Lexical Summary
mishqal: Weight, measure
Original Word:מִשְׁקָל
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:mishqal
Pronunciation:mish-KAHL
Phonetic Spelling:(mish-kawl')
KJV: (full) weight
NASB:weight, weighed, weighing, full, rationed amounts, weigh
Word Origin:[fromH8254 (שָׁקַל - weighed)]
1. weight (numerically estimated)
2. (hence) weighing (the act)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
full weight
Fromshaqal; weight (numerically estimated); hence, weighing (the act) -- (full) weight.
see HEBREWshaqal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
shaqalDefinitionweight
NASB Translationfull (1), rationed amounts (1), weigh (1), weighed (4), weighing (3), weight (39).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
id.;; — absolute 1Ki 25:16+; construct
Judges 8:26+; suffix
Genesis 24:22+, etc.; —
weightGenesis 24:22 (twice in verse)(J),
Joshua 7:21 (JE),
Judges 8:26;
1 Samuel 17:5;
2 Samuel 12:30;
2 Samuel 21:16a (2Samuel 21:16b read with .[see especially
L] We Dr and modern),
1 Kings 7:47;
1 Kings 10:14;
Numbers 7:13 + 11t.
Numbers 7 (P), 7 t. Chronicles; of wind
Job 28:25;
Genesis 43:21(J)
in its (full)
weight t, compare
Ezekiel 5:1;
by weightLeviticus 26:26;
1 Chronicles 28:14 a.
1 Chronicles 28:18id.Ezekiel 4:16 (of bread),
Ezra 8:34;
1 Chronicles 28:14b;
1 Chronicles 28:15 (twice in verse);
1 Chronicles 28:17 (twice in verse);
Leviticus 19:35in respect to weight, compare
1 Chronicles 28:16as to weight, in weight; (i.e. there was too much to be weighed)
2 Kings 25:16 =
Jeremiah 52:20,
1 Chronicles 22:3,14.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewMishqal denotes an assessed “weight” and appears about forty-nine times in the Old Testament. Scripture employs the word in three principal spheres: (1) accurate measurement of materials dedicated to worship, (2) evaluation of royal or commercial property, and (3) moral instruction regarding honesty and divine judgment.
Weights in the construction and maintenance of holy space
•Exodus 38:24-29 records the first extended use. “All the gold from the wave offering used for the work on the sanctuary weighed twenty-nine talents and seven hundred thirty shekels” (Exodus 38:24). The narrator repeats mishqal for silver and bronze (verses 25-29), underscoring that nothing in the tabernacle was estimated loosely; every precious metal was weighed before the Lord.
• In Solomon’s day the same scrupulous exactness governed temple craftsmanship: “Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were too many; the weight of the bronze could not be determined” (1 Kings 7:47). The verb shifts from weighing to the impossibility of weighing, highlighting the super-abundance of divine provision.
• Ezra revived this tradition when returning exiles delivered temple offerings: “At the house of our God we carefully weighed the silver, the gold, and the vessels” (Ezra 8:33). The meticulous accounting safeguarded both worship integrity and the reputation of the priests.
Royal economy and public life
• The monarchy used the “king’s weight” as an official standard. Absalom’s vanity is measured by it: “When he cut the hair of his head … the weight of the hair of his head was two hundred shekels by the king’s weight” (2 Samuel 14:26).
• Weapons and tribute are similarly quantified. Ishbi-benob’s deadly spear weighed “three hundred bronze shekels” (2 Samuel 21:16), and the annual influx of tribute to Solomon included “the weight of gold that came to Solomon each year: six hundred sixty-six talents of gold” (1 Kings 10:14). Such notices demonstrate that the prosperity or threat posed by a kingdom could be expressed in measurable, objective terms.
Commercial justice and ethical instruction
Mishqal moves from the temple and palace into the marketplace as a symbol of righteousness.
• “Accurate weights are His delight” (Proverbs 11:1).
• “Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are His work” (Proverbs 16:11).
Because God Himself guarantees the standard, cheating a neighbor becomes an affront to divine authority. Prophets later denounce Israel for “a bag of deceitful weights” (Micah 6:11).
Figurative applications
Even when the literal object is absent, the term’s concrete imagery conveys moral or spiritual gravity. Job laments, “Oh that my grief were weighed!” (Job 6:2). The psalmist exults that God “takes no pleasure in the strength of the horse” (Psalm 147:10); human boasting carries no weight beside divine power. By associating worth with measurable weight, Scripture teaches that true value is found where God assigns it.
Theological and ministry significance
1. Worship integrity: Mishqal reminds the church that offerings—whether resources, time, or talents—should be presented thoughtfully and accountably.
2. Stewardship: Believers are called to transparent handling of money and possessions, echoing the sanctuary practice of weighing everything before God.
3. Justice: Just weights illustrate impartiality. Christians engaged in business, governance, or ministry must maintain standards that reflect the character of the Lord who “shows no partiality.”
4. Hope of glory: The Old Testament’s emphasis on measurable weight prepares for Paul’s declaration that present trials are “light and momentary,” producing “an eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). The gospel moves the theme from metal on scales to the incomparable, lasting value of redemption.
Summary
Wherever mishqal appears, Scripture ties physical measurement to spiritual reality. From tabernacle gold to marketplace scales, God requires accuracy, honesty, and reverence, teaching His people to weigh every action in the balance of His unchanging righteousness.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּמִשְׁקַל־ בְּמִשְׁקָ֔ל בְּמִשְׁקָ֖ל בְּמִשְׁקָל֑וֹ בְּמִשְׁקָל֙ בַּמִּשְׁקָ֑ל בַּמִּשְׁקָ֖ל בַּמִּשְׁקָל֙ במשקל במשקל־ במשקלו הַמִּשְׁקָ֖ל המשקל וּמִשְׁקַ֤ל וּמִשְׁקַל֙ וּמִשְׁקָ֛ל וּמִשְׁקָ֞ל וּמִשְׁקָלָ֨הּ ומשקל ומשקלה מִשְׁקַ֛ל מִשְׁקַ֞ל מִשְׁקַ֣ל מִשְׁקַ֥ל מִשְׁקָ֑ל מִשְׁקָ֔ל מִשְׁקָ֖ל מִשְׁקָ֛ל מִשְׁקָֽל׃ מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ מִשְׁקָל֔וֹ מִשְׁקָלָֽם׃ מִשְׁקָלָהּ֒ משקל משקל׃ משקלה משקלו משקלם׃ bam·miš·qāl bammishKal bammišqāl bə·miš·qā·lōw bə·miš·qāl bə·miš·qal- bemishKal bemishkaLo bəmišqāl bəmišqal- bəmišqālōw ham·miš·qāl hammishKal hammišqāl miš·qā·lāh miš·qā·lām miš·qā·lōw miš·qal miš·qāl mishKal mishkaLah mishkaLam mishkaLo mišqal mišqāl mišqālāh mišqālām mišqālōw ū·miš·qā·lāh ū·miš·qal ū·miš·qāl umishKal umishkaLah ūmišqal ūmišqāl ūmišqālāh
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