or מִשְׁקֹלֶת; feminine of מִשְׁקָל or מַשְׁקוֹף; a weight, i.e. a plummet (with line attached); plummet.
Transliteration:mishqeleth
Pronunciation:mish-keh'-leth
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma מִשְׁקֶלֶת (mishqeleth, `{{H4949}}`), also found as מִשְׁקֹלֶת, is derived from the root שָׁקַל (shaqal, `{{H8254}}`), meaning "to weigh" or "to be weighed." Its base definition refers to a "weight," and more specifically, to a "plummet" or "plumb line." A plummet is an essential tool in construction and craftsmanship, consisting of a weight attached to a line, used to determine true verticality or perpendicularity. The term thus conveys concepts of precision, accuracy, measurement, and adherence to a fixed, unyielding standard. Its feminine form suggests a concrete instrument or object. The connection to related terms like מִשְׁקָל (mishqal, `{{H4948}}`), meaning "weight" or "balance," further reinforces the semantic field of exact measurement and evaluation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word מִשְׁקֶלֶת appears in two significant prophetic contexts within the Hebrew Bible:
* **[[2 Kings 21:13]]**: "And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down."
* Here, the מִשְׁקֶלֶת is used metaphorically in the context of God's severe judgment against Jerusalem due to the idolatry and wickedness of King Manasseh. The "plummet of the house of Ahab" signifies the same standard of destruction that was applied to the wicked northern kingdom and its ruling dynasty. Just as a plummet ensures a straight and complete construction or demolition, God's judgment will be precise, thorough, and utterly devastating, leaving nothing intact. It implies a complete dismantling and removal, akin to wiping a dish clean.
* **[[Amos 7:7]]**: "Thus he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand."
* **[[Amos 7:8]]**: "And the Lord said to me, 'Amos, what do you see?' And I said, 'A plumb line.' Then the Lord said, 'Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them.'"
* In Amos's vision, the מִשְׁקֶלֶת is explicitly held by the Lord Himself. The wall, initially built "with a plumb line," suggests an original standard of divine uprightness for Israel. However, the Lord's subsequent action of "setting a plumb line" in the midst of His people signifies a direct and final assessment of their moral and spiritual integrity. The מִשְׁקֶלֶת here is not merely a tool for building, but an instrument of divine judgment against which Israel's crookedness and deviation from God's covenant standards are measured. The dire consequence, "I will never again pass by them," emphasizes the finality and severity of the impending judgment.
Across both occurrences, the מִשְׁקֶלֶת consistently functions as a powerful metaphor for God's righteous standard and the precision of His judgment. It signifies an unyielding measure against which human actions and societal structures are evaluated.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of מִשְׁקֶלֶת is enriched by its connections to other Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* **שָׁקַל (shaqal, `{{H8254}}`)**: The verbal root, meaning "to weigh," underscores the act of evaluation, assessment, and the determination of value or truth.
* **מִשְׁקָל (mishqal, `{{H4948}}`)**: A related noun meaning "weight" or "balance," further emphasizing the concept of a standard of measure and equitable judgment.
* **מִדָּה (middah, `{{H4060}}`)**: A more general term for "measure" or "dimension," which complements מִשְׁקֶלֶת by highlighting the broader concept of divine measurement and proportion.
* **קָנֶה (qaneh, `{{H7070}}`)**: A "reed" or "measuring rod," another instrument of measurement, often for length, contrasting with the plummet's specific focus on vertical alignment.
* **Justice (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat `{{H4941}}`) and Righteousness (צֶדֶק, tzedeq `{{H6664}}`)**: The metaphorical use of the plummet in Amos directly links it to God's attributes of perfect justice and righteousness. It is by these divine standards that His people are measured.
* **Divine Standard**: The מִשְׁקֶלֶת embodies the idea of God's unchangeable and absolute standard, against which all human conduct, institutions, and nations are ultimately judged.
### Theological Significance
The מִשְׁקֶלֶת carries profound theological weight, primarily symbolizing:
* **Divine Impartiality and Precision**: God's judgment is not arbitrary or capricious; it is exact and perfectly just, akin to the unerring accuracy of a plummet. This signifies that God evaluates all things with perfect knowledge and without bias.
* **Unwavering Standard of Righteousness**: The plummet represents God's immutable character and His unyielding standard of holiness and righteousness. Unlike human standards which can be compromised or shift, God's מִשְׁקֶלֶת is fixed, demanding a corresponding uprightness from His covenant people. It underscores that there is a definitive right and wrong, established by divine decree.
* **Accountability and Inevitable Judgment**: The primary theological implication is that of human accountability before God's perfect standard. When Israel (or any entity) is measured by God's מִשְׁקֶלֶת and found to be "crooked" or deviating, judgment is the inevitable and just consequence. This highlights the seriousness of sin and disobedience in God's eyes.
* **Consequences of Deviation**: The imagery of the plummet in both 2 Kings and Amos serves as a stark warning. To be measured and found wanting means facing severe, often destructive, divine intervention. It illustrates that God's patience has limits and that His justice will ultimately prevail, rectifying all misalignment.
* **Call to Uprightness**: Implicitly, the מִשְׁקֶלֶת serves as a call for humanity to align their lives, actions, and societal structures with God's perfect will. It emphasizes the importance of living a life that is "straight," "true," and "upright" in His eyes, rather than crooked or deviating from His divine blueprint.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מִשְׁקֶלֶת (mishqeleth, `{{H4949}}`) denotes a plummet, a tool for determining vertical accuracy. Biblically, its significance transcends its literal meaning, serving as a powerful metaphor for God's divine standard of judgment. In [[2 Kings 21:13]], it symbolizes the thorough and destructive judgment God exacts upon Jerusalem, mirroring the fate of the wicked house of Ahab. More prominently in [[Amos 7:7-8]], the Lord Himself is depicted holding and setting the מִשְׁקֶלֶת among Israel, signifying a final, precise assessment of their moral and spiritual deviation from His covenant.
Theologically, מִשְׁקֶלֶת underscores God's absolute impartiality, His unwavering standard of righteousness, and the precision of His justice. It highlights human accountability before a perfect God, indicating that any deviation from His divine plumb line will result in certain and inevitable judgment. This potent imagery serves as both a warning of divine consequence and an implicit call for humanity to live lives of integrity and uprightness, aligned with God's perfect will.
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