מִקְשָׁה
literally a cucumbered field, i.e. a cucumber patch
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִקְשָׁה (miqshâh) refers to a cultivated plot of land specifically dedicated to growing cucumbers. It is best understood as a 'cucumber field' or 'cucumber garden.' This agricultural term appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 1:8, where it is used metaphorically to describe the vulnerable, temporary state of a besieged city. The word does not have multiple distinct meanings in different passages, as its single occurrence defines its semantic range.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 1:8, the prophet declares, 'The daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a garden of cucumbers (מִקְשָׁה), like a besieged city.' Here, the term is part of a vivid simile illustrating desolation and exposure. The 'garden of cucumbers' represents a temporary, flimsy shelter (a watchman's hut) that is abandoned after the harvest, emphasizing the fragility and loneliness of Jerusalem under God's judgment.
Etymology
The noun מִקְשָׁה is a denominative derived from the root קִשֻּׁא (qishshu', H7180), which means 'cucumber.' The formation indicates a place or thing associated with cucumbers. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, such as Akkadian 'qishshu,' confirming its specific reference to the cucumber plant. The meaning developed straightforwardly from the plant itself to the cultivated field where it is grown.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a simple agricultural term, its sole biblical use in Isaiah 1:8 carries significant theological weight. It serves as a powerful metaphor within a prophetic oracle of judgment and warning. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the prophet's choice of imagery: just as a cucumber field's temporary hut is abandoned and exposed, so too is a faithless and sinful Jerusalem left vulnerable by God. It underscores themes of divine judgment, the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, and the precarious state of those who forsake God's protection.
In ancient Israel, a cucumber field (מִקְשָׁה) was a common and valuable agricultural plot. Cucumbers were a staple food, often grown in gardens requiring irrigation and care. The watchman's hut or lodge built in such a field was a flimsy, temporary structure used only during the harvest season to guard the crop from animals and thieves. This cultural reality makes Isaiah's metaphor immediately understandable to his original audience: the once-secure city of Jerusalem is now as exposed and deserted as a seasonal field shelter after the harvest is over.
גַּן (gan, H1588) — a general term for 'garden' or enclosed plot. מִקְשָׁה is a specific type of garden for cucumbers. שָׂדֶה (śādeh, H7704) — a broader term for 'field' or open country, not necessarily cultivated for a specific vegetable.
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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