מִמְשַׁח
outspread (i.e. with outstretched wings)
Definition
The noun מִמְשַׁח (mimshach) describes something that is 'outspread' or 'extended,' specifically referring to wings. It occurs only in Ezekiel 28:14, where it modifies the cherub's wings as 'outspread' or 'covering.' The word derives from the root for 'anointing' (מָשַׁח), but here the sense shifts from the act of smearing to the concept of something being spread out or expansive. This unique usage captures the image of a majestic, protective covering, likely portraying the cherub's role as a guardian in a divine, holy setting.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 28:14. It appears in a prophetic oracle against the king of Tyre, within a metaphorical description of the king's former exalted state in Eden, the garden of God. The context is highly symbolic, describing the king as a 'cherub' with 'outspread wings' (כְּרוּב מִמְשַׁח) that covered or protected. This singular usage is poetic and visionary, contributing to the passage's rich imagery of lost glory and guardianship.
Etymology
מִמְשַׁח is a noun derived from the root מָשַׁח (mashach, H4886), which means 'to smear, anoint.' Typically, this root relates to consecration (e.g., anointing priests or kings). However, in this form, the meaning extends metaphorically to 'expansion' or 'spreading out,' focusing on the physical act of spreading that is inherent in anointing. Thus, the word moves from the ritual act to describe the shape or posture of wings being outstretched.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it contributes to the complex imagery of cherubim in Ezekiel's visions. Cherubim are associated with God's throne, holiness, and protective presence (e.g., Genesis 3:24, Ezekiel 10). The description of 'outspread wings' evokes concepts of divine guardianship, glory, and covering. In Ezekiel 28:14, applying this term to a fallen human king ironically highlights the height from which he fell, contrasting human pride with the true, holy guardians represented by cherubim. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by clarifying the precise, vivid picture of majestic protection that was profaned.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, winged celestial beings (like cherubim) were common in art and mythology, often depicted as guardians of sacred spaces or thrones. The image of outspread wings symbolized protection, power, and the overshadowing presence of the divine. Ezekiel's audience would have recognized this imagery from temple decorations (e.g., the cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Kings 6:23-28) and surrounding cultures. The term's unique usage here adapts a familiar visual concept to a prophetic message about hubris and fall.
פָּרַשׂ (paras, H6566) — a more common verb meaning 'to spread out' (e.g., wings, a tent), focusing on the action rather than the state. כָּנָף (kanaf, H3671) — the common noun for 'wing,' which מִמְשַׁח describes as being outspread.
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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