### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mesheq**, represented by `{{H4943}}`, refers to a **possession** or a **steward**. It is derived from an unused root that means "to hold." This word is exceptionally rare, appearing just **1 time** in the entire Bible, within a single, pivotal verse.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H4943}}` is in Genesis, where a childless Abram expresses his distress to God. He asks, "Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the **steward** of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?" [[Genesis 15:2]]. In this critical context, **mesheq** defines the person who stands to inherit all of Abram's possessions and manage his household in the absence of a natural son and heir.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide crucial context for the meaning of `{{H4943}}`:
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (a son; steward): This word appears directly with `{{H4943}}` in [[Genesis 15:2]] to form the concept of "steward." While it most often means son, its use here highlights that the role of a steward was one a son would typically fill, managing the family's future. Its importance to lineage is seen in phrases like "teach them thy **sons**, and thy **sons**' **sons**" [[Deuteronomy 4:9]].
* `{{H1004}}` **bayith** (a house; family): This word immediately follows the term for steward in the phrase "steward of my **house**" [[Genesis 15:2]]. It grounds the steward's responsibility within the family unit and its legacy, a concept reinforced in statements like, "as for me and my **house**, we will serve the LORD" [[Joshua 24:15]].
### Theological Significance
Despite its single usage, the theological weight of `{{H4943}}` is significant, highlighting key themes of promise and inheritance.
* **Stewardship and Inheritance:** The word's only appearance is at the heart of Abram's crisis of faith: who will carry on his legacy? The **steward** `{{H4943}}` represents a human solution to a problem that God intends to solve through divine promise, setting the stage for the covenant of an heir [[Genesis 15:2]].
* **The Household as Legacy:** By linking the **steward** `{{H4943}}` to the **house** `{{H1004}}`, the text emphasizes that what is at stake is not just property, but the continuation of a family line and its spiritual identity. The "house" is the entity that relates to God, whether it is David's household [[2 Samuel 7:18]] or the entire house of Israel [[Jeremiah 31:33]].
* **Sonship and Divine Provision:** The use of `{{H4943}}` underscores the void that only a true **son** `{{H1121}}` can fill. Abram's lament points to a worldly manager, but God's plan involves a promised son, a theme that echoes throughout scripture, culminating in the declaration, "unto us a **son** is given" [[Isaiah 9:6]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4943}}` **mesheq** is a term whose importance far outweighs its frequency. Its singular, poignant use in [[Genesis 15:2]] encapsulates the profound human drama of legacy, inheritance, and the longing for a son. Defined by its relationship to the words for "son" and "house," it marks a moment of human despair that prompts a divine promise, making it a cornerstone for understanding God's covenant relationship with his people.
TRV