English · KJV
H5393

נִשְׁכָּה

nishkâh /nish-kaw'/ Ask about this word
Rootfor לִשְׁכָּה
Meaninga cell
KJV usagechamber.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nishkâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nishkâh, represented by H5393, is a specific term for a cell or chamber. It is a rare word, appearing just 3 times in 3 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning is derived from the word לִשְׁכָּה and is used to describe rooms or chambers within a larger complex, particularly in the context of the temple.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

All occurrences of H5393 are found in the book of Nehemiah, where these chambers play a key role in the restoration of worship and order in Jerusalem. In one instance, they are designated as storerooms for holy contributions, including treasures H214, offerings H8641, firstfruits H7225, and tithes H4643 meant to support the priests and Levites Nehemiah 12:44. The term is also used to describe a personal chamber H5393 located opposite a section of the city wall being repaired Nehemiah 3:30. Critically, a chamber H5393 in the courts of the house of God was improperly prepared for Tobiah, an act described as an "evil" Nehemiah 13:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the physical and spiritual context of a nishkâh:

  • H1004 bayith (house): This word is used broadly for a house or temple. A nishkâh was located within the courts H2691 of the house H1004 of God Nehemiah 13:7.
  • H214 ʼôwtsâr (store-house, treasure-house): This term refers to a depository. The chambers were appointed to hold the treasures H214 and other sacred portions for the temple personnel Nehemiah 12:44.
  • H2691 châtsêr (court): This refers to an enclosed yard, often of the temple. The misuse of a chamber H5393 took place within the courts H2691 of the temple, highlighting the violation of a sacred area Nehemiah 13:7.

Theological Significance

The use of H5393 carries significant implications regarding order and holiness in worship.

  • Sacred Stewardship: The chambers were central to the system of provision for the priesthood. They were designated spaces for collecting and storing the tithes H4643 and offerings H8641 required by the law, ensuring the ministry could continue Nehemiah 12:44.
  • Sanctity of Place: The narrative condemns the use of a temple chamber H5393 for a profane purpose, showing that spaces dedicated to God must be protected from corruption. Granting a chamber to Tobiah was an act of "evil" precisely because of where it was located Nehemiah 13:7.
  • Personal and Corporate Responsibility: The mention of a man repairing the wall "over against his chamber" H5393 links personal dwelling space and individual responsibility to the larger project of communal restoration.

Summary

In summary, nishkâh H5393 is more than just an architectural term. While it literally means a chamber, its limited use in Nehemiah situates it as a vital component of the temple's function. These chambers were integral to the principles of sacred stewardship, the sanctity of holy spaces, and the organized support of God's ministers.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • נְּשָׁכוֹת
  • נִשְׁכָּה
  • נִשְׁכָּת

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H214 אוֹצָר from אָצַר; a depository; armory, cellar, garner, store(-house), treasure(-house) (-y). H8641 תְּרוּמָה or תְּרֻמָה; (Deuteronomy 12:11), from רוּם; a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute; gift, hea H7225 רֵאשִׁית from the same as רֹאשׁ; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit); beginning, chief(-est), f H4643 מַעֲשֵׂר or מַעֲשַׂר; and (in plural) feminine מַעַשְׂרָה; from עָשָׂר; a tenth; especially a tithe; tenth (part), tithe(-ing). H1004 בַּיִת probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, d H2691 חָצֵר (masculine and feminine); from חָצַר in its original sense; a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

3 verses, all in Nehemiah — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.