מִשְׁקָל
weight (numerically estimated); hence, weighing (the act)
Definition
מִשְׁקָל refers primarily to a standard unit of weight used in commerce and religious offerings. It denotes both the physical weight itself (e.g., a shekel weight, as in Genesis 24:22) and the abstract concept of a measured, just amount. In some contexts, it signifies the act of weighing (Leviticus 19:35). The word is also used metaphorically for a measured portion, as seen in the prophecy of scarce bread sold 'by weight' during famine (Leviticus 26:26).
Biblical Usage
The word appears 42 times, predominantly in the Torah (especially in the detailed descriptions of offerings in Numbers 7) and in prophetic books like Ezekiel. Its usage is almost exclusively in contexts of trade, justice in measurement, and sacred contributions. For example, it governs honest scales (Leviticus 19:35, Proverbs 16:11), the valuation of temple offerings (Ezekiel 4:10), and the precise weights of precious metals for the tabernacle (Exodus 38:24).
Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁקַל (H8254, shāqal), meaning 'to weigh' or 'to pay.' מִשְׁקָל is a noun form indicating the instrument or result of the weighing action. Cognate words include שֶׁקֶל (shekel, H8255), a specific unit of weight, and מֹאזְנַיִם (mō’znayim, H3976), meaning scales or balances.
Semantic Range
מִשְׁקָל is theologically significant as it connects material honesty with divine character. God demands just weights as part of covenant faithfulness (Leviticus 19:35-36, Deuteronomy 25:13-15), linking economic integrity to holiness. The precise weights used for the tabernacle (Exodus 38:24) reflect God's attention to detail in worship. Metaphorically, scarcity 'by weight' (Leviticus 26:26) signifies God's measured judgment, while the concept underscores that all things are accounted for by a God of perfect justice (Proverbs 16:11).
In ancient Israel, standardized weights were crucial for a barter economy. Stones of specific masses (e.g., the shekel, talent) were used with balance scales. Dishonest weights were a common form of fraud (Amos 8:5, Micah 6:11). Unlike modern impersonal currency, transactions involved a tangible, divinely-regulated measure of value, making economic justice a visible, communal spiritual duty.
שֶׁקֶל (sheqel, H8255) — a specific standard unit of weight or coin. מֹאזְנַיִם (mo'znayim, H3976) — the physical scales or balances used for weighing. כִּכָּר (kikkār, H3603) — a large unit of weight, a talent.
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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