מִקְשֶׁה

מִקְשֶׁה

something turned (rounded), i.e. a curl (of tresses)

Definition

The Hebrew noun מִקְשֶׁה (miqsheh) refers to something that is turned, rounded, or curled. Its primary meaning is a curl or ringlet of hair, specifically describing well-set, plaited, or elaborately arranged tresses. The word derives from a root meaning to be hard or severe, suggesting hair that is knotted or bound up tightly into a rounded shape. This term appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 3:24, where it describes an element of ornate hairstyle.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only in Isaiah 3:24. It appears in a list of luxury items and adornments that will be taken away from the prideful women of Zion as part of God's judgment. The context is a prophecy detailing the replacement of beauty with branding, where 'well-set hair' (מִקְשֶׁה) will be replaced by baldness. Its singular usage is highly specific to this oracle of judgment against vanity and social pride.

Etymology

מִקְשֶׁה is a noun derived from the root קָשָׁה (qāšâ, H7185), which means 'to be hard, severe, or difficult.' In this derived form, the sense shifts from hardness to the idea of something being knotted up or made firm into a rounded shape, hence a 'curl.' The etymology connects the physical firmness of a tightly wound hairstyle to the root concept of hardness.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, this word carries theological weight within its context. In Isaiah 3:16-24, the 'well-set hair' (miqsheh) is a symbol of the pride, vanity, and misplaced trust in outward adornment by the women of Jerusalem. Its removal signifies God's judgment on superficial values and societal arrogance, emphasizing that true beauty and security are found in righteousness and dependence on God, not in external displays of status. Understanding this specific term enriches the reading of Isaiah's prophecy by highlighting the concrete cultural symbols God uses to communicate spiritual truth. In ancient Near Eastern culture, elaborate hairstyles were markers of social status, wealth, and beauty, especially among women of the upper class. A 'miqsheh' likely referred to an intricate, curled, or plaited hairstyle that required significant time and skill to create, similar to the ornate coiffures depicted in ancient art. Isaiah's prophecy subverts this cultural symbol of pride, declaring that such valued adornments will be replaced by the shame of baldness, a common motif in judgments of the era (cf. Isaiah 3:17, 24). צַמָּה (tsammah, H6807) — a braid or lock of hair, often used in similar contexts of plaited hair (e.g., Song of Solomon 7:5).

Word Details