worship.
Both uses stem from the root meaning "to break" or "to mar." Whether applied to human suffering or sacrificial law, mishchat underscores the contrast between brokenness and the ideal state of integrity that Scripture often calls for. It serves as a stark reminder of how damage affects both appearance and sacred duty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mishchat describes a state of ruin or marring, appearing in Scripture to highlight both physical suffering and ritual imperfection. In Isaiah 52:14, it depicts a figure so battered that his appearance is unrecognizable, emphasizing the depth of humiliation he endures. This image reminds us that even in extreme brokenness, God sees and values the individual.
Similarly, Leviticus 22:25 uses the term to describe animals with defects that are unfit for sacrifice. This legal standard underscores the biblical call for wholeness and integrity in worship. While we may feel flawed or damaged, this word points to a God who desires purity and completeness, offering hope through His grace rather than our own perfection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- disfigurement/ their1×
- [was] a disfigurement1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָשְׁחָתָ֤/ם1×
- מִשְׁחַ֥ת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 52:14
Just as many were astonished at you— his appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men—
This verse uses mishchat to describe the severe physical marring of a suffering figure, highlighting the depth of his humiliation and brokenness.
-
Leviticus 22:25
You must not offer any of these as the bread of your God from the hand of a foreigner, because their corruption is in them. There is a defect in them. They shall not be accepted for you.’”
Here, the word refers to ritual corruption or defects in animals, showing that such flaws disqualified offerings from being accepted by God.