What does מֵצַח (mēṣaḥ) mean in the Bible?
מֵצַח (mēṣaḥ): The forehead as the exposed, unguarded seat of shame, boldness, and moral character revelation
Hebrew · H4696
מֵצַח
מֵצַח (mēṣaḥ): The forehead as the exposed, unguarded seat of shame, boldness, and moral character revelation
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מֵצַחH4696
Pronunciationmēṣaḥ
What does מֵצַח (mēṣaḥ) mean in the Bible?
Full entry for מֵצַח (H4696) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4696?
The BSB source-word alignment has 13 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and your forehead (2), forehead (2), . . . (1), his forehead (1), into his forehead (1).
Where does מֵצַח (mēṣaḥ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 28:38. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (5), 1 Samuel (2), 2 Chronicles (2), Exodus (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand your forehead2×Isaiah 48:4, Ezekiel 3:8
forehead2×Exodus 28:38, 2 Chronicles 26:20
. . .1×Ezekiel 3:7
his forehead1×Exodus 28:38
into his forehead1×1 Samuel 17:49
on his forehead1×2 Chronicles 26:19
the brazen look1×Jeremiah 3:3
the forehead1×1 Samuel 17:49
the foreheads1×Ezekiel 9:4
their foreheads1×Ezekiel 3:8
your forehead1×Ezekiel 3:9
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 28:38מֵ֣צַחtoforeheadNoun - masculine singular constructExodus 28:38מִצְחוֹ֙tohis foreheadNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular1 Samuel 17:49מִצְח֑וֹtothe foreheadNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular1 Samuel 17:49בְּמִצְח֔וֹtointo his foreheadPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 26:19בְמִצְח֜וֹtoon his foreheadPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 26:20בְּמִצְח֔וֹtoforeheadPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularIsaiah 48:4וּמִצְחֲךָ֖toand your foreheadConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularJeremiah 3:3וּמֵ֨צַחtothe brazen lookConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructEzekiel 3:7מֵ֥צַחto. . .Noun - masculine singularEzekiel 3:8מִצְחֲךָ֥toand your foreheadNoun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 28:38
Aligned rows13
Books represented6
Exodus21 Samuel22 Chronicles2Isaiah1Jeremiah1Ezekiel5
Source forms
בְּמִצְח֔וֹ2xbə·miṣ·ḥōw1 Samuel 17:49, 2 Chronicles 26:20
בְמִצְח֜וֹ1xḇə·miṣ·ḥōw2 Chronicles 26:19
וּמֵ֨צַח1xū·mê·ṣaḥJeremiah 3:3
וּמִצְחֲךָ֖1xū·miṣ·ḥă·ḵāIsaiah 48:4
מֵ֣צַח1xmê·ṣaḥExodus 28:38
מֵ֥צַח1xmê·ṣaḥEzekiel 3:7
מִצְחוֹ֙1xmiṣ·ḥōwExodus 28:38
מִצְח֑וֹ1xmiṣ·ḥōw1 Samuel 17:49
Parsing patterns
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular3x1 Samuel 17:49, 2 Chronicles 26:19, 2 Chronicles 26:20
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular2xEzekiel 3:8, Ezekiel 3:9
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular2xExodus 28:38, 1 Samuel 17:49
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct1xJeremiah 3:3
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular1xIsaiah 48:4
Noun - masculine plural construct1xEzekiel 9:4
Noun - masculine singular1xEzekiel 3:7
Noun - masculine singular construct1xExodus 28:38
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. The forehead as the exposed, unguarded seat of shame, boldness, and moral character revelation
Source Gloss
the forehead (as open and prominent )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
The forehead as the exposed, unguarded seat of shame, boldness, and moral character revelation
the forehead (as open and prominent) BDB: brow Usage: brow, forehead, impudent.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.