מִשְׁכָּב
a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִשְׁכָּב (mishkâb) primarily refers to a bed or couch for sleeping or resting, as seen in Exodus 8:3 where frogs invade the beds of the Egyptians. It can also denote a bier or place for the dead, as in 2 Chronicles 16:14. In a more abstract sense, it refers to the act of sleep itself. Significantly, in Levitical law, it is used euphemistically to describe the place or act of sexual intercourse, particularly in contexts of ritual impurity (Leviticus 15:4, 21).
Biblical Usage
מִשְׁכָּב appears 44 times, predominantly in the Pentateuch (especially Leviticus) and historical books. Its usage is most frequent in Leviticus 15, detailing laws concerning bodily discharges and associated ritual impurity related to the 'bed.' It describes literal sleeping places (Exodus 8:3, 2 Samuel 4:7), a funeral bier (2 Chronicles 16:14), and figuratively for sleep (Psalm 149:5). The euphemistic sense for sexual relations is central in legal texts (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13) and narrative (Genesis 49:4).
Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁכַב (shakav, H7901), meaning 'to lie down, to sleep, to have sexual relations.' מִשְׁכָּב is a noun form indicating the place or object where the action of lying down occurs. Cognate nouns include מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan, dwelling) from the same root, showing a semantic connection to a place of rest or habitation.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it bridges physical, ritual, and moral concepts in the Mosaic Law. In Leviticus, the state of one's מִשְׁכָּב is directly tied to ritual purity and holiness before God, especially concerning sexual ethics (Leviticus 18, 20). Its use in Genesis 49:4 regarding Reuben's sin underscores the profound moral consequences of defiling a father's bed. Understanding this term enriches the reading of purity laws and the biblical connection between physical acts and spiritual condition.
In ancient Israelite culture, the bed was not merely furniture but a central element in laws of cleanliness and social order. A person's מִשְׁכָּב could become ritually unclean through various bodily emissions (Leviticus 15), requiring washing and isolation. This reflects a holistic worldview where everyday life was integrated with religious practice. The euphemistic use for sex highlights the cultural value of discretion when discussing intimate matters.
עֶרֶשׂ (ʿeres, H6210) — a couch or bed, often luxurious (Amos 6:4); מִטָּה (mittah, H4296) — a bed or couch, the most common term; יָצוּעַ (yatsuaʿ, H3326) — a couch or bed, often in poetic contexts (Amos 3:12).
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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