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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מִשְׁכָּב H4904
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 bed 5× Leviticus 15:5, 2 Samuel 11:2, 1 Kings 1:47, Job 33:19
bed 4× Genesis 49:4, Leviticus 15:4, Leviticus 15:24, Leviticus 15:26
their beds 4× Job 33:15, Psalms 149:5, Hosea 7:14, Micah 2:1
your bed 4× 2 Samuel 13:5, Psalms 4:4, Isaiah 57:7, Isaiah 57:8
my bed 2× Proverbs 7:17, Song Of Solomon 3:1
- 1× 2 Samuel 4:5
[They brought] beds 1× 2 Samuel 17:28
a bed 1× Leviticus 15:23
a resting place 1× Ezekiel 32:25
and my couch 1× Job 7:13
as with 1× Leviticus 18:22
from his bed 1× Psalms 41:3
her bed 1× Leviticus 15:21
his own bed 1× 2 Samuel 4:11
like her bed 1× Leviticus 15:26
lying down in death 1× Isaiah 57:2
on a bier 1× 2 Chronicles 16:14
on his cot 1× 2 Samuel 11:13
should your bed 1× Proverbs 22:27
to bed 1× Exodus 21:18
to the bed 1× Ezekiel 23:17
whose bed 1× Isaiah 57:8
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 49:4 מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י to bed Noun - masculine plural construct Exodus 8:3 מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖ to . . . Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Exodus 21:18 לְמִשְׁכָּֽב׃ to to bed Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Leviticus 15:4 הַמִּשְׁכָּ֗ב to bed Article | Noun - masculine singular Leviticus 15:5 בְּמִשְׁכָּב֑וֹ to his bed Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Leviticus 15:21 בְּמִשְׁכָּבָ֑הּ to her bed Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Leviticus 15:23 הַמִּשְׁכָּ֜ב to a bed Article | Noun - masculine singular Leviticus 15:24 הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ב to bed Article | Noun - masculine singular Leviticus 15:26 הַמִּשְׁכָּ֞ב to bed Article | Noun - masculine singular Leviticus 15:26 כְּמִשְׁכַּ֥ב to like her bed Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 49:4
Aligned rows 46
Books represented 18
Genesis 1 Exodus 2 Leviticus 9 Numbers 3 Judges 2 2 Samuel 7 1 Kings 1 2 Kings 1 2 Chronicles 1 Job 3 Psalms 4 Proverbs 2 Ecclesiastes 1 Song Of Solomon 1 Isaiah 4 Ezekiel 2 Hosea 1 Micah 1
Source forms
מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָ֑ם 3x miš·kə·ḇō·w·ṯām Isaiah 57:2, Hosea 7:14, Micah 2:1
מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י 3x miš·kə·ḇê Genesis 49:4, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13
לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב 2x lə·miš·kaḇ Judges 21:12, Ezekiel 23:17
מִשְׁכַּ֣ב 2x miš·kaḇ Numbers 31:18, Numbers 31:35
מִשְׁכָּב֑וֹ 2x miš·kā·ḇōw 2 Samuel 4:11, Job 33:19
מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖ 2x miš·kā·ḇə·ḵā Exodus 8:3, 2 Samuel 13:5
בַּמִּשְׁכָּב֙ 1x bam·miš·kāḇ 2 Chronicles 16:14
בְּמִשְׁכָּבָ֑הּ 1x bə·miš·kā·ḇāh Leviticus 15:21
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 6x 2 Samuel 4:7, 2 Samuel 4:11, 2 Samuel 11:2, Job 33:19
Article | Noun - masculine singular 5x Leviticus 15:4, Leviticus 15:23, Leviticus 15:24, Leviticus 15:26
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular 5x Exodus 8:3, 2 Samuel 13:5, 2 Kings 6:12, Proverbs 22:27
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural 4x Psalms 149:5, Isaiah 57:2, Hosea 7:14, Micah 2:1
Noun - masculine singular construct 4x Numbers 31:18, Numbers 31:35, Judges 21:11, 2 Samuel 4:5
Noun - masculine plural construct 3x Genesis 49:4, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13
Noun - masculine singular 3x 2 Samuel 17:28, Job 33:15, Ezekiel 32:25
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular 3x Job 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 definition Source: 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.
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