from שָׁאַר in the original sense of swelling; a kneading-trough (in which the dough rises); kneading trough, store.
Transliteration:mishʼereth
Pronunciation:mish-eh'-reth
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word מִשְׁאֶרֶת (mishʼereth, `{{H4863}}`) derives from the root שָׁאַר (sha'ar), which carries the fundamental sense of "to remain," "to be left over," or, significantly for this term, "to swell" or "to rise." Consequently, the core meaning of מִשְׁאֶרֶת is a "kneading-trough," a vessel specifically designed for mixing dough and allowing it to ferment and rise through the action of leaven. The term directly points to this process of expansion. Its semantic range extends to encompass "store" or "provisions," particularly in the Deuteronomic blessings and curses, where the trough functions as a metonym for the abundance or lack of daily sustenance. This broader sense highlights its role as a container for essential food items.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term מִשְׁאֶרֶת appears a limited number of times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the Pentateuch, offering crucial insights into ancient Israelite domestic life and significant theological events.
* **Exodus 8:3 (Hebrew 7:28):** "And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy *kneadingtroughs*." [[Exodus 8:3]]
* This verse places מִשְׁאֶרֶת among common household items, emphasizing its ubiquity and importance in daily life for preparing food. The invasion of frogs into such a vital container underscores the pervasive and disruptive nature of the plague.
* **Exodus 12:34:** "And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their *kneadingtroughs* being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders." [[Exodus 12:34]]
* This is a pivotal occurrence. It illustrates the Israelites' hasty departure from Egypt, carrying their unleavened dough within their מִשְׁאֶרֶת. This detail highlights the essential, portable nature of the trough, not merely as a kitchen utensil but as a container for immediate, fundamental sustenance. The inability to wait for the dough to rise emphasizes the urgency and divine imperative of the Exodus.
* **Deuteronomy 28:5:** "Blessed shall be thy basket and thy *store*." [[Deuteronomy 28:5]]
* In this context of covenant blessings for obedience, מִשְׁאֶרֶת is paired with "basket" (סַל, `{{H5536}}`). Here, it functions metonymically, representing one's "store" or "provisions." The blessing extends to the very means of preparing and holding one's sustenance, signifying prosperity and abundance in daily provisions, a direct result of divine favor.
* **Deuteronomy 28:17:** "Cursed shall be thy basket and thy *store*." [[Deuteronomy 28:17]]
* The parallel curse for disobedience reinforces the meaning from [[Deuteronomy 28:5]]. A curse upon the מִשְׁאֶרֶת implies a lack of food, an inability to prepare sustenance, or a barrenness in one's provisions – a stark antithesis to the blessing of abundance, signifying divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Root שָׁאַר (sha'ar, `{{H7604}}`):** The underlying root, with its meaning of "to swell" or "to rise," directly informs the function of the מִשְׁאֶרֶת as a vessel for rising dough.
* **Leaven (חָמֵץ, chametz, `{{H2557}}`; שְׂאֹר, se'or, `{{H7660}}`):** These terms are intrinsically linked to the מִשְׁאֶרֶת, as leaven is the agent that causes dough to swell within the trough. The absence of leaven (unleavened bread, מַצָּה, matzah, `{{H4682}}`) in the Exodus narrative further highlights the trough's role in the leavening process.
* **Basket (סַל, sal, `{{H5536}}`):** As seen in Deuteronomy, the pairing of מִשְׁאֶרֶת with "basket" underscores their shared function as containers for food, representing the general concept of daily sustenance and provision.
* **Daily Bread/Provision:** The מִשְׁאֶרֶת stands as a tangible symbol of the most basic human need: food. Its state (blessed or cursed) directly reflects the well-being and prosperity of the household, linking it to the broader concept of divine provision.
### Theological Significance
The מִשְׁאֶרֶת holds significant theological weight, despite its humble nature:
* **Divine Provision and Sustenance:** The מִשְׁאֶרֶת serves as a potent symbol of God's direct involvement in providing for His people. In the covenant framework of Deuteronomy, a blessed מִשְׁאֶרֶת signifies divine favor and assurance of abundant daily provisions, while a cursed one points to divine judgment and scarcity. This teaches that God's sovereignty extends to the most practical aspects of human existence.
* **The Urgency and Divine Nature of the Exodus:** The vivid image of the Israelites carrying their מִשְׁאֶרֶת with unleavened dough on their shoulders in [[Exodus 12:34]] powerfully conveys the immediacy and divine imperative of their liberation. It underscores that God's deliverance was so swift and decisive that there was no time for ordinary domestic processes like leavening bread. This detail highlights the miraculous nature of the Exodus and God's active, compelling hand in freeing His people.
* **Purity and Separation:** While not directly stated, the association of the מִשְׁאֶרֶת with unleavened bread during the Passover connects it to themes of purity and a swift, uncorrupted departure from bondage. Leaven often symbolizes sin or corruption in biblical thought (e.g., [[Matthew 16:6]]), making the unleavened bread prepared in the trough a symbol of a new, purified beginning.
* **God's Presence in the Mundane:** The inclusion of מִשְׁאֶרֶת in both blessings and curses, and its role in the Exodus, demonstrates that God's care and judgment extend to the most ordinary, everyday items and activities. It elevates the mundane aspects of life into the realm of divine concern, teaching that faithfulness (or unfaithfulness) has direct implications for daily provision and well-being.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מִשְׁאֶרֶת (mishʼereth, `{{H4863}}`) primarily denotes a "kneading-trough," a vital household vessel for preparing bread, particularly for allowing dough to swell, reflecting its root שָׁאַר (`{{H7604}}`). Biblically, its occurrences illuminate its significance: it was a ubiquitous item in Israelite homes [[Exodus 8:3]], a crucial, portable container for unleavened dough during the hasty Exodus [[Exodus 12:34]], and a metonym for "store" or "provisions" in the covenant blessings and curses of Deuteronomy [[Deuteronomy 28:5]], [[Deuteronomy 28:17]]. Theologically, מִשְׁאֶרֶת symbolizes God's intimate involvement in daily provision, the divine urgency and miraculous nature of the Exodus, and the profound impact of covenant faithfulness on even the most fundamental aspects of human existence. It stands as a humble yet potent reminder of divine care and the sacredness of everyday sustenance.
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