English · KJV
H4476

מִמְשָׁק

mimshâq /mim-shawk'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom the same as מֶשֶׁק
Meaninga possession
KJV usagebreeding.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mimshâq — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mimshâq, represented by H4476, is defined as a possession; breeding. It is a rare term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible. Its singular usage provides a very specific and vivid image related to the aftermath of divine judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole appearance of H4476 is in the prophetic oracle against Moab and Ammon in Zephaniah 2:9. The LORD of hosts declares that their lands will become like Sodom and Gomorrah. The term is used to describe the specific nature of this desolation: "even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits." In this context, it signifies a place that is possessed or completely taken over by worthless and wild vegetation, illustrating a state of total ruin and abandonment.

Related Words & Concepts

The concept of desolation surrounding H4476 is reinforced by related Hebrew words:

  • H8077 shᵉmâmâh (devastation; figuratively, astonishment): This noun appears in the same verse as H4476, describing the fate of Moab and Ammon as a "perpetual desolation" Zephaniah 2:9. It is frequently used to describe the ruin of land and cities as a result of judgment Jeremiah 34:22.
  • H8074 shâmêm (a primitive root; to stun... devastate... make desolate): As the root of H8077, this verb describes the action of causing desolation or the state of being ruined. It is used to describe the land lying desolate until it enjoyed its sabbaths 2 Chronicles 36:21 and the desolation of the sanctuary Daniel 9:26.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H4476 is derived entirely from its pointed use in the context of judgment.

  • Sign of a Curse: The word illustrates a reversal of blessing. Instead of a fruitful possession, the land is given over to a "breeding of nettles," a physical sign of a curse and divine punishment.
  • Prophetic Fulfillment: Its use in Zephaniah 2:9 links the judgment of Moab and Ammon directly to the historical and theological benchmark of Sodom and Gomorrah, promising a complete and lasting devastation.
  • Tangible Consequence of Sin: The imagery of H4476 serves as a tangible picture of the consequences of a nation's opposition to God. The land itself becomes a witness to the judgment, possessed not by people but by ruin.

Summary

In summary, while H4476 mimshâq is one of the rarest words in the biblical text, its single occurrence is impactful. It is not a neutral term for breeding or possession but is instead sharply defined by its context in Zephaniah 2:9. Paired with terms like "desolation," it vividly portrays a land under a curse, demonstrating the finality and totality of divine judgment on a nation.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • מִמְשַׁק

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H8077 שְׁמָמָה or שִׁמָמָה; feminine of שָׁמֵם; devastation; figuratively, astonishment; (laid, [idiom] most) desolate(-ion), waste. H8074 שָׁמֵם a primitive root; to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a pa

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Zephaniah — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.