The Hebrew word mishʻîy, represented by H4935, means to supple. This word is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Old Testament. Its singular context is within a vivid allegory describing the care, or lack thereof, for a newborn, where it signifies a specific act of cleaning or preparing an infant immediately after birth.
The only use of H4935 is found in Ezekiel 16:4. In this passage, God describes the origins of Jerusalem by comparing the city to an abandoned female infant. The verse lists the basic neonatal care that was neglected at her birth: her navel was not cut, she was not salted, and she was not swaddled. Critically, it states she was not "washed in water to supple thee," emphasizing a state of complete helplessness and abandonment from the moment of her birth.
The immediate context of H4935 links it to several other words related to birth and initial care:
- H4138 môwledeth (nativity... kindred): This word sets the scene, as the verse begins by describing Jerusalem's nativity or origin, framing the entire passage as a story of birth Ezekiel 16:4.
- H7364 râchats (to lave... wash (self)): This action is directly tied to H4935. The infant Jerusalem was not washed in water for the purpose of being suppled, highlighting a state of filth and neglect Ezekiel 16:4.
- H8270 shôr (navel): This term refers to the umbilical cord. The fact that the infant's navel was not cut is the first in a list of signs of abandonment, showing she was left in her natural, unclean state after birth Ezekiel 16:4.
- H2853 châthal (to swathe... swaddle): This word for swaddling is the final act of neglect mentioned in the verse. Just as she was not washed to be suppled, she was not swaddled at all, leaving her completely exposed Ezekiel 16:4.
The theological significance of H4935 is derived entirely from its symbolic use within this powerful metaphor.
- Symbol of Utter Helplessness: The failure to supple the infant Jerusalem is part of a graphic depiction of her humble and desperate origins, signifying a state of total inability to care for herself.
- A Picture of Neglect: This specific, omitted action contributes to a larger picture of abandonment. It illustrates that before God's intervention, Israel was in a state of spiritual impurity and destitution, uncared for by the nations from which it emerged.
- Foundation for Grace: The description of what was not done for Jerusalem, including not being suppled, serves as a dark backdrop that magnifies the brilliance of God's subsequent grace. He found the infant in this desperate state and chose to care for her, making her his own Ezekiel 16:4.
In summary, the word H4935 provides a very specific detail in one of the Bible's most poignant allegories. While it appears only once, its meaning, to supple, is critical to understanding the metaphor in Ezekiel 16. It represents a fundamental act of care, and its absence in the text powerfully conveys the themes of abandonment, helplessness, and the profound nature of God's redemptive grace in choosing and caring for His people.
TRV