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מִשְׁאָלָה

𐤌𐤔𐤀𐤋𐤄

mishʼâlâh

H4862 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁאל to ask, inquire, request

Definition

A specific request or petition, typically directed toward a person of higher authority or divinity, expressing one's desire for something thought to be granted upon request. The term emphasizes both the act of asking and the object desired, highlighting a personal or earnest nature to the appeal. Used most often for prayerful requests or significant expressions of want, especially directed toward the deity, but also in interpersonal contexts. The semantic range includes both the formal act of making a petition and the underlying desire motivating the request.

Semantic Range

request, petition, wish, desire, asking; personal appeal; expression of longing or want, especially in the context of prayer or supplication

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁאַל (sha'al), meaning 'to ask, inquire, request.' The noun form מִשְׁאָלָה is a fem. noun denoting 'something asked for' or 'a petition,' derived by prefixing the nominal mem (מ-) to the root, a common pattern for forming nouns related to the action indicated by the root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מִשְׁאָלָה primarily refers to requests made to the deity, such as prayerful petitions, as well as significant requests made to other persons of authority (e.g., a king). In most biblical occurrences, the term conveys both the act of asking and a strong underlying desire or wish—blurring the distinction between a formal petition and an inner wish. In some contexts, especially poetic or wisdom literature (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs), the nuance leans toward 'wish' or 'desire' rather than a formal petition. Later translations occasionally render the term as 'desire' or 'wish,' while others use 'petition' or 'request,' sometimes masking the emotional or personal force present in Hebrew. Distinct from related terms like תְּפִלָּה (tefillah, 'prayer') and בַּקָּשָׁה (baqqashah, 'supplication'), which have more formal or general connotations, מִשְׁאָלָה typically implies a specific, personally motivated request or longing. Occurs sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, so its nuance is determined contextually.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁאַל; a request; desire, petition.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שאל (sh-ʾ-l) — to ask, inquire, request

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4861 מִשְׁאָל Asking-town
H7585 שְׁאוֹל in the underworld
H7586 שָׁאוּל to Shaul
H7587 שָׁאוּלִי the Shaulite
H7592 שָׁאַל I will ask

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4862-02 מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽי/ךָ mishealoteykha HNcfpc/Sp2ms your-petitions your petitions 1
H4862-01 מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת mishealot HNcfpc requests petitions of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4862-02 Psalms 20:6 מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽי/ךָ mishealoteykha HNcfpc/Sp2ms your-petitions your petitions
H4862-01 Psalms 37:4 מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת mishealot HNcfpc requests petitions of
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