מֶשֶׁךְ
a sowing; also a possession
Definition
The Hebrew noun מֶשֶׁךְ (meshek) carries two primary meanings in the Old Testament. First, it refers to 'a sowing' or the act of scattering seed, as seen in Psalm 126:6, which poetically describes one who goes out to sow seed (מֶשֶׁךְ־הַזָּרַע). Second, it denotes 'a possession' or something precious and valuable, as used in Job 28:18, where wisdom's value is compared to precious corals and crystal, items of great worth. The dual meaning connects the tangible action of planting with the resulting, valuable yield or treasure.
Biblical Usage
This rare word appears only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts that illustrate its two meanings. In the poetic book of Job (Job 28:18), it is used in a wisdom context to describe valuable, precious possessions in a list of costly items. In a psalm of ascent (Psalm 126:6), it is used agriculturally and metaphorically, describing the act of sowing seed, which symbolizes faithful labor that leads to a joyful harvest. There is no clear pattern across books due to its rarity.
Etymology
מֶשֶׁךְ (meshek) is a noun derived from the root verb מָשַׁךְ (mashach, H4900), which means 'to draw, drag, or pull.' The semantic development likely moved from the physical act of 'drawing' a plow or 'pulling' seed from a bag to sow, to the resulting 'possession' or valuable yield that one acquires. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to pulling, drawing, or acquiring.
Semantic Range
This word enriches the biblical theme of sowing and reaping, both literally and spiritually. In Psalm 126:6, it grounds the metaphor of spiritual labor and hope in the tangible, faithful act of sowing, promising that tears sown in faith will yield a harvest of joy. In Job 28:18, it contrasts earthly treasures, which are a 'possession' (meshek), with the incomparable value of divine wisdom, which cannot be bought. Understanding meshek deepens appreciation for how physical acts like farming illustrate spiritual truths about investment, reward, and true value.
In an agrarian society, sowing was a fundamental, hopeful act of investment for future survival and prosperity. The 'possession' sense likely referred to high-value trade goods like corals, understood as stored wealth. The dual meaning reflects a cultural worldview where agricultural labor and accumulated treasure were both central to economic life and concepts of value.
זֶרַע (zeraʿ, H2233) — specifically 'seed' for planting, not the act of sowing. סְגֻלָּה (segullah, H5459) — a 'treasured possession,' often of God's people, implying special chosen status rather than general wealth. כֶּסֶף (keseph, H3701) — 'silver/money,' a general term for currency, not a poetic term for precious items.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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