Lexical Summary mishqal: Weight, measure Original Word: מִשְׁקָל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance full weight From shaqal; weight (numerically estimated); hence, weighing (the act) -- (full) weight. see HEBREW shaqal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shaqal Definition weight NASB Translation full (1), rationed amounts (1), weigh (1), weighed (4), weighing (3), weight (39). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִשְׁקָל noun masculine id.;; — absolute׳מ 1Ki 25:16+; construct מִשְׁקַל Judges 8:26+; suffix מִשְׁקָלוֺ Genesis 24:22+, etc.; — weight Genesis 24:22 (twice in verse)(J), Joshua 7:21 (JE), Judges 8:26; 1 Samuel 17:5; 2 Samuel 12:30; 2 Samuel 21:16a (2Samuel 21:16b read שֶׁקֶל with ᵐ5.[see especially ᵐ5L] We Dr and modern), 1 Kings 7:47; 1 Kings 10:14; Numbers 7:13 + 11t. Numbers 7 (P), 7 t. Chronicles; of wind Job 28:25; בְּמִשְׁקָלוֺ Genesis 43:21(J) in its (full) weight t, compare ׳מאֹזְנֵי מ Ezekiel 5:1; ׳בַּמּ by weight Leviticus 26:26; 1 Chronicles 28:14 a. 1 Chronicles 28:18 ׳בְּמ id. Ezekiel 4:16 (of bread), Ezra 8:34; 1 Chronicles 28:14b; 1 Chronicles 28:15 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 28:17 (twice in verse); ׳בַּמּ Leviticus 19:35 in respect to weight, compare ׳מ 1 Chronicles 28:16 as to weight, in weight; ׳לֹאהָֿיָה מ (i.e. there was too much to be weighed) 2 Kings 25:16 = Jeremiah 52:20,׳אֵתן מ 1 Chronicles 22:3,14. Topical Lexicon Overview Mishqal denotes an assessed “weight” and appears about forty-nine times in the Old Testament. Scripture employs the word in three principal spheres: (1) accurate measurement of materials dedicated to worship, (2) evaluation of royal or commercial property, and (3) moral instruction regarding honesty and divine judgment. Weights in the construction and maintenance of holy space • Exodus 38:24-29 records the first extended use. “All the gold from the wave offering used for the work on the sanctuary weighed twenty-nine talents and seven hundred thirty shekels” (Exodus 38:24). The narrator repeats mishqal for silver and bronze (verses 25-29), underscoring that nothing in the tabernacle was estimated loosely; every precious metal was weighed before the Lord. Royal economy and public life • The monarchy used the “king’s weight” as an official standard. Absalom’s vanity is measured by it: “When he cut the hair of his head … the weight of the hair of his head was two hundred shekels by the king’s weight” (2 Samuel 14:26). Commercial justice and ethical instruction Mishqal moves from the temple and palace into the marketplace as a symbol of righteousness. Because God Himself guarantees the standard, cheating a neighbor becomes an affront to divine authority. Prophets later denounce Israel for “a bag of deceitful weights” (Micah 6:11). Figurative applications Even when the literal object is absent, the term’s concrete imagery conveys moral or spiritual gravity. Job laments, “Oh that my grief were weighed!” (Job 6:2). The psalmist exults that God “takes no pleasure in the strength of the horse” (Psalm 147:10); human boasting carries no weight beside divine power. By associating worth with measurable weight, Scripture teaches that true value is found where God assigns it. Theological and ministry significance 1. Worship integrity: Mishqal reminds the church that offerings—whether resources, time, or talents—should be presented thoughtfully and accountably. Summary Wherever mishqal appears, Scripture ties physical measurement to spiritual reality. From tabernacle gold to marketplace scales, God requires accuracy, honesty, and reverence, teaching His people to weigh every action in the balance of His unchanging righteousness. Forms and Transliterations בְּמִשְׁקַל־ בְּמִשְׁקָ֔ל בְּמִשְׁקָ֖ל בְּמִשְׁקָל֑וֹ בְּמִשְׁקָל֙ בַּמִּשְׁקָ֑ל בַּמִּשְׁקָ֖ל בַּמִּשְׁקָל֙ במשקל במשקל־ במשקלו הַמִּשְׁקָ֖ל המשקל וּמִשְׁקַ֤ל וּמִשְׁקַל֙ וּמִשְׁקָ֛ל וּמִשְׁקָ֞ל וּמִשְׁקָלָ֨הּ ומשקל ומשקלה מִשְׁקַ֛ל מִשְׁקַ֞ל מִשְׁקַ֣ל מִשְׁקַ֥ל מִשְׁקָ֑ל מִשְׁקָ֔ל מִשְׁקָ֖ל מִשְׁקָ֛ל מִשְׁקָֽל׃ מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ מִשְׁקָל֔וֹ מִשְׁקָלָֽם׃ מִשְׁקָלָהּ֒ משקל משקל׃ משקלה משקלו משקלם׃ bam·miš·qāl bammishKal bammišqāl bə·miš·qā·lōw bə·miš·qāl bə·miš·qal- bemishKal bemishkaLo bəmišqāl bəmišqal- bəmišqālōw ham·miš·qāl hammishKal hammišqāl miš·qā·lāh miš·qā·lām miš·qā·lōw miš·qal miš·qāl mishKal mishkaLah mishkaLam mishkaLo mišqal mišqāl mišqālāh mišqālām mišqālōw ū·miš·qā·lāh ū·miš·qal ū·miš·qāl umishKal umishkaLah ūmišqal ūmišqāl ūmišqālāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 24:22 HEB: זָהָ֔ב בֶּ֖קַע מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֤י צְמִידִים֙ NAS: ring weighing a half-shekel KJV: of half a shekel weight, and two INT: A gold A half-shekel weighing and two bracelets Genesis 24:22 Genesis 43:21 Leviticus 19:35 Leviticus 26:26 Numbers 7:13 Numbers 7:19 Numbers 7:25 Numbers 7:31 Numbers 7:37 Numbers 7:43 Numbers 7:49 Numbers 7:55 Numbers 7:61 Numbers 7:67 Numbers 7:73 Numbers 7:79 Joshua 7:21 Judges 8:26 1 Samuel 17:5 2 Samuel 12:30 2 Samuel 21:16 2 Samuel 21:16 1 Kings 7:47 1 Kings 10:14 49 Occurrences |