מִשְׁפָּחָה (mish.pa.chah)
mish.pa.chah
family
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 210 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mishpâchâh denotes a clan or family, representing a circle of relatives bound by shared ancestry. In the Old Testament, it functions as a key social unit, often sitting between the smaller household (bayith) and the larger tribe (shevet). This hierarchical structure is visible in census records, such as those in Numbers 1 and 26, where the people are organized first by tribes, then by clans, and finally by families.
Beyond social organization, the word carries a broader semantic range. It can refer to a guild, a species of animal, or even an entire nation. In Genesis 10, for instance, it describes the distinct groups that make up the nations of the earth after the flood. This flexibility allows the term to describe both intimate kinship ties and large-scale ethnic identities.
The phrase "after their families" appears frequently in biblical texts, particularly in Genesis and Numbers. This usage highlights how identity was rooted in lineage rather than individual choice. The word underscores a worldview where belonging is inherited, and community is defined by shared blood and common origin.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mishpâchah points to a circle of relatives bound by shared ancestry. In the Old Testament, it functions as a key social unit, often sitting between the smaller household and the larger tribe. This hierarchical structure is visible in census records, such as those in Numbers 1 and 26, where the people are organized first by tribes, then by clans, and finally by families.
Beyond social organization, the word carries a broader semantic range. It can refer to a guild, a species of animal, or even an entire nation. In Genesis 10, for instance, it describes the distinct groups that make up the nations of the earth after the flood. This flexibility allows the term to describe both intimate kinship ties and large-scale ethnic identities.
The phrase "after their families" appears frequently in biblical texts, particularly in Genesis and Numbers. This usage highlights how identity was rooted in lineage rather than individual choice. The word underscores a worldview where belonging is inherited, and community is defined by shared blood and common origin.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 210 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ clans/ their82×
- [the] clan of78×
- [were] [the] clans of22×
- [the] clans of22×
- clans6×
- of/ [the] clans of5×
- from/ [the] clans of5×
- and/ [the] clan of5×
- the/ clan4×
- from/ [the] clan of4×
- and/ [the] clans of4×
- clan/ his3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת50×
- לְ/מִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖/ם22×
- לְ/מִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑/ם20×
- מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת18×
- לְ/מִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽ/ם\׃13×
- מִשְׁפַּ֙חַת֙11×
- לְ/מִשְׁפְּחֹתָ/ם֒9×
- מִשְׁפַּ֤חַת7×
- מִשְׁפַּ֣חַת6×
- מִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת6×
- לְ/מִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔/ם6×
- מִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת5×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
This verse expands the scope of mishpâchah from a local clan to all families on earth, showing how God's promise through Abraham reaches every lineage.
-
Leviticus 25:41
Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and shall return to his own family, and to the possession of his fathers.
Here the term connects economic restoration with social belonging, as freed servants return to their ancestral roots during the Jubilee year.
-
Genesis 8:19
Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, after their families, went out of the ship.
The use of mishpâchah for animals after the flood emphasizes that all living creatures are categorized by their distinct kinds and lineages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mishpâchah mean in the Bible?
How is mishpâchah different from bayith?
Where does mishpâchah appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (210 verses across 17 books)
Genesis 12 verses
Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, after their families, went out of the…
Genesis 10:5Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in…
Genesis 10:18the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad.
Genesis 10:20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.
Genesis 10:31These are the sons of Shem, by their families, according to their languages, lands, and nations.
Genesis 10:32These are the families of the sons of Noah, by their generations, according to their nations. The nations divided from…
Genesis 12:3I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will…
Genesis 24:38but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’
Genesis 24:40He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife…
Genesis 24:41Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear…
Genesis 28:14Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the…
Genesis 36:40These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their…