Lexical Summary
meshar: Uprightness, equity, fairness, level path
Original Word:מֵישָׁר
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:meyshar
Pronunciation:may-shar'
Phonetic Spelling:(may-shawr')
KJV: agreement, aright, that are equal, equity, (things that are) right(-eously, things), sweetly, upright(-ly, -ness)
NASB:equity, smoothly, peaceful arrangement, right things, rightly, sincerity, smooth
Word Origin:[fromH3474 (יָשַׁר - right)]
1. evenness, i.e. (figuratively) prosperity or concord
2. also straightness, i.e. (figuratively) rectitude (only in plural with singular sense
3. often adverbially)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
agreement, aright, that are equal, equity, things that are righteously, things, sweetly
Fromyashar; evenness, i.e. (figuratively) prosperity or concord; also straightness, i.e. (figuratively) rectitude (only in plural with singular sense; often adverbially) -- agreement, aright, that are equal, equity, (things that are) right(-eously, things), sweetly, upright(-ly, -ness).
see HEBREWyashar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
yasharDefinitionevenness, uprightness, equity
NASB Translationequity (8), peaceful arrangement (1), right things (1), rightly (1), sincerity (1), smooth (1), smoothly (2), things that are upright (1), uprightly (1), uprightness (1), what is right (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] ; — only plural:
Proverbs 1:3; elsewhere
Isaiah 26:7 17t.; —
evenness, levelIsaiah 26:7, of path of righteous (in the future), figurative for free from difficulties;smoothness, of the flow of wine,Proverbs 23:31; Cant 7:10.
,uprightness, equity, as taught in the school of wisdomProverbs 8:6, ""Proverbs 1:3;Proverbs 2:9; of governmentPsalm 9:9;Psalm 58:2;Psalm 75:3;Psalm 96:10;Psalm 99:4; of speechIsaiah 33:15;Proverbs 23:16; of Yahweh's promisesIsaiah 45:19;1 Chronicles 29:17have pleasure in equity;Daniel 11:6make an equitable arrangement.
adverbrightly, withPsalm 17:2;Songs 1:4.
Topical Lexicon
Concept and Semantic Rangeמֵישָׁר (meyshar) gathers up the ideas of straightness, levelness, equity and integrity. Whether describing a physical terrain without obstacles, a judicial decision untainted by partiality, or moral conduct free from crooked motives, the term consistently points to what is unbent, even, and right.
Distribution and Literary Settings
• Historical Narrative –1 Chronicles 29:17
• Psalms of David and the Sons of Korah –Psalm 9:8; 17:2; 58:1; 75:2; 96:10; 98:9; 99:4
• Wisdom Literature –Proverbs 1:3; 2:9; 8:6; 23:16; 23:31
• Song of Solomon –Song of Solomon 1:4; 7:9
• Major Prophets –Isaiah 26:7; 33:15; 45:19
• Apocalyptic Narrative –Daniel 11:6
Nineteen occurrences cluster around three major genres: praise/prophecy (Psalms–Isaiah), wisdom (Proverbs–Song of Solomon), and royal-historical material (1 Chronicles; Daniel).
Judicial Uprightness
Several psalms use מֵישָׁר to celebrate Yahweh as the perfectly equitable Judge.
• “He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity” (Psalm 98:9).
• “Surely You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob” (Psalm 99:4).
The term underscores that divine adjudication is never capricious; it rests on an unwavering standard of fairness. The believer’s assurance of ultimate justice grows from this attribute. Earthly rulers are thereby measured and summoned to administer true equity (Psalm 58:1; 75:2).
Ethical Straightness
Proverbs applies מֵישָׁר to personal character.
• “To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity” (Proverbs 1:3).
• “Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path” (Proverbs 2:9).
Here “equity” identifies the unvarying moral plumb line by which wisdom trains hearts to walk level paths (cf.Isaiah 26:7). The word is inseparable from covenant faithfulness; integrity in business, speech, and relationships is supposed to mirror Yahweh’s own rectitude.
Straight Paths and Safe Passage
Isaiah widens the term to communal hope: “The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright” (Isaiah 26:7). In ancient travel, a leveled highway symbolized relief from stumbling and danger. Spiritually, the Lord engineers such a roadway for His people, prefiguring the way prepared for the Messiah (Isaiah 40:3 uses the cognate noun מִישֹׁר).
Delightful Sweetness
A striking metaphor emerges in Song of Solomon. The bridegroom’s love “is more delightful than wine” and his “mouth is sweetest,” literally “uprightnesses” (Song of Solomon 1:4; 7:9). The same root that depicts legal fairness here portrays the pure, unadulterated flavor of covenant love—nothing diluted, nothing crooked.
Warning Against Crooked Intoxication
Proverbs 23:31 cautions, “Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.” The smooth slide of wine contrasts with the upright smoothness of righteous paths. What seems pleasant can lead to moral staggering, a reminder that genuine מֵישָׁר is found in holiness, not fleshly indulgence.
Christological Trajectory
The righteous reign celebrated in Psalms 96, 98, and 99 culminates in Jesus Christ, the Davidic King who “will reign on the throne of David and over His kingdom, establishing it and upholding it with justice and righteousness” (Isaiah 9:7). His equitable judgment inActs 17:31 answers the hope voiced in the Hebrew Scriptures. Every occurrence of מֵישָׁר anticipates the Messiah’s flawless equity.
Historical and Cultural Background
In the Ancient Near East, royal inscriptions boasted of leveling roads and dispensing just verdicts. Israel’s prophets adopted that imagery, yet anchored it not in human kingship but in Yahweh’s covenant. The contrast is vivid inDaniel 11:6, where political alliances fail to secure מֵישָׁר. Only divine sovereignty sustains true equity.
Ministry Applications
1. Preaching and Teaching – Emphasize God’s unwavering standard; call hearers to align decisions, relationships, and social structures with His equity.
2. Pastoral Care – Hold out the comfort that wrongs will be righted by the Judge who never deviates from straightness (Psalm 9:8).
3. Discipleship – Equip believers to pursue integrity in business, sexuality, and speech, steering clear of seductive “smoothness” that masks moral pitfalls (Proverbs 23:31).
4. Worship – Incorporate readings ofPsalm 96 and 98 to foster awe-filled confidence in the coming righteous reign of Christ.
Intercanonical Echoes
•Luke 3:5 quotes Isaiah’s highway imagery, signaling the dawn of New Testament fulfillment.
•Hebrews 12:13 exhorts, “Make straight paths for your feet,” importing the same moral geography into Christian perseverance.
•Revelation 19:11 pictures the Faithful and True Rider who “judges and wages war in righteousness,” the final embodiment of מֵישָׁר.
Summary
מֵישָׁר threads the Old Testament with the vision of a world made straight—courts honest, roads safe, hearts pure, love unalloyed. Its nineteen appearances trace the promise from David’s throne through prophetic longing to messianic consummation. In every age the word summons God’s people to walk the level way and to trust the Judge whose equity never bows to corruption.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃ במישרים׃ וּ֝מֵישָׁרִ֗ים וּמֵישָׁרִ֖ים וּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃ ומישרים ומישרים׃ לְמֵישָׁרִ֑ים למישרים מֵֽישָׁרִ֑ים מֵישָׁרִ֑ים מֵישָׁרִ֖ים מֵישָׁרִ֥ים מֵישָׁרִֽים׃ מישרים מישרים׃ bə·mê·šā·rîm bemeishaRim bəmêšārîm lə·mê·šā·rîm lemeishaRim ləmêšārîm mê·šā·rîm meishaRim mêšārîm ū·mê·šā·rîm umeishaRim ūmêšārîm
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