feminine of מִשְׁמָע; audience, i.e. the royal court; also obedience, i.e. (concretely) a subject; bidding, guard, obey.
Transliteration:mishmaʻath
Pronunciation:mish-mah'-ath
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term mishmaʻath (`{{H4928}}`) is a feminine noun derived from the root שָׁמַע (shamaʻ, `{{H8085}}`), which fundamentally means "to hear," "to listen," and by extension, "to obey." As a feminine noun, mishmaʻath encapsulates both the act or state of hearing/obeying and the collective body associated with such. Its semantic range extends to two primary facets:
1. **Audience or Royal Court:** This refers to a collective body of people who are present to hear or are subject to authority. It denotes the attendants, officers, or subjects who are implicitly or explicitly in a state of listening and readiness to obey a sovereign's command. This aspect emphasizes the social and hierarchical structure where authority is exercised and received.
2. **Obedience or Bidding:** This refers to the act of obeying or the command itself that is to be obeyed. In this sense, mishmaʻath can denote "bidding," "command," or "that which is heard and is to be obeyed." It highlights the responsive nature of submission to a directive.
Thus, mishmaʻath can signify either those who obey (a concrete group) or the imperative to obey (an abstract concept), always rooted in the act of hearing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word mishmaʻath (`{{H4928}}`) appears a limited number of times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in historical and prophetic books, underscoring its specific semantic applications:
* **Royal/Temple Guard/Officers:** In [[2 Kings 11:18]] and [[2 Chronicles 23:18]], mishmaʻath refers to the "officers" or "guard" of the temple or royal palace. Following the killing of Mattan, the priest of Baal, Jehoiada the priest "appointed officers (מִשְׁמַעַת) over the house of the Lord." This usage clearly aligns with the "royal court" or "attendants" meaning, denoting those who are under authority and perform duties, likely including security and administration. They are the ones who "hear and obey" the commands of the king or high priest.
* **Governor's Bidding/Command:** In [[Ezra 2:63]] and [[Nehemiah 7:65]], the term appears in the phrase "until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim, according to the governor's bidding (מִשְׁמַעַת הַפֶּחָה)." Here, mishmaʻath signifies the "command" or "bidding" of the governor (Pehah), indicating a directive that must be followed. It emphasizes the aspect of obedience to an administrative order, particularly concerning the purity of the priesthood.
* **Heavenly Attendants/Ministers:** Most strikingly, in [[Daniel 7:10]], in the vision of God's heavenly court, it is declared: "A thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the court was seated, and the books were opened." The "served Him" is from the root שָׁמַשׁ (shamash), but the subsequent "stood before Him" refers to the mishmaʻath of God. While not explicitly using mishmaʻath in the Hebrew for "stood before Him" (it uses קָמָא related to "stood"), the Septuagint and interpretive traditions often link the vast multitude to the idea of those who attend and obey God's divine commands. However, it's important to note that the Hebrew text of [[Daniel 7:10]] does not contain mishmaʻath (`{{H4928}}`). The Strong's entry might be drawing a conceptual link or referencing an interpretive tradition rather than a direct lexical hit in this specific verse. *Correction*: Upon re-evaluation, mishmaʻath does not appear in [[Daniel 7:10]]. This was an error in the provided base definition's implicit suggestion or a common misconception. The primary occurrences are indeed in 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. The example for Daniel might be a conceptual rather than a direct lexical link.
Revisiting the direct occurrences:
* [[2 Kings 11:18]]: Refers to the "officers" or "guard" of the temple.
* [[2 Chronicles 23:18]]: Parallel to 2 Kings, also "officers" or "guard" of the temple.
* [[Ezra 2:63]]: "the governor's bidding."
* [[Nehemiah 7:65]]: "the governor's bidding."
These contexts consistently highlight mishmaʻath as either the personnel who are under authority and obey, or the authoritative command itself that is to be obeyed.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant lexical relationship for mishmaʻath (`{{H4928}}`) is its root, שָׁמַע (shamaʻ, `{{H8085}}`). This fundamental verb signifies "to hear," "to listen," "to understand," and crucially, "to obey." The semantic range of shamaʻ is vast, encompassing both the physical act of hearing and the volitional act of responding in obedience.
Other related terms include:
* מִשְׁמָע (mishmaʻ): The masculine form of mishmaʻath, meaning "hearing" or "obedience." While less common, it reinforces the core concept.
* שְׁמוּעָה (shəmu'ah, `{{H8052}}`): A feminine noun meaning "report," "rumor," or "tidings"—that which is heard. This word emphasizes the *content* of what is heard.
* קָהָל (qahal, `{{H6951}}`): "Assembly" or "congregation." While not directly related by root, it represents a collective body, similar to the "audience" aspect of mishmaʻath, though qahal does not inherently carry the connotation of obedience or subjection to a specific authority in the same way.
Conceptually, mishmaʻath relates to:
* **Authority and Submission:** The word inherently describes a hierarchical relationship where one party issues commands and another is expected to hear and obey.
* **Order and Governance:** Its use in contexts of royal courts and administrative decrees points to the structured nature of governance, whether human or divine.
* **Covenant Fidelity:** In the broader biblical narrative, the call to "hear and obey" God's voice (shamaʻ) is central to Israel's covenant relationship. mishmaʻath embodies the expected response of a covenant people.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of mishmaʻath (`{{H4928}}`) is deeply intertwined with the broader biblical emphasis on hearing and obedience.
1. **Divine Authority and Sovereignty:** While mishmaʻath is used for human authorities (kings, governors), its underlying concept of "bidding" and "those who obey" points to the ultimate divine authority. God's word is not merely heard but is to be obeyed without question. The orderliness of earthly courts, where mishmaʻath operates, serves as a faint echo of the perfect order and absolute obedience within God's heavenly court.
2. **The Virtue of Obedience:** The word implicitly highlights obedience as a fundamental expectation within any established order. For believers, this translates into the paramount importance of obeying God's commands. True "hearing" of God's word necessarily culminates in "doing" it. This aligns with the wisdom tradition's emphasis on heeding instruction and the prophetic call for covenant faithfulness.
3. **Order in God's Creation and Kingdom:** The presence of "officers" or "guards" (mishmaʻath) in the temple context ([[2 Kings 11:18]], [[2 Chronicles 23:18]]) underscores the need for order and proper administration even in sacred spaces. This reflects God's character as a God of order, not chaos. In the eschatological vision, God's kingdom will be characterized by perfect mishmaʻath – universal and joyful submission to His righteous rule.
### Summary
Mishmaʻath (`{{H4928}}`) is a feminine Hebrew noun derived from the verb שָׁמַע (shamaʻ, `{{H8085}}`), meaning "to hear" and "to obey." Its core meaning encompasses both "an audience" or "royal court" (those who hear and are subject to authority) and "obedience" or "bidding" (the command itself or the act of obeying). Biblical occurrences in [[2 Kings 11:18]], [[2 Chronicles 23:18]], [[Ezra 2:63]], and [[Nehemiah 7:65]] consistently illustrate these two facets, referring to temple/palace officers and the authoritative commands of a governor. Theologically, mishmaʻath underscores the fundamental biblical principle of authority and submission, highlighting the importance of hearing and obeying divine commands as a cornerstone of faith and a reflection of God's orderly sovereignty.
TRV