Lexical Summary
miqshah: hammered work
Original Word:מִקְשָׁה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:miqshah
Pronunciation:mik-SHAH
Phonetic Spelling:(mik-shaw')
KJV: beaten (out of one piece, work), upright, whole piece
NASB:hammered work
Word Origin:[feminine ofH4748 (מִקשֶׁה - well-set hair)]
1. rounded work, i.e. moulded by hammering (repousse)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
beaten out of one piece, work, upright, whole piece
Feminine ofmiqsheh; rounded work, i.e. Moulded by hammering (repousse) -- beaten (out of one piece, work), upright, whole piece.
see HEBREWmiqsheh
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
miqshehDefinitionperhaps hammered work
NASB Translationhammered work (9).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. perhaps , only of metals (originally
turner's work?); — absolute , of cherubim in tabernacle
Exodus 25:18;
Exodus 37:7, lampstand
Exodus 25:31,36;
Exodus 37:17,22;
Numbers 8:4 (twice in verse), clarions
Numbers 10:2. — I. see .
Topical Lexicon
Artisan Hammerwork in the TabernacleMiqshah first appears within the instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, describing metal that is beaten or hammered into a single, seamless piece. The emphasis on one-piece craftsmanship underscores both permanence and purity: no joints, no welds, no admixture—only gold or silver submitted to the craftsman’s mallet until it embodies the pattern Moses saw on the mountain. This “hammered work” required not only skill but also patience, symbolizing the meticulous care with which God’s dwelling among His people was to be prepared (Exodus 25:9, 40).
The Cherubim of the Mercy Seat
Exodus 25:18 andExodus 37:7 specify that the two cherubim which overshadowed the atonement cover were formed “of hammered gold”. Fashioned from one piece with the mercy seat itself, they visually declared the inseparability of divine mercy and divine presence. The unbroken gold hinted at the unbroken fellowship God intended to restore through atonement, a reality ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ who is Himself both propitiation and place of meeting (Romans 3:25).
The Golden Lampstand (Menorah)
Six occurrences of miqshah concern the lampstand (Exodus 25:31, 25:36;Exodus 37:17, 37:22;Numbers 8:4 [twice]). The reads, “The lampstand shall be made of hammered work” (Exodus 25:31). Beaten from a single talent of pure gold, the Menorah’s central shaft and six branches formed an organic unity—buds, calyxes, and blossoms all flowing from the same source. Its daily-trimmed flames represented the perpetual light of revelation (Leviticus 24:2-4), a motif resonating in the New Testament when Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
Symbolic Unity and Indivisibility
Because miqshah objects were wrought of one piece, they proclaimed unity:
• Unity of revelation—the pattern was heavenly, not human (Exodus 25:40).
• Unity of worship—the lampstand, cherubim, and trumpets served distinct functions yet shared the same divine workmanship.
• Unity of the covenant community—Israel was to be “one” before the LORD (Deuteronomy 6:4), just as the Tabernacle furnishings were one continuous piece.
Guidance and Worship: The Silver Trumpets
Numbers 10:2 records, “Make two trumpets of hammered silver for summoning the congregation and for having the camps set out.” When blown by the priests, these miqshah trumpets signaled worship, warfare, and journeying. Their piercing tones reminded Israel that movement and battle were under divine directive; obedience to the sound was obedience to God’s voice (1 Corinthians 14:8).
Contrast with Idolatry: Jeremiah’s Cucumber Patch
Jeremiah 10:5 employs miqshah in a different sense—“Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak.” The prophet mocks idols as lifeless, immobile fixtures amid a garden. By using the same word that elsewhere describes living, functional objects of worship, Jeremiah exposes the impotence of man-made gods. The living LORD fashions instruments that serve; human craftsmen fashion statues that must be served.
Theological Reflections
1. Divine initiative: Every miqshah article originated from a revealed pattern, illustrating the principle that true worship begins with God, not human creativity.
2. Costly devotion: Whether gold or silver, the materials were precious, reflecting the worthiness of the One they honored (1 Peter 1:18-19).
3. Christological focus: The seamless unity of miqshah prefigures the perfect, undivided person and work of Christ—“in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).
Application for Ministry Today
• Serve with excellence: Miqshah challenges modern servants to craftsmanship—sermons, music, and acts of mercy shaped by prayerful precision.
• Preserve unity: As the lampstand’s branches were one piece, so the church must maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
• Sound a clear trumpet: Faithful proclamation should guide and rally God’s people, just as the silver trumpets directed Israel’s march.
• Reject lifeless substitutes: The allure of man-centered worship or cultural idols is still a “scarecrow in a cucumber patch.” Only the living God deserves the hammer-forged devotion of His people.
Forms and Transliterations
מִקְשָׁ֖ה מִקְשָׁ֞ה מִקְשָׁ֣ה מִקְשָׁ֥ה מִקְשָׁה֙ מקשה mikShah miq·šāh miqšāh
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