מִשְׁקָע

𐤌𐤔𐤒𐤏

mishqâʻ

H4950 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁקע to sink, subside, settle

Definition

A body of stagnant or collected water, such as a pond, pool, or reservoir, typically characterized by being a place where water settles or accumulates. In some contexts, can also refer to a place that is depressed or sunken, often with water gathering there.

Semantic Range

collection basin, pond, pool, reservoir, sunken place (where water gathers), place of water accumulation, stagnant water

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁקַע (shaqa‘), meaning 'to sink down, subside, settle.' Mishqâʻ is a noun form describing the result or location of such sinking or settling, especially with regard to water.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מִשְׁקָע refers not to flowing water but to standing, settled water—often natural or man-made basins or pools where water collects. This distinguishes it from terms like בְּאֵר (be'er, 'well') or מַעְיָן (ma‘yan, 'spring'), which indicate sources or conduits of flowing water. The word appears in contexts describing landscapes or settlements, often in lists of features or resources (e.g., land descriptions in prophetic or poetic texts). Its meaning remains consistent from the monarchic through post-exilic periods, maintaining the notion of a collection place for water. Later translations sometimes render it as 'cistern,' 'pond,' or 'pool,' but care must be taken not to confuse it with wells or springs. English 'deep' as a translation is imprecise, as the core concept is settled or pooled water, not depth per se.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁקַע; a settling place (of water), i.e. a pond; deep.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁקע (sh-q-ʿ) — to sink, subside, settle

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8257 שָׁקַע I will cause to sink
H8258 שְׁקַעְרוּרָה sunken recesses

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4950-01 וּ/מִשְׁקַע umisheqa HC/Ncmsc and settled and settling-basin of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4950-01 Ezekiel 34:18 וּ/מִשְׁקַע umisheqa HC/Ncmsc and settled and settling-basin of