מִשְׁכָּב (mish.kav)
mish.kav
bed
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 38 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mishkav literally means a place for lying down, referring to a bed or couch. In everyday contexts, it denotes the physical furniture used for sleep or rest, as seen when David is found resting in his own house (2 Samuel 11:2) or when provisions are brought to soldiers on their bedding (2 Samuel 17:28). It can also refer to a bier, such as the one prepared for King Asa (2 Chronicles 16:14).
However, the word carries a significant euphemistic weight. Derived from the root for "lying," it frequently describes sexual intercourse, particularly in legal and ritual texts. Leviticus uses it to define prohibited relationships, such as the command against lying with a male as one lies with a woman (Leviticus 18:22). This usage shifts the focus from the object to the act itself, framing intimacy as a physical union that carries specific moral or ceremonial implications.
In poetic literature, mishkav often symbolizes vulnerability or danger. Psalms and Proverbs warn against those who lie in wait for their victims on beds (Psalm 36:4; Proverbs 7:17), turning the private space of rest into a setting for threat. The term thus bridges the mundane reality of sleep with the profound human experiences of intimacy, ritual purity, and peril.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mishkav simply means a bed or place to lie down. In daily life, it refers to the furniture where we rest after work or sleep through the night. This ordinary image reminds us that God cares for our physical needs and offers us a safe space to recover our strength.
However, the Bible also uses this word to describe intimate relationships and moral boundaries. When Scripture speaks of lying with someone, it highlights the seriousness of how we treat others in close connection. It calls us to honor purity and respect within marriage, ensuring that our private lives reflect God’s design for love and faithfulness.
Even in times of danger or vulnerability, the bed represents a place where we seek safety. We can trust that God watches over our rest and protects us from harm. Let this word encourage you to find peace in His care and to live with integrity in all your relationships.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 38 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- beds/ their4×
- bed/ your4×
- lying of3×
- bed/ my3×
- <the>/ bed3×
- the/ bed2×
- lying down/ your2×
- bed/ his2×
- [the] lyings of2×
- to/ lying of1×
- to/ a bed1×
- to/ [the] lying of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָ֑/ם3×
- מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י3×
- מִשְׁכָּב֑/וֹ2×
- מִשְׁכַּ֣ב2×
- מִשְׁכָּבָ֖/ם1×
- מִשְׁכָּבֶֽ/ךָ\׃1×
- מִשְׁכָּבֵ֑/ךְ1×
- מִשְׁכָּבֵ/ךְ֙1×
- מִשְׁכָּבִֽ/י\׃1×
- מִשְׁכָּבִ֑/י1×
- מִשְׁכָּבִ/י֙1×
- מִשְׁכָּבְ/ךָ֖1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 49:4
Boiling over like water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
This verse uses the term to highlight a serious breach of family honor and sexual misconduct, showing how the word carries weight regarding moral boundaries.
-
Leviticus 18:22
“‘You shall not lie with a man as with a woman. That is detestable.
Here the word defines prohibited sexual relations, emphasizing the legal and ritual context of intimacy within the covenant community.
-
II Samuel 11:2
At evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to look at.
The reference to David rising from his bed sets the scene for a moment of personal choice, illustrating how daily routines can intersect with significant moral decisions.
-
Leviticus 15:4
“‘Every bed on which he who has the discharge lies shall be unclean; and everything he sits on shall be unclean.
This occurrence shows the word in a ritual purity context, where physical contact with a bed becomes a matter of ceremonial cleanliness rather than moral failure.