Original Word: מוֹשְׁכָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mowshkah
Pronunciation: mo-sheh-kah / mo-sheh-keth
Phonetic Spelling: (mo-shek-aw')
KJV: band
NASB: cords
Word Origin: [act participle feminine of H4900 (מָשַׁך - draw)]

1. something drawing
2. (figuratively) a cord

band

Act participle feminine of mashak; something drawing, i.e. (figuratively) a cord -- band.

see HEBREW mashak

Word Origin
from mashak
Definition
a cord
NASB Translation
cords (1).

[משֶׁ֫כֶת] noun feminine cord; — only plural construct משְׁכוֺת כְּסִיל Job 38:31 the cords of Orion, i.e. probably those by which (according to some legend) he is dragged along in the sky (compare Di).

מִשְׁכָּב see שׁכב. מִשְׁכָּן see שׁכן.

Canonical Occurrence and Immediate Context

Job 38:31 presents the only biblical use of מֹושְׁכָה: “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion?” (Berean Standard Bible). The LORD’s rhetorical question confronts Job with the Creator’s unrivaled governance over the vast heavens. The “chains” (מוֹשְׁכָה) depict cosmic bonds that hold the star cluster together—imagery selected to underscore human finitude when measured against divine omnipotence.

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient Near Eastern observers were keenly aware of Pleiades, the prominent spring constellation that signaled the agricultural calendar. In agrarian societies, the regular appearance of these stars represented order and predictability. By referencing their “chains,” Scripture appeals to a shared astronomical knowledge while redirecting glory from creation to the Creator. Unlike surrounding cultures that attached deity to the stars, Job 38 subordinates the stellar hosts to Yahweh, affirming monotheistic orthodoxy.

Lexical Imagery and Symbolism

Though appearing only once, מֹושְׁכָה enriches the Hebrew vocabulary of restraint and cohesion. The same root supplies verbs for drawing, pulling, and leading. Here, the noun evokes iron links or leather thongs that secure an object firmly in place. The metaphor suggests that cosmic order is not self-maintained but tethered by the LORD’s constant supervision. Thus the heavens serve as a living parable: galaxies are not free-floating accidents but “bound” by divine decree (Psalm 147:4; Isaiah 40:26).

Theological Significance

1. Divine Sovereignty: Job 38 shifts the dialogue from human suffering to God’s majesty. The bound Pleiades illustrate that omnipotence extends from microcosm to macrocosm (Colossians 1:17).
2. Providence and Stability: Just as stable constellations assure seasons (Genesis 8:22), believers trust God’s unchanging hand in personal circumstances (James 1:17).
3. Humility before Mystery: Job’s silence (Job 40:3-5) models reverence when confronted with realities beyond human grasp, encouraging worship rather than speculative pride (Romans 11:33).

Related Biblical Themes and Cross-References

• “He seals off the stars” (Job 9:7) and “He alone spreads out the heavens” (Job 9:8) amplify the same motif of controlled constellations.
• The binding/loosing motif reappears in Matthew 16:19, reminding New Covenant believers that spiritual authority is grounded in the One who already governs the natural order (Matthew 28:18).
• Psalm 19:1 links celestial order with revelation: “The heavens declare the glory of God,” positioning מֹושְׁכָה as an emblem of general revelation that heightens accountability (Romans 1:20).

Ministry Implications

1. Apologetics: The orderly cosmos supports arguments from design. Highlighting Job 38:31 encourages seekers to move from awe of creation to faith in its Designer.
2. Worship and Liturgy: Reading Job 38 responsively instills humility and adoration, reminding congregations that every sunrise and constellation is a sermon on God’s faithfulness.
3. Pastoral Care: When suffering tests faith, Job’s lesson steadies hearts. If God secures the distant Pleiades, He also holds the believer (John 10:28-29).
4. Creation Care: Recognizing that God “binds” the heavens motivates stewardship of the earth, the complementary sphere entrusted to humanity (Genesis 2:15).

Summary

מוֹשְׁכָה, though a single-occurrence noun, conveys a profound message: the Creator’s active “binding” of the heavens assures believers of His unrivaled authority, precise providence, and compassionate involvement in both cosmic and personal realms.

מֹשְׁכ֖וֹת משכות mō·šə·ḵō·wṯ mōšəḵōwṯ mosheChotInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts