### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mishʼereth**, represented by `{{H4863}}`, refers to a **kneading-trough** or **store**. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible. Its definition is based on the idea of swelling, which is characteristic of dough rising in a trough. It signifies a fundamental household vessel used for the preparation of bread.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H4863}}` is used in two key contexts. During the plague of frogs in Egypt, the **kneadingtroughs** are specifically mentioned as places that would be overrun, illustrating the pervasiveness of the plague into the core of Egyptian domestic life [[Exodus 8:3]]. Later, during the Exodus, the Israelites carried their unleavened dough in their **kneadingtroughs**, which were bound up in their clothes on their shoulders, highlighting the haste of their departure [[Exodus 12:34]]. The word also appears in Deuteronomy, where the **store** is listed as a recipient of divine blessing for obedience [[Deuteronomy 28:5]] and a subject of curses for disobedience [[Deuteronomy 28:17]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the function and context of the kneading-trough:
* `{{H1217}}` **bâtsêq** (dough): This is the substance contained within the kneading-trough. The Israelites took their **dough** in their kneadingtroughs before it was leavened during their flight from Egypt [[Exodus 12:34]].
* `{{H2935}}` **teneʼ** (basket): This word is used in parallel with `{{H4863}}` in Deuteronomy, representing a household's provisions. The blessing and curse are pronounced upon both the **basket** and the store, indicating their collective importance for sustenance [[Deuteronomy 28:5]].
* `{{H8574}}` **tannûwr** (oven): In the description of the plague of frogs, ovens and kneadingtroughs are listed together as items within the house that will be infested, linking them as essential tools for food preparation [[Exodus 8:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4863}}` is tied to its role in daily life and its symbolic connection to God's judgment and provision.
* **Symbol of Divine Provision:** In Deuteronomy, a blessed **store** represents God's promise to provide for His people's daily needs. Conversely, a cursed **store** symbolizes the withdrawal of that provision as a consequence of disobedience ([[Deuteronomy 28:5]], 28:17).
* **Vessel of Redemption:** The **kneadingtrough** becomes an instrument of freedom, carrying the first bread of the liberated Israelites. Its contents—unleavened dough—serve as a perpetual reminder of the urgency of their deliverance from bondage [[Exodus 12:34]].
* **Sphere of Divine Judgment:** The invasion of frogs into the **kneadingtroughs** demonstrates that God's judgment is not a distant event but one that affects the most intimate and essential areas of life, rendering even the source of daily bread unclean [[Exodus 8:3]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4863}}` is far more than a simple trough for dough. It is a powerful symbol within scripture that represents the core of household life. Whether being filled by God's blessing, invaded by His judgment, or carried on the shoulders of a people set free, the **mishʼereth** illustrates the profound connection between the ordinary act of preparing bread and the overarching realities of divine covenant, judgment, and redemption.
TRV