מֶ֫שֶׁךְ (me.shekh)
me.shekh
bag/price
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun meshek carries the core sense of a drawing or pulling action. In its most literal application, it describes the physical act of hauling something up, such as fishing a net from the water or securing an acquisition. This concrete imagery grounds the word in tangible effort and movement.
Beyond physical labor, the term extends to abstract concepts like a trail or sequence. It can refer to the path left by seed or the continuation of a line. This usage highlights the result of the initial pulling action—the trace or course that remains after the primary force has been applied.
Its appearance in Job and Psalms underscores themes of divine intervention and natural order. When used in these contexts, meshek often points to God’s power in drawing out justice or maintaining the continuity of creation. The word bridges the gap between immediate physical exertion and the lasting patterns established by that effort.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word meshek captures the physical effort of drawing something out, whether it is hauling a net from the water or securing a valuable price. This imagery reminds us that true value often requires tangible exertion. In Job 28:18, the text uses this concept to show that wisdom costs more than fine jewels. It is not found by casual search but by seeking with serious intent.
Similarly, Psalm 126:6 speaks of carrying seed for sowing while weeping. The act of planting involves a heavy burden and a sense of loss, yet it holds the promise of future joy. This word bridges our present struggles with the lasting results they produce. It encourages us to trust that our efforts, even when difficult, are part of a meaningful pattern established by God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] price of1×
- <the> bag of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֶֽשֶׁךְ\־1×
- וּ/מֶ֥שֶׁךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Job 28:18
No mention will be made of coral or of crystal. Yes, the price of wisdom is above rubies.
The term underscores the high cost of wisdom, contrasting it with precious materials like coral and crystal to show its supreme value.
-
Psalms 126:6
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.
It describes the physical burden of carrying seed, linking the act of sowing with the eventual joy of harvest.