Word Study for H4902 (מֶשֶׁךְ)

Meshek /meh'-shek/ Ask about this word

Rootthe same in form as מֶשֶׁךְ, but probably of foreign derivation

MeaningMeshek, a son of Japheth, and the people descended from him

KJV usageMesech, Meshech.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Meshek — 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 Meshek H4902, also rendered as Mesech or Meshech, identifies a son of Japheth and the people descended from him. It appears 9 times across 9 unique verses in the Bible. While primarily known as a genealogical name, it also represents a people and a territory, often associated with northern nations characterized by their military might and commercial activities.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, Meshek is first introduced in the genealogies as a son of Japheth (Genesis 10:2, 1 Chronicles 1:5). A different listing also names Meshech as one of the sons of Shem 1 Chronicles 1:17. In prophetic literature, the people of Meshech are depicted as formidable. Ezekiel portrays them, alongside Tubal, as merchants who traded in the persons of men and vessels of brass Ezekiel 27:13. The prophet also lists them among the uncircumcised nations slain by the sword who had caused terror in the land of the living Ezekiel 32:26. In a personal lament, the psalmist cries, "Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech" Psalms 120:5, using the name to symbolize a hostile and remote place.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the role and identity of Meshek:

H3315 Yepheth (Japheth): As the father of Meshek, this name establishes the primary genealogical line for this people group Genesis 10:2.
H8422 Tûwbal (Tubal): This name represents a brother of Meshek and a people group almost always mentioned alongside them, sharing a common destiny in trade and prophecy Ezekiel 38:2.
H1463 Gôwg (Gog): In Ezekiel's prophecies, Gog is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, leading them in a final confrontation Ezekiel 39:1.
H7402 râkal (merchants): This term describes the role of the people of Meshech in the markets of Tyre, highlighting their engagement in international trade Ezekiel 27:13.

Theological Significance

The significance of Meshek unfolds across different biblical genres:

Genealogical Identity: Meshek is a foundational name in the Table of Nations, marking the posterity of Noah's sons. Its appearance in the lineage of both Japheth Genesis 10:2 and Shem 1 Chronicles 1:17 underscores its place in the biblical record of peoples.
Symbol of Hostile Powers: The people of Meshek are consistently portrayed as a distant, powerful, and often antagonistic gentile nation. Their mention in Ezekiel's lament over the fallen nations confirms their status as a formidable people whose might ends in judgment Ezekiel 32:26.
Eschatological Antagonist: The most prominent role of Meshek is in the prophecies against Gog. The Lord GOD explicitly declares, "Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" (Ezekiel 38:3, Ezekiel 39:1), positioning them as key players in an end-times coalition that opposes God.
Commercial Influence: Beyond military might, Meshek is identified as a significant economic force, trading not only in goods like vessels of brass but also in human lives, participating in the slave trade Ezekiel 27:13.

Summary

In summary, H4902 Meshek evolves from a name in a patriarchal line to a designation for a powerful and remote people. They are recognized for their commercial trading, their fearsome reputation, and most notably, their role as a primary force in the northern armies led by Gog in Ezekiel's eschatological prophecies. The name serves as a biblical archetype for a worldly power that, despite its strength, ultimately faces the judgment of God.

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 and a verb across 10 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — 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.

מֶשֶׁךְ
מֶשֶׁךְ
מֹשְׁכֵי

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

Appears in 9 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (5 verses); never once in the other 35.

Genesis

1 Chronicles

Psalms

Ezekiel

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.