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מִשְׁחָת

𐤌𐤔𐤇𐤕

mishchâth

H4893 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁחת to destroy, ruin, spoil, corrupt

Definition

A state, quality, or process of being marred, spoiled, ruined, or corrupted; physical or moral corruption, devastation, or decay. The term can refer to visible disfigurement, destruction, or the corrupt state of something, in both literal and figurative senses. Depending on the context, it may highlight spoilage, ruinous consequences, or states of moral decay.

Semantic Range

disfigurement, defect, blemish, corruption, ruin, devastation, decay, moral corruption, spoiled state

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁחת (sh-ḥ-t), which at the root level means 'to spoil, ruin, destroy, corrupt.' Mishchâth is a feminine noun derived by adding the common nominal feminine ending to the root, yielding the abstract or resultant state of being spoiled, ruined, or corrupted.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מִשְׁחָת appears only a handful of times in the Hebrew Bible, always denoting a condition or site of ruin and corruption. In Leviticus 22:25 it refers specifically to disfigurement or defect in animals, emphasizing ritual purity and the suitability of offerings. In other contexts such as Proverbs 6:32, the related form denotes moral injury or self-destruction. The nuance can shift between overt physical damage (blemish, disfigurement), broad ruin (devastation, destruction), or internal/ethical corruption, depending on context. The distinction between מִשְׁחָת and other derivatives of שׁחת—such as שַׁחַת (shachat, 'pit', often as a metaphor for grave or ruin) or verb forms meaning 'to spoil, ruin, corrupt'—should be noted, as mishchâth is reserved for the abstract or resultant state or quality of corruption. English translations often narrow its range to 'blemish' or 'disfigurement,' missing broader senses of devastation or moral ruin found in some uses. The term does not distinguish between physical, moral, or ritual categories, but depends on context to determine focus.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מׇשְׁחָת; from שָׁחַת; disfigurement; corruption, marred.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁחת (sh-ḥ-t) — to destroy, ruin, spoil, corrupt

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4889 מַשְׁחִית the destroyer
H7843 שָׁחַת I will ruin them
H7844 שְׁחַת and ruined one

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4893-01 מָשְׁחָתָ֤/ם mashechatam HNcmsc/Sp3mp corruption-their their corruption 1
H4893-02 מִשְׁחַ֥ת mishechat HNcmsc was marred anointing oil of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4893-01 Leviticus 22:25 מָשְׁחָתָ֤/ם mashechatam HNcmsc/Sp3mp corruption-their their corruption
H4893-02 Isaiah 52:14 מִשְׁחַ֥ת mishechat HNcmsc was marred anointing oil of
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