Hebrew word · H4372

מִכְסֶה

mikhseh

covering

A covering, from kasah, 'to cover'. It is used of the covering of Noah's ark (Gen 8:13) and here of the top layer of hides over the tabernacle (26:14; 36:19; 39:34).

Appears 16 times in 12 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) a covering

1a) covering (of the ark)

1b) covering (of the skins of the tabernacle)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Exodus 35:11

Range of meaning

A covering, from kasah, 'to cover'. It is used of the covering of Noah's ark (Gen 8:13) and here of the top layer of hides over the tabernacle (26:14; 36:19; 39:34).

Against the English

Most versions use 'covering'. WEB uses 'roof'. This layer was rams' skins dyed red plus tachash hides. 'Tachash' has been taken as badgers (KJV), porpoise or dugong, goat leather, or a fine leather of a particular colour (compare Egyptian tḥs, 'stretched leather'). The question is unresolved.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 8:13; Num 4 (the Levites' covering duties).

Where it appears

Genesis · 1

  1. Genesis 8:13 מִכְסֵ֣ה [the] covering of

    In Noah’s six hundred and first year, on the first day of the first month, the waters had dried up from the earth. So Noah removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry.

Exodus · 8

  1. Exodus 26:14 מִכְסֶה֙ וּמִכְסֵ֛ה a covering, and a covering of

    Also make a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather.

  2. Exodus 35:11 מִכְסֵ֑הוּ covering its

    the tabernacle with its tent and covering, its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts, and bases;

    Here: The top, weatherproof layer: rams' skins dyed red, with a further layer of tachash hides (26:14). Exactly what animal or leather 'tachash' means is uncertain.

  3. Exodus 36:19 מִכְסֶה֙ וּמִכְסֵ֛ה a covering, and a covering of

    Additionally, he made for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather.

  4. Exodus 39:34 מִכְסֵ֞ה מִכְסֵ֖ה [the] covering of

    the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of fine leather, and the veil of the covering;

  5. Exodus 40:19 מִכְסֵ֥ה [the] covering of

    Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Numbers · 7

  1. Numbers 3:25 מִכְסֵ֕הוּ covering its

    The duties of the Gershonites at the Tent of Meeting were the tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

  2. Numbers 4:8 בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה with a covering of

    And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.

  3. Numbers 4:10 מִכְסֵ֖ה a covering of

    Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame.

  4. Numbers 4:11 בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה with a covering of

    Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles.

  5. Numbers 4:12 בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה with a covering of

    They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame.

  6. Numbers 4:25 מִכְסֵ֕הוּ וּמִכְסֵ֛ה covering its, and [the] covering of

    They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.