מִשְׁעֵנָה (mish.e.nah)
mish.e.nah
support; staff
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mish‘enah refers to a support or staff, serving as a physical aid for stability. It appears ten times in the Old Testament, primarily within the books of Isaiah, II Kings, and Zechariah. The word describes an object that provides balance or assistance, functioning much like a walking stick or a prop against a wall.
Its usage often highlights human dependence on external help rather than self-sufficiency. For instance, in Isaiah 36:16, the Assyrian official urges the people of Jerusalem not to trust in Egypt for support, using this term to describe a fragile or unreliable aid. Similarly, Zechariah 11:7 and 11:10 employ the word when describing the breaking of a staff, symbolizing the removal of divine protection and the loss of stability for the people.
The root concept centers on leaning or resting upon something for strength. While it can denote a sturdy walking stick, the biblical context frequently emphasizes its potential insufficiency. When mis‘enah is described as broken or weak, it underscores the vulnerability of those who rely on political alliances or human power instead of divine provision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mish‘enah describes a simple wooden stick used for balance or support. In ancient times, it was an essential tool for travelers navigating rough terrain and for elders moving with dignity in their later years. It represents the physical reality of leaning on something outside yourself to stay upright.
Scripture often uses this image to teach about trust. When Isaiah describes Egypt as a 'broken staff,' he warns against relying on fragile human powers that might fail us when we need them most. Conversely, in Psalm 23, the psalmist finds comfort in God’s rod and staff, seeing divine guidance as a steady aid rather than a burdensome constraint.
This imagery invites you to examine what you lean on during difficult seasons. Are you placing your weight on temporary solutions or unstable alliances? The biblical narrative encourages a shift toward trusting in the One who provides true stability, offering comfort that does not snap under pressure.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ staff2×
- staff/ my2×
- staff/ his2×
- [the] staff of2×
- with/ staffs/ their1×
- and/ support1×
- and/ staff/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִשְׁעֶנֶת֩2×
- הַ/מִּשְׁעֶ֙נֶת֙2×
- מִשְׁעַנְתִּ֣/י1×
- מִשְׁעַנְתִּ֖/י1×
- מִשְׁעַנְתּ֛/וֹ1×
- מִשְׁעַנְתּ֖/וֹ1×
- וּ֝/מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗/ךָ1×
- וּ/מַשְׁעֵנָ֑ה1×
- בְּ/מִשְׁעֲנֹתָ֑/ם1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 18:21
Now, behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt. If a man leans on it, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.
The Assyrian official uses this term to illustrate how relying on Egypt’s military power is like leaning on a reed that will pierce the hand, highlighting the danger of false security.
-
Zechariah 8:4
Yahweh of Armies says: “Old men and old women will again dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand because of their old age.
This verse paints a picture of peace and longevity in Jerusalem, where elders walk with their staffs, symbolizing a community supported by divine blessing rather than fear.
-
II Kings 4:31
Gehazi went ahead of them, and laid the staff on the child’s face; but there was no voice and no hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
Gehazi lays the prophet’s staff on the dead child’s face, showing how the object served as a tangible extension of prophetic authority and hope for restoration.