מִשְׁעָן (mish.an)
mish.an
support
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word mish’an refers to a physical support or staff, serving as a prop for stability. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both within the book of Isaiah. In these passages, the term describes an object that holds something up, preventing it from falling.
Its most striking usage occurs in Isaiah 3:1-2, where God declares He will remove “every support and supply of bread” along with military leaders and prophets. Here, mish’an represents the structural foundations of society—the things people rely on for security and order. When these supports are taken away, the social structure collapses into chaos.
The word emphasizes dependence on external aids rather than self-sufficiency. It appears alongside terms for bread and water, linking physical sustenance with societal stability. The imagery suggests that just as a staff supports a weary traveler, these institutions support community life.
Translators typically render mish’an as “support” or “staff,” capturing its concrete sense of something that bears weight. The rarity of the word highlights how significant this concept is when it does appear—marking crucial moments where divine judgment removes the very things holding society together.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels unstable, it is natural to look for something solid to hold onto. The Hebrew word mish’an describes exactly that kind of support—a staff or prop that keeps a structure from collapsing. In Isaiah, this term points to the essential foundations of society, such as food and water, which people rely on for daily survival. It reminds us that our security often rests on tangible provisions and community structures.
Yet the biblical narrative also shows what happens when these supports are removed. In Isaiah 3:1, God declares He will take away every support and supply. This is not merely a statement about physical scarcity but a profound lesson in dependence. When human systems fail, we are invited to look beyond our immediate circumstances. The word encourages us to recognize that while earthly supports are necessary, they are not ultimate.
This perspective offers comfort rather than fear. It acknowledges the reality of hardship while pointing toward a deeper source of stability. We do not need to panic when things shake; instead, we can trust in the one who remains constant. This understanding helps us navigate uncertainty with peace, knowing that our true security is found in faithfulness, not just in what we can control.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- support of2×
- support1×
- a support1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִשְׁעַן\־2×
- מַשְׁעֵ֖ן1×
- מִשְׁעָ֖ן1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 3:1
For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;
This verse uses mish’an to describe the removal of societal foundations like bread and water, highlighting how divine judgment strips away human sources of security.
-
II Samuel 22:19
They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.
Here mish’an is applied personally to Yahweh as David’s support in calamity, showing the word’s use for divine stability rather than just physical objects.