What does מִשְׁכָּב mean in the Bible?
מִשְׁכָּב is a Hebrew word meaning "a bed (figuratively, a bier ); abstractly, sleep ; by euphemism, carnal intercourse".
Hebrew · H4904
מִשְׁכָּב
A bed (figuratively, a bier ); abstractly, sleep ; by euphemism, carnal intercourse
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מִשְׁכָּבH4904
What does מִשְׁכָּב mean in the Bible?
מִשְׁכָּב is a Hebrew word meaning "a bed (figuratively, a bier ); abstractly, sleep ; by euphemism, carnal intercourse".
Full entry for מִשְׁכָּב (H4904) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4904?
The BSB source-word alignment has 46 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (10), his bed (5), bed (4), their beds (4), your bed (4).
Where does מִשְׁכָּב appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 49:4. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (9), 2 Samuel (7), Isaiah (4), Psalms (4).
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. . .10×Exodus 8:3, Leviticus 20:13, Numbers 31:17, Numbers 31:18
his bed5×Leviticus 15:5, 2 Samuel 11:2, 1 Kings 1:47, Job 33:19
bed4×Genesis 49:4, Leviticus 15:4, Leviticus 15:24, Leviticus 15:26
their beds4×Job 33:15, Psalms 149:5, Hosea 7:14, Micah 2:1
your bed4×2 Samuel 13:5, Psalms 4:4, Isaiah 57:7, Isaiah 57:8
my bed2×Proverbs 7:17, Song Of Solomon 3:1
-1×2 Samuel 4:5
[They brought] beds1×2 Samuel 17:28
a bed1×Leviticus 15:23
a resting place1×Ezekiel 32:25
and my couch1×Job 7:13
as with1×Leviticus 18:22
from his bed1×Psalms 41:3
her bed1×Leviticus 15:21
his own bed1×2 Samuel 4:11
like her bed1×Leviticus 15:26
lying down in death1×Isaiah 57:2
on a bier1×2 Chronicles 16:14
on his cot1×2 Samuel 11:13
should your bed1×Proverbs 22:27
to bed1×Exodus 21:18
to the bed1×Ezekiel 23:17
whose bed1×Isaiah 57:8
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 49:4מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣יtobedNoun - masculine plural constructExodus 8:3מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖to. . .Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularExodus 21:18לְמִשְׁכָּֽב׃toto bedPreposition-l | Noun - masculine singularLeviticus 15:4הַמִּשְׁכָּ֗בtobedArticle | Noun - masculine singularLeviticus 15:5בְּמִשְׁכָּב֑וֹtohis bedPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularLeviticus 15:21בְּמִשְׁכָּבָ֑הּtoher bedPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularLeviticus 15:23הַמִּשְׁכָּ֜בtoa bedArticle | Noun - masculine singularLeviticus 15:24הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛בtobedArticle | Noun - masculine singularLeviticus 15:26הַמִּשְׁכָּ֞בtobedArticle | Noun - masculine singularLeviticus 15:26כְּמִשְׁכַּ֥בtolike her bedPreposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 49:4
Aligned rows46
Books represented18
Genesis1Exodus2Leviticus9Numbers3Judges22 Samuel71 Kings12 Kings12 Chronicles1Job3Psalms4Proverbs2Ecclesiastes1Song Of Solomon1Isaiah4Ezekiel2Hosea1Micah1
Source forms
מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָ֑ם3xmiš·kə·ḇō·w·ṯāmIsaiah 57:2, Hosea 7:14, Micah 2:1
מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י3xmiš·kə·ḇêGenesis 49:4, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13
לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב2xlə·miš·kaḇJudges 21:12, Ezekiel 23:17
מִשְׁכַּ֣ב2xmiš·kaḇNumbers 31:18, Numbers 31:35
מִשְׁכָּב֑וֹ2xmiš·kā·ḇōw2 Samuel 4:11, Job 33:19
מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖2xmiš·kā·ḇə·ḵāExodus 8:3, 2 Samuel 13:5
בַּמִּשְׁכָּב֙1xbam·miš·kāḇ2 Chronicles 16:14
בְּמִשְׁכָּבָ֑הּ1xbə·miš·kā·ḇāhLeviticus 15:21
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular6x2 Samuel 4:7, 2 Samuel 4:11, 2 Samuel 11:2, Job 33:19
Article | Noun - masculine singular5xLeviticus 15:4, Leviticus 15:23, Leviticus 15:24, Leviticus 15:26
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular5xExodus 8:3, 2 Samuel 13:5, 2 Kings 6:12, Proverbs 22:27
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural4xPsalms 149:5, Isaiah 57:2, Hosea 7:14, Micah 2:1
Noun - masculine singular construct4xNumbers 31:18, Numbers 31:35, Judges 21:11, 2 Samuel 4:5
Noun - masculine plural construct3xGenesis 49:4, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13
Noun - masculine singular3x2 Samuel 17:28, Job 33:15, Ezekiel 32:25
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular3xJob 7:13, Proverbs 7:17, Song Of Solomon 3:1
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. a bed (figuratively, a bier ); abstractly, sleep ; by euphemism, carnal intercourse
Source Gloss
a bed (figuratively, a bier ); abstractly, sleep ; by euphemism, carnal intercourse
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse BDB: place of lying Usage: bed(-chamber), couch, lieth (lying) with.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
מִשְׁכָּב is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.