from שָׁקַע; a settling place (of water), i.e. a pond; deep.
Transliteration:mishqâʻ
Pronunciation:mish-kaw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word מִשְׁקָע (mishqâʻ, `{{H4950}}`) is a noun derived from the verbal root שָׁקַע (shaqaʻ, `{{H8257}}`), which means "to sink," "to settle down," or "to subside." Thus, מִשְׁקָע fundamentally refers to a place or state characterized by settling or sinking. Its primary definition is "a settling place of water," commonly understood as a pond or a pool where sediment has accumulated and settled. This implies a body of water that is still, potentially deep, and where impurities might collect at the bottom. The extended meaning of "deep" directly flows from this, suggesting not merely a location but a characteristic depth, often associated with the accumulation of settled material. The term evokes a sense of stillness, depth, and at times, the obscure nature of what lies beneath the surface.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word מִשְׁקָע (mishqâʻ, `{{H4950}}`) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, making its sole usage particularly poignant and significant.
* **[[Ezekiel 34:18]]**: "Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? And is it not enough for you to drink clear water, that you must muddy the rest with your feet, so that my sheep must drink what you have trampled and what you have made deep (מִשְׁקָע) with your feet?"
In this passage, the prophet Ezekiel delivers a severe condemnation of the unfaithful shepherds (leaders) of Israel. They are accused of selfishly consuming the best resources (the "good pasture" and "clear water") and then deliberately defiling what remains for the flock. The "deep" water (מִשְׁקָע) is not a natural, pristine pond, but water that has been made turbid and foul by the trampling feet of the shepherds. Their actions stir up the sediment and mud (טִיט, `{{H2916}}`) from the bottom, rendering the water undrinkable and harmful for the sheep. The depth implied by מִשְׁקָע in this context is not one of refreshing abundance, but rather a depth of contamination and pollution, a profound defilement that makes the very source of life-sustaining water a source of distress and sickness. The imagery vividly portrays the leaders' neglect and oppression, turning what should be a blessing into a burden for those under their care.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **שָׁקַע (shaqaʻ, `{{H8257}}`)**: The verbal root from which מִשְׁקָע is derived. This verb signifies "to sink," "to settle," or "to subside." It is used in contexts ranging from cities sinking into ruin ([[Amos 9:5]]) to the settling of sediment ([[Ezekiel 32:14]]), or even a person sinking into mud ([[Psalm 69:2]]). The noun מִשְׁקָע describes the resulting state or place of this sinking/settling.
* **עָכַר (ʻāḵar, `{{H5916}}`)**: Meaning "to trouble," "to disturb," or "to make turbid." This verb precisely describes the action of the shepherds in [[Ezekiel 34:18]] who "muddy" (or trouble) the water, leading to its מִשְׁקָע state.
* **טִיט (ṭîṭ, `{{H2916}}`)**: This noun refers to "mud" or "mire." It represents the very substance that is stirred up by the shepherds' feet to create the "deep" and defiled water.
* **מַיִם רַבִּים (mayim rabbîm)**: "Many waters" or "deep waters." While מִשְׁקָע specifically denotes water made deep and turbid by human action, the broader concept of "deep waters" often carries symbolic weight in the Old Testament, representing overwhelming distress, chaos, or divine judgment ([[Psalm 69:2]], [[Psalm 69:14]]). In [[Ezekiel 34:18]], the "deep" water is indeed a source of great distress for the vulnerable sheep.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of מִשְׁקָע in [[Ezekiel 34:18]] is imbued with profound theological significance within the broader context of prophetic critique concerning leadership and divine justice. This word serves as a potent metaphor for the corruption of spiritual and moral sustenance by those entrusted with its provision. The "deep" or "settled" water, rendered so by the destructive actions of the shepherds, symbolizes the defiled spiritual environment and polluted teachings that unrighteous leaders inflict upon their flock. Instead of providing clear, life-giving truth and righteous guidance, they introduce confusion, impurity, and hardship.
This passage powerfully illustrates a grievous failure of stewardship. Leaders, who are meant to be conduits of pure, life-sustaining resources (like clear water), instead pollute these vital provisions, making them harmful and undrinkable. The "deep" here is not a natural, refreshing depth, but rather a depth of degradation and spiritual toxicity. This indictment highlights God's righteous anger against those who exploit and harm His people. The passage also implicitly foreshadows the dire need for a true and faithful shepherd who will provide pure, undefiled sustenance, a theme that resonates throughout the rest of [[Ezekiel 34]] and finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who offers "living water" ([[John 4:10]]) in stark contrast to the "deep" water of human corruption.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מִשְׁקָע (mishqâʻ, `{{H4950}}`), derived from the root שָׁקַע (`{{H8257}}`) meaning "to sink" or "to settle," describes a "settling place of water" or water that has been made "deep." Its sole appearance in [[Ezekiel 34:18]] is highly significant. In this context, מִשְׁקָע vividly portrays water made turbid and "deep" with stirred-up sediment by the trampling feet of Israel's corrupt shepherds. This defiled water symbolizes the spiritual and moral pollution inflicted upon the flock by their unrighteous leaders, rendering the very source of sustenance harmful and undrinkable. The word, though rare, functions as a powerful descriptor of the destructive consequences of selfish leadership, highlighting the profound contrast between the defiling actions of human shepherds and the pure, life-giving provision of the Divine Shepherd.
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