מִמְשָׁק
a possession
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִמְשָׁק (mimshâq) refers to a possession or property, specifically land that is held and cultivated. It appears only in Zephaniah 2:9, where it describes the territory of Moab and Ammon. The word conveys the sense of an inherited or acquired holding, likely with an emphasis on its productive use. In its sole biblical occurrence, it is parallel to the idea of a permanent inheritance for the remnant of God's people.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Zephaniah 2:9. The context is a prophetic oracle against the nations of Moab and Ammon, declaring that their land will become a possession (מִמְשָׁק) for the remnant of the house of Judah. The usage here is specific to territorial inheritance following divine judgment.
Etymology
Derived from the root מָשַׁק (mâshaq, H4943), which relates to drawing out or acquiring. The noun form מִמְשָׁק suggests something that is drawn out or apportioned, hence a possession. It is cognate with words for property or inheritance, sharing a semantic field with terms for land holdings.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word carries theological weight in the context of God's justice and covenant faithfulness. In Zephaniah 2:9, the transfer of Moab and Ammon's land as a 'possession' to Judah's remnant underscores God's sovereignty over nations and His commitment to restore His people. It echoes the theme of the Promised Land as an inheritance, now extended even to conquered territories as a sign of divine reversal and grace.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, land was the primary form of wealth and identity. A 'possession' (מִמְשָׁק) was not just property but a source of livelihood and family legacy. The concept differs from modern private ownership, as land was often held communally or seen as a grant from a deity or king, which aligns with its use in Zephaniah as a grant from God.
נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — inheritance, often with covenantal overtones; אֲחֻזָּה (achuzzâh, H272) — possession, especially of land as a permanent holding; יְרֻשָּׁה (yerushshâh, H3425) — inheritance or property taken by possession.
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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