or מׇשְׁחָת; from שָׁחַת; disfigurement; corruption, marred.
Transliteration:mishchâth
Pronunciation:mish-khawth'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun מִשְׁחָת (mishchâth), Strong's H4893, derives from the verbal root שָׁחַת (shâchath), Strong's H7843, which carries a broad semantic range including to destroy, ruin, corrupt, spoil, mar, or make worthless. As a noun, מִשְׁחָת denotes the *state* or *result* of this corruption or marring. Its core meaning thus points to a condition of disfigurement, blemish, or moral/physical corruption. It describes something that has been ruined, defaced, or rendered imperfect from its original or intended state. While the root `{{H7843}}` can refer to complete destruction, מִשְׁחָת specifically highlights the *blemished* or *disfigured* aspect rather than utter annihilation. It implies a departure from integrity or wholeness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term מִשְׁחָת (H4893) appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, each instance carrying profound significance within its specific context:
1. **Leviticus 22:25**: "Nor from the hand of a foreigner shall you offer the bread of your God from any of these things, because their corruption (מִשְׁחָת) is in them; a blemish is in them; they will not be accepted for you." [[Leviticus 22:25]]
In this passage, מִשְׁחָת refers to a physical defect or blemish in an animal that renders it unacceptable as a sacrifice to Yahweh. The context is ritual purity, emphasizing that offerings to a holy God must be perfect, without any disfigurement or corruption. The word is paired with מֻם (mum), a general term for blemish or defect, reinforcing the idea of physical imperfection that disqualifies the animal for sacred use. This highlights God's demand for unblemished perfection in worship.
2. **Isaiah 52:14**: "Just as many were astonished at you—so marred (מִשְׁחָת) was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—" [[Isaiah 52:14]]
Here, מִשְׁחָת describes the physical appearance of the Suffering Servant, a figure widely understood to be the Messiah. The term conveys an extreme degree of disfigurement, so profound that his appearance is "beyond human semblance" and "beyond that of the children of mankind." This is not merely a blemish, but a horrific marring that elicits astonishment and perhaps revulsion. In this prophetic context, the "marred" appearance speaks to the depth of the Servant's suffering, a suffering so intense that it physically deforms him, foreshadowing the Passion of Christ who bore the sins of humanity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root שָׁחַת (shâchath, H7843), from which מִשְׁחָת is derived. This root's extensive usage throughout the Old Testament clarifies the semantic field of H4893. `{{H7843}}` is used for:
* Physical destruction or ruin (e.g., of a city, [[Genesis 13:10]]).
* Moral corruption or depravity (e.g., humanity's corruption before the flood, [[Genesis 6:11-12]]).
* Spoiling or wasting (e.g., wine, [[Jeremiah 13:7]]).
* Defilement or perversion (e.g., of worship, [[Deuteronomy 4:16]]).
Thus, מִשְׁחָת encapsulates the *state* resulting from such actions or conditions, particularly emphasizing the visible or inherent defect.
Other related concepts include:
* **Purity and Blemish:** Terms like מֻם (mum, H4686) or טָמֵא (ṭāmē', H2930, defiled) are conceptually linked, as they describe states that render something ritually impure or unacceptable.
* **Sacrificial Law:** The broader regulations concerning unblemished offerings in Leviticus (e.g., [[Leviticus 21:17-23]]) underscore the divine expectation of perfection.
* **Messianic Prophecy:** The Suffering Servant passages in Isaiah (e.g., [[Isaiah 53:2-5]]) further elaborate on the nature of the Messiah's suffering, where his "marred" appearance is a sign of his vicarious atonement.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of מִשְׁחָת spans two critical areas:
Firstly, in the context of **holiness and sacrifice** (Leviticus), מִשְׁחָת underscores God's absolute perfection and His demand for unblemished offerings. The requirement for animals "without corruption" for sacrifice is not arbitrary; it symbolizes the purity and perfection necessary to approach a holy God. Any blemish or disfigurement would render the offering unfit, reflecting the incompatibility of human imperfection with divine holiness. This principle foreshadows the perfect, unblemished sacrifice of Christ.
Secondly, in the context of **Messianic prophecy** (Isaiah), the "marred" appearance of the Suffering Servant is profoundly significant. It points to the radical nature of Christ's identification with humanity's fallen state. The One who was without sin (cf. [[2 Corinthians 5:21]]) voluntarily took on the "disfigurement" of human sin, bearing its ugly consequences in His own body and soul. His physical marring, a result of intense suffering, is a visible manifestation of the spiritual corruption and penalty for sin that He bore. This paradoxical image—the perfect Son of God becoming utterly disfigured—is central to the theology of atonement, where His "marred" state becomes the means of humanity's restoration and healing (cf. [[Isaiah 53:5]]).
### Summary
מִשְׁחָת (H4893) is a rare but potent Hebrew noun, derived from the root `{{H7843}}` (to corrupt, destroy). It signifies a state of disfigurement, blemish, or profound corruption. Its two biblical occurrences provide crucial theological insights: In Leviticus, it highlights God's demand for unblemished perfection in worship and sacrifice, symbolizing the holiness required to approach Him. In Isaiah, it powerfully describes the extreme physical marring of the Suffering Servant, prophetically pointing to the depth of Christ's vicarious suffering and His identification with the brokenness of humanity. Thus, מִשְׁחָת serves as a stark reminder of the effects of imperfection and sin, while simultaneously foreshadowing the redemptive work of the Messiah who, though "marred," brought about healing and reconciliation.
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