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
The forehead (as open and prominent )
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מֵצַח H4696
Pronunciation mēṣaḥ
What does מֵצַח (mēṣaḥ) mean in the Bible?
מֵצַח (mēṣaḥ): The forehead as the exposed, unguarded seat of shame, boldness, and moral character revelation
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 It and your forehead 2× Isaiah 48:4, Ezekiel 3:8
forehead 2× Exodus 28:38, 2 Chronicles 26:20
. . . 1× Ezekiel 3:7
his forehead 1× Exodus 28:38
into his forehead 1× 1 Samuel 17:49
on his forehead 1× 2 Chronicles 26:19
the brazen look 1× Jeremiah 3:3
the forehead 1× 1 Samuel 17:49
the foreheads 1× Ezekiel 9:4
their foreheads 1× Ezekiel 3:8
your forehead 1× Ezekiel 3:9
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 28:38 מֵ֣צַח to forehead Noun - masculine singular construct Exodus 28:38 מִצְחוֹ֙ to his forehead Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 17:49 מִצְח֑וֹ to the forehead Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 17:49 בְּמִצְח֔וֹ to into his forehead Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 2 Chronicles 26:19 בְמִצְח֜וֹ to on his forehead Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 2 Chronicles 26:20 בְּמִצְח֔וֹ to forehead Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Isaiah 48:4 וּמִצְחֲךָ֖ to and your forehead Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Jeremiah 3:3 וּמֵ֨צַח to the brazen look Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Ezekiel 3:7 מֵ֥צַח to . . . Noun - masculine singular Ezekiel 3:8 מִצְחֲךָ֥ to and your forehead Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 28:38
Aligned rows 13
Books represented 6
Exodus 2 1 Samuel 2 2 Chronicles 2 Isaiah 1 Jeremiah 1 Ezekiel 5
Source forms
בְּמִצְח֔וֹ 2x bə·miṣ·ḥōw 1 Samuel 17:49, 2 Chronicles 26:20
בְמִצְח֜וֹ 1x ḇə·miṣ·ḥōw 2 Chronicles 26:19
וּמֵ֨צַח 1x ū·mê·ṣaḥ Jeremiah 3:3
וּמִצְחֲךָ֖ 1x ū·miṣ·ḥă·ḵā Isaiah 48:4
מֵ֣צַח 1x mê·ṣaḥ Exodus 28:38
מֵ֥צַח 1x mê·ṣaḥ Ezekiel 3:7
מִצְחוֹ֙ 1x miṣ·ḥōw Exodus 28:38
מִצְח֑וֹ 1x miṣ·ḥōw 1 Samuel 17:49
Parsing patterns
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 3x 1 Samuel 17:49, 2 Chronicles 26:19, 2 Chronicles 26:20
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular 2x Ezekiel 3:8, Ezekiel 3:9
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 2x Exodus 28:38, 1 Samuel 17:49
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct 1x Jeremiah 3:3
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular 1x Isaiah 48:4
Noun - masculine plural construct 1x Ezekiel 9:4
Noun - masculine singular 1x Ezekiel 3:7
Noun - masculine singular construct 1x Exodus 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 definition Source: 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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain