מִשְׁלַ֫חַת (mish.la.chat)
mish.la.chat
deputation
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mishlaḥat refers to the act of sending someone away or the group sent on a mission. It captures the concept of a deputation, emphasizing the official nature of the dispatch rather than just the movement itself. In biblical usage, it often denotes a formal assignment where representatives are commissioned to carry out a specific task for their sender.
This word appears in only two verses: Psalm 107:41 and Ecclesiastes 10:20. In Psalm 107:41, it describes God raising up the needy from their distress, though the context suggests a broader sense of deliverance and establishment rather than a simple military dispatch. Ecclesiastes 10:20 uses it to warn against cursing the king, even in private, highlighting the gravity of dealing with those in positions of authority who represent a larger power structure.
Its root relates to sending or dispatching, linking it to other terms for mission and delegation. The term underscores the responsibility inherent in being sent, as the representative acts on behalf of another. This nuance distinguishes it from words simply meaning "to go" or "travel," focusing instead on the purposeful and authorized nature of the journey.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we think about being sent on a mission, we often focus on the journey itself. The Hebrew word mishlaḥat shifts that focus to the authority behind the sending. It is not just about movement; it is about representation. To be part of a deputation means you carry the weight and voice of the one who sent you.
This reality reminds us that our actions often speak for someone greater than ourselves. Whether we are representing Christ in our workplaces or our families, we do so with official backing. The grace given to us is not for private use alone but is a commission to act on His behalf in the world around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a band of1×
- [is] discharge1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִשְׁלַ֖חַת1×
- מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 78:49
He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, and a band of angels of evil.
This verse uses the term to describe a band of angels sent as agents of God's wrath, highlighting the serious and official nature of divine judgment.
-
Ecclesiastes 8:8
There is no man who has power over the spirit to contain the spirit; neither does he have power over the day of death. There is no discharge in war; neither shall wickedness deliver those who practice it.
Here the word appears in a context discussing authority, reminding us that those in power are sent representatives whom we must respect due to their assigned role.