מֶשֶׁךְ
𐤌𐤔𐤊
Meshekhe
H4902 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name: Meshek, a son of Japheth (according to the genealogical lists in Genesis) and the people or nation(s) traditionally considered to be his descendants; also used to designate the territory or population associated with this name, often in poetic or prophetic contexts as a distant nation or people-group.
Semantic Range
proper name of a person (descendant of Japheth); ethnonym for a northern people-group; name of a distant land or tribal territory; symbol of remoteness or exile
Root / Etymology
The etymology is uncertain; although the form מֶשֶׁךְ matches the common noun meaning 'draw' or 'pull,' most scholars agree that the proper name is unrelated in meaning and likely of foreign (non-Hebrew) origin.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical genealogies (Genesis 10:2; 1 Chronicles 1:5), Meshek is listed as one of the sons of Japheth, used to designate both an individual ancestor and a people-group. In texts like Ezekiel 27:13 and 38:2-3, Meshek is paired with Tubal, often as part of or representing distant northern peoples seen as outside the main Israelite sphere, sometimes posed as adversaries or significant trading partners; the Book of Psalms (120:5) uses Meshek as a literary symbol of distant, foreign lands, conveying a sense of remoteness or exile. These usages reflect ancient Israelite perspectives on distant neighbors rather than specific ethnographic identification. Later translations and traditions sometimes equated Meshek with regions in Asia Minor or the Caucasus, but these identifications are based on post-biblical perceptions. English translations often use the anglicized form 'Meshech,' which does not reflect the full historical ambiguity or the foreignness implied in the original Hebrew context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same in form as מֶשֶׁךְ, but probably of foreign derivation; Meshek, a son of Japheth, and the people descended from him; Mesech, Meshech.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
משך (m-š-k) — to draw, pull, drag
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4189 | מוֹשְׁכָה | drawing-cords of |
| H4900 | מָשַׁךְ | in his drawing |
| H4901 | מֶשֶׁךְ | and acquired-possession |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4902-01 |
מֶ֤שֶׁךְ | meshekhe | HNp |
Meshech | Meshek | 5 |
H4902-02 |
וּ/מֶ֖שֶׁךְ | umeshekhe | HC/Np |
and Meshech | and Meshek | 2 |
H4902-03 |
וָ/מֶ֔שֶׁךְ | vameshekhe | HC/Np |
and Meshech | and Meshek | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4902-02 |
Genesis 10:2 | וּ/מֶ֖שֶׁךְ | umeshekhe | HC/Np |
and Meshech | and Meshek |
H4902-03 |
Ezekiel 27:13 | וָ/מֶ֔שֶׁךְ | vameshekhe | HC/Np |
and Meshech | and Meshek |
H4902-01 |
Ezekiel 32:26 | מֶ֤שֶׁךְ | meshekhe | HNp |
Meshech | Meshek |
H4902-01 |
Ezekiel 38:2 | מֶ֣שֶׁךְ | meshekhe | HNp |
of Meshech | Meshek |
H4902-01 |
Ezekiel 38:3 | מֶ֥שֶׁךְ | meshekhe | HNp |
Meshech | Meshek |
H4902-01 |
Ezekiel 39:1 | מֶ֥שֶׁךְ | meshekhe | HNp |
Meshech | Meshek |
H4902-01 |
Psalms 120:5 | מֶ֑שֶׁךְ | meshekhe | HNp |
with Meshech | Meshek |
H4902-02 |
1 Chronicles 1:5 | וּ/מֶ֖שֶׁךְ | umeshekhe | HC/Np |
and Meshech | and Meshek |
H4902-03 |
1 Chronicles 1:17 | וָ/מֶֽשֶׁךְ | vameshekhe | HC/Np |
and Meshech | and Meshek |