Word Study for H4887 (מְשַׁח)

mᵉshach /mesh-akh'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to מָשַׁח

Meaningoil

KJV usageoil.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mᵉshach — 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 Aramaic word mᵉshach, represented by H4887, is the term for oil. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. This word comes from a root that corresponds to the Hebrew word for anointing.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H4887 appears exclusively within the book of Ezra, in the context of provisions for the temple in Jerusalem. It is listed as one of the essential supplies to be given to the priests for burnt offerings to the "God of heaven" Ezra 6:9. In a later decree, King Artaxerxes commands that a specific quantity, "an hundred baths of oil," be provided for the temple, alongside other resources like silver, wheat, wine, and salt Ezra 7:22.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words appear alongside oil as provisions for the temple:

H2562 chămar (wine): This is the Aramaic word for wine. It is consistently listed with oil as a required supply for the temple priests (Ezra 6:9, Ezra 7:22).
H4416 mᵉlach (salt): This term for salt is also included in the list of essential provisions for the temple, mentioned with oil and wine in the decrees (Ezra 6:9, Ezra 7:22).

Theological Significance

The significance of H4887 lies in its practical role within the context of restoring temple worship.

Essential Provision: Oil is presented as a fundamental commodity, alongside items like wine H2562, salt H4416, and wheat, necessary for the daily operations and offerings of the priests in Jerusalem Ezra 6:9.
Royal Support: The specific mention of oil in royal edicts underscores the authority and resources provided by foreign kings for the maintenance of the house of God Ezra 7:22.
Sacred Use: While a common substance, its designation for the "God of heaven" highlights its importance in the context of sacred rites and burnt offerings Ezra 6:9.

Summary

In summary, H4887 mᵉshach is a specific Aramaic term for oil. Its limited use in Scripture is confined to the book of Ezra, where it functions as a key provision for the restored temple services. It appears in royal decrees alongside other staples like wine and salt, highlighting its practical and necessary role in supporting the prescribed worship in Jerusalem (Ezra 6:9, Ezra 7:22).

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 2 occurrences, 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.

מְשַׁח

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

2 verses, all in Ezra — 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.