### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mishkâb**, represented by `{{H4904}}`, is a term whose primary meaning is **bed**. It appears **46 times** in **44 unique verses** of the Bible. Derived from the root word for "to lie down" `{{H7901}}`, its definition extends beyond a literal piece of furniture to encompass abstract concepts such as sleep and, by euphemism, carnal intercourse.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H4904}}` appears in several distinct contexts. It can refer to a literal bed for rest, as when King David arose from his **bed** to walk on the palace roof [[2 Samuel 11:2]] or when he bowed in worship upon his **bed** in old age [[1 Kings 1:47]]. It is also a place of sickness and vulnerability, where the Lord promises to strengthen the faithful on the "bed of languishing" [[Psalms 41:3]], and where a person might be confined after being struck [[Exodus 21:18]]. In its euphemistic sense, it denotes sexual relations, as seen in the Torah's prohibitions against certain acts, such as a man lying with mankind "as he lieth with a woman" [[Leviticus 20:13]]. This use is also seen in descriptions of virgins as women who have not known a man by "lying with him" [[Numbers 31:18]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller understanding of the contexts surrounding `{{H4904}}`:
* `{{H7901}}` **shâkab** (to lie down): As the primitive root of **mishkâb**, this verb is foundational to its meaning. It is often used directly with `{{H4904}}` to describe the act of lying on a bed or engaging in intercourse [[Leviticus 18:22]].
* `{{H6210}}` **ʻeres** (couch, bedstead): A synonym for bed, sometimes referring to a more ornate couch. It is used in parallel with `{{H4904}}` to describe the place of rest for the sick [[Psalms 41:3]].
* `{{H2315}}` **cheder** (chamber): This word for an inner room is often combined with **mishkâb** to form the term for a private **bedchamber**. This is where secrets are spoken [[2 Kings 6:12]] and where one is most vulnerable to attack [[2 Samuel 4:7]].
* `{{H4296}}` **miṭṭâh** (bed, bier): Another term for a bed or couch, it is used to describe the place where Ishbosheth was assassinated in his bedchamber [[2 Samuel 4:7]] and the bed upon which frogs came during the plague in Egypt [[Exodus 8:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4904}}` is centered on themes of purity, intimacy, and contemplation.
* **Purity and Defilement:** The **bed** is a key object in laws of ritual purity. It can be made unclean by a person with an issue [[Leviticus 15:4]], and defiling a father's **bed** is a grave offense that brings a curse [[Genesis 49:4]]. Forbidden sexual unions are described as an abomination `{{H8441}}` connected to the act of **mishkâb** [[Leviticus 18:22]].
* **Intimate Contemplation:** The **bed** is a private space for communion and thought. The righteous are encouraged to commune with their own hearts upon their **bed** [[Psalms 4:4]], while the wicked devise mischief `{{H205}}` and evil `{{H7451}}` in the same space ([[Micah 2:1]], [[Psalms 36:4]]). God also uses this setting to give visions and revelation during slumber [[Job 33:15]].
* **Covenant Faithfulness:** Figuratively, the **bed** represents allegiance and intimacy. Israel is condemned for its spiritual adultery when it "enlarged thy **bed**" and made covenants with foreign lovers, symbolizing idolatry [[Isaiah 57:8]]. The "bed of love" becomes a place of defilement with the Babylonians [[Ezekiel 23:17]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4904}}` is far more than a simple reference to a place of sleep. It is a powerful scriptural symbol representing the private arenas of human life: vulnerability, intimacy, and inner thought. The condition of one's **bed**—whether a place of worship and rest or a site of defilement and wicked schemes—often reflects the condition of one's covenant relationship with God. It serves as a focal point for moral and ceremonial law, illustrating how an everyday object carries profound theological weight.
TRV