4372. mikseh
Lexical Summary
mikseh: Covering, Cover

Original Word: מִכְסֶה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mikceh
Pronunciation: mik-SEH
Phonetic Spelling: (mik-seh')
KJV: covering
NASB: covering
Word Origin: [from H3680 (כָּסָה - covered)]

1. a covering, i.e. weather-boarding

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
covering

From kacah; a covering, i.e. Weather-boarding -- covering.

see HEBREW kacah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from kasah
Definition
a covering
NASB Translation
covering (16).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מִכְסֶה noun [masculine] covering; — ׳מ Exodus 26:14; Exodus 36:19; construct מִכְסֵה Genesis 8:13 10t.; suffix מִכְסֵהוּ Exodus 35:11 2t.; —

1 covering of the ark, deck-roof (ᵐ5 στέγη) Genesis 8:13 (J).

2 of the skins of the tent of meeting Exodus 26:14 (twice in verse); Exodus 35:11; Exodus 36:19 (twice in verse); Exodus 39:34 (twice in verse); Exodus 40:19; Numbers 3:25; Numbers 4:8,10,11,12,25 (twice in verse) (all P).

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Range of Use

מִכְסֶה denotes a protective covering, spread, or overlay. In every instance it shields something holy or precious—from Noah’s ark (Genesis 8:13) to the wilderness tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus and Numbers). The term conveys shelter, preservation, and separation from defilement.

First Occurrence: Noah’s Ark

Genesis 8:13 records the patriarch’s first act upon discerning dry ground: “Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked out, and behold, the surface of the ground was dry”. The ark, symbol of salvation through judgment, remained sealed until God’s appointed time. The covering safeguarded life inside and restrained Noah until divine deliverance was complete.

Central Use in the Tabernacle

From Exodus 26 onward מִכְסֶה dominates descriptions of the tabernacle’s outermost layer. “You are also to make a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red, and a covering of fine leather over it” (Exodus 26:14; repeated in 35:11; 36:19; 39:34; 40:19). Two visible truths emerge:

1. Protection—Ram skins and durable leather defended the sanctuary against desert heat, wind, and rain.
2. Consecration—Dyed red skins hinted at atonement, an outer testimony that approach to God is always by blood.

Priestly Duties and Transport

Numbers 3:25 assigns Gershon’s clan “the tent curtains, the Tent of Meeting, its covering”. Numbers 4 details the Kohathites’ meticulous wrapping of each sacred article:
• Table of showbread (4:7–8)
• Lampstand (4:9–10)
• Altar of incense (4:11)
• Ark of the Covenant (4:5–6, employing a different noun for the inner veil but still finished with מִכְסֶה of leather)

Every item received a colored cloth—then a fine-leather מִכְסֶה—before lifting onto carrying frames. The sequence underscored God-ordained order, concealed glory from casual gaze, and guarded against damage.

Theological Reflections

1. Holiness safeguarded. The coverings reminded Israel that holy things cannot be handled lightly; separation sustains sanctity.
2. Provision in pilgrimage. In a mobile sanctuary, weatherproof skins speak of God’s foresight amid wilderness uncertainty.
3. Anticipation of Christ. The outer layer hid but preserved the beauty within, foreshadowing the incarnate Son whose “flesh” veiled divine glory (John 1:14) until the appointed unveiling.

Typological and Christological Significance

• Blood-red ram skins recall substitutionary sacrifice, converging on the Lamb of God.
• Fine leather (often translated “porpoise” or “badger” skins) was resilient yet unadorned, suggesting the Servant who “had no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2).
• In Numbers 4 the final leather covering secured each vessel for the journey—an image of believers “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

Devotional and Ministry Applications

• Reverence in worship: As the coverings shielded holy objects, ministers guard doctrine and sacrament from profanation.
• Pastoral care: Leaders “cover” the flock through intercession and teaching, much as the tabernacle skin warded off harm.
• Mission resilience: The wilderness coverings invite churches to move where God leads, trusting His provision against every climate.

Summary

מִכְסֶה threads Scripture from flood to wilderness, portraying God’s unwavering commitment to protect His people and His presence. Whether stretched over timbered ark or golden altar, the covering proclaims a gospel of shelter under atoning grace, carried forward until Christ Himself is fully revealed.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה במכסה וּמִכְסֵ֛ה ומכסה מִכְסֵ֑הוּ מִכְסֵ֕הוּ מִכְסֵ֖ה מִכְסֵ֞ה מִכְסֵ֣ה מִכְסֵ֥ה מִכְסֶה֙ מכסה מכסהו bə·miḵ·sêh bemichSeh bəmiḵsêh michSeh michSehu miḵ·sê·hū miḵ·seh miḵ·sêh miḵseh miḵsêh miḵsêhū ū·miḵ·sêh umichSeh ūmiḵsêh
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 8:13
HEB: נֹ֙חַ֙ אֶת־ מִכְסֵ֣ה הַתֵּבָ֔ה וַיַּ֕רְא
NAS: removed the covering of the ark,
KJV: removed the covering of the ark,
INT: removed Noah the covering of the ark and looked

