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מִשְׁעֵנָה

𐤌𐤔𐤏𐤍𐤄

mishʻênâh

H4938 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Walking stick, staff, or rod used for physical support; by extension, something upon which one relies for aid or sustenance, whether concrete (a staff) or abstract (support, help). Primarily denotes an object that provides physical support, but can also be used figuratively for reliance or dependence.

Semantic Range

staff, walking stick, rod, means or instrument of physical support, figurative support (help, sustenance, reliance), something relied upon; personal aid

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root שָׁעַן (שׁ־ע־ן), meaning 'to lean on, support oneself.' The word מִשְׁעֵנָה (also spelled מִשְׁעֶנֶת) is a feminine noun form denoting 'instrument or means of support.' The relationship between the physical act of leaning and the derived noun is direct: what is leaned upon.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מִשְׁעֵנָה most commonly refers to a physical staff or walking stick, an instrument used especially by the elderly, infirm, or travelers. Sometimes occurs alongside the masculine form מִשְׁעֵן (see e.g., Zechariah 8:4 for both terms together), perhaps to emphasize completeness or variety of supports, though some scholars consider the difference merely grammatical/gendered. Figurative uses (e.g., referring to leaders or sources of societal support) are comparatively rare, but present more frequently in prophetic and wisdom literature (see Isaiah 3:1). Later Jewish and English translations may render this term as 'staff' or 'rod;' the connotations of guidance or authority are secondary and context-dependent. In ancient Israelite society, a מִשְׁעֵנָה was a common personal item, valued for practical, not ceremonial, reasons. The term is distinct from מַטֶּה (standard term for 'staff' especially in a tribal or leadership context) and from שֵבֶט (staff or scepter signifying rule or punishment). In post-exilic and later Hebrew, figurative senses (sustenance, support) become somewhat more prominent, influenced by interpretive traditions.

Translation Consistency

primary "staff" 7 occurrences

'Staff' is the natural, concise English noun that covers the primary concrete meaning (walking stick, rod) and the common figurative sense (support, reliance). It matches the SILEX range and is the simplest, most idiomatic choice for consistent rendering across all occurrences.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"support-staff" (5x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מִשְׁעֶנֶת; feminine of מִשְׁעֵן; support (abstractly), i.e. (figuratively) sustenance or (concretely) a walking-stick; staff.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

שען (š-ʿ-n) — lean on, support oneself, rely

Root שׁען to lean on, support oneself, rely
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4937 מִשְׁעֵן for a support
H8172 שָׁעַן in your leaning

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4938-05 מִשְׁעֶנֶת֩ misheenet HNcfsc staff support-staff of staff of support 3
H4938-02 הַ/מִּשְׁעֶ֨נֶת֙ hamisheenet HTd/Ncfsa of the staff the support-staff the support-staff 2
H4938-04 מִשְׁעַנְתּ֖/וֹ misheaneto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his staff his support-staff his support-staff 2
H4938-03 מִשְׁעַנְתִּ֣/י misheaneti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my staff my support-staff my staff 2
H4938-06 וּ/מַשְׁעֵנָ֑ה umasheenah HC/Ncfsa and-staff support-staff and support-staff 1
H4938-07 וּ֝/מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗/ךָ umisheanetekha HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms and your staff and your support-staff and your staff 1
H4938-01 בְּ/מִשְׁעֲנֹתָ֑/ם bemisheanotam HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp with their staffs with their supporting-staffs with their staffs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4938-04 Exodus 21:19 מִשְׁעַנְתּ֖/וֹ misheaneto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his staff his support-staff his support-staff
H4938-01 Numbers 21:18 בְּ/מִשְׁעֲנֹתָ֑/ם bemisheanotam HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp with their staffs with their supporting-staffs with their staffs
H4938-02 Judges 6:21 הַ/מִּשְׁעֶ֨נֶת֙ hamisheenet HTd/Ncfsa of the staff the support-staff the support-staff
H4938-03 2 Kings 4:29 מִשְׁעַנְתִּ֣/י misheaneti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my staff my support-staff my staff
H4938-03 2 Kings 4:29 מִשְׁעַנְתִּ֖/י misheaneti-2 HNcfsc/Sp1cs my staff my support-staff my staff
H4938-02 2 Kings 4:31 הַ/מִּשְׁעֶ֨נֶת֙ hamisheenet HTd/Ncfsa the staff the support-staff the support-staff
H4938-05 2 Kings 18:21 מִשְׁעֶנֶת֩ misheenet HNcfsc staff support-staff of staff of support
H4938-06 Isaiah 3:1 וּ/מַשְׁעֵנָ֑ה umasheenah HC/Ncfsa and-staff support-staff and support-staff
H4938-05 Isaiah 36:6 מִשְׁעֶנֶת֩ misheenet HNcfsc staff support-staff of staff of support
H4938-05 Ezekiel 29:6 מִשְׁעֶ֥נֶת misheenet HNcfsc a-staff support-staff of staff of support
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