Exodus 26:14
HEB: וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ מִכְסֶה֙ לָאֹ֔הֶל עֹרֹ֥ת
NAS: You shall make a covering for the tent
KJV: And thou shalt make a covering for the tent
INT: shall make A covering the tent skins

Exodus 26:14
HEB: אֵילִ֖ם מְאָדָּמִ֑ים וּמִכְסֵ֛ה עֹרֹ֥ת תְּחָשִׁ֖ים
NAS: dyed red and a covering of porpoise
KJV: dyed red, and a covering above
INT: of rams' dyed covering skins of porpoise

Exodus 35:11
HEB: אָהֳל֖וֹ וְאֶת־ מִכְסֵ֑הוּ אֶת־ קְרָסָיו֙
NAS: its tent and its covering, its hooks
KJV: his tent, and his covering, his taches,
INT: the tabernacle tent covering hooks boards

Exodus 36:19
HEB: וַיַּ֤עַשׂ מִכְסֶה֙ לָאֹ֔הֶל עֹרֹ֥ת
NAS: He made a covering for the tent
KJV: And he made a covering for the tent
INT: made A covering the tent skins

Exodus 36:19
HEB: אֵלִ֖ים מְאָדָּמִ֑ים וּמִכְסֵ֛ה עֹרֹ֥ת תְּחָשִׁ֖ים
NAS: dyed red, and a covering of porpoise
KJV: dyed red, and a covering [of] badgers'
INT: of rams' dyed covering skins of porpoise

Exodus 39:34
HEB: וְאֶת־ מִכְסֵ֞ה עוֹרֹ֤ת הָֽאֵילִם֙
NAS: and the covering of rams' skins
KJV: And the covering of rams' skins
INT: and the covering skins of rams'

Exodus 39:34
HEB: הַמְאָדָּמִ֔ים וְאֶת־ מִכְסֵ֖ה עֹרֹ֣ת הַתְּחָשִׁ֑ים
NAS: dyed red, and the covering of porpoise
KJV: dyed red, and the covering of badgers'
INT: of rams' dyed and the covering skins of porpoise

Exodus 40:19
HEB: וַיָּ֜שֶׂם אֶת־ מִכְסֵ֥ה הָאֹ֛הֶל עָלָ֖יו
NAS: and put the covering of the tent
KJV: and put the covering of the tent
INT: the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over

Numbers 3:25
HEB: הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן וְהָאֹ֑הֶל מִכְסֵ֕הוּ וּמָסַ֕ךְ פֶּ֖תַח
NAS: and the tent, its covering, and the screen
KJV: and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging
INT: the tabernacle and the tent covering and the screen the doorway

Numbers 4:8
HEB: וְכִסּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ
NAS: the same with a covering of porpoise
KJV: and cover the same with a covering of badgers'
INT: of scarlet and cover A covering skin of porpoise

Numbers 4:10
HEB: כֵּלֶ֔יהָ אֶל־ מִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ
NAS: its utensils in a covering of porpoise
KJV: it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers'
INT: utensils in A covering skin of porpoise

Numbers 4:11
HEB: וְכִסּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ
NAS: and cover it with a covering of porpoise
KJV: and cover it with a covering of badgers'
INT: A blue and cover A covering skin of porpoise

Numbers 4:12
HEB: וְכִסּ֣וּ אוֹתָ֔ם בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ
NAS: and cover them with a covering of porpoise
KJV: and cover them with a covering of badgers'
INT: A blue and cover A covering skin of porpoise

Numbers 4:25
HEB: אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד מִכְסֵ֕הוּ וּמִכְסֵ֛ה הַתַּ֥חַשׁ
NAS: of meeting [with] its covering and the covering
KJV: of the congregation, his covering, and the covering
INT: and the tent of meeting covering and the covering of porpoise

Numbers 4:25
HEB: מוֹעֵ֔ד מִכְסֵ֕הוּ וּמִכְסֵ֛ה הַתַּ֥חַשׁ אֲשֶׁר־
NAS: [with] its covering and the covering of porpoise skin
KJV: his covering, and the covering of the badgers'
INT: of meeting covering and the covering of porpoise that

16 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4372
16 Occurrences


bə·miḵ·sêh — 3 Occ.
miḵ·sêh — 7 Occ.
miḵ·sê·hū — 3 Occ.
ū·miḵ·sêh — 3 Occ.

4371
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