Hebrew word · H4951
מִשְׂרָה
hamisrah
dominion
Misrah means rule, dominion or princely authority, from the root ś-r-r, 'to rule' (Judg 9:22; Esth 1:22). It occurs only here and in v. 7. Shekhem means shoulder, the upper back where loads are carried.
Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·
What it means
rule, dominion, government
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
- Range of meaning
Misrah means rule, dominion or princely authority, from the root ś-r-r, 'to rule' (Judg 9:22; Esth 1:22). It occurs only here and in v. 7. Shekhem means shoulder, the upper back where loads are carried.
- Against the English
KJV and ESV keep 'shoulder' (singular). NIV, NLT, BSB and WEB say 'shoulders', which loses the exact echo of v. 4. 'Government' suggests a modern administrative state. YLT's 'princely power' is closer.
- How it drifted
In 1611 'government' meant 'the act of governing, rule'. Today 'the government' usually means a state's institutions.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Isa 22:22: the key of the house of David is laid 'on his shoulder' as the badge of a royal steward's office. Isa 9:4 (Hebrew 9:3): 'the rod of his shoulder', the oppressor's stick on Israel's back, uses the identical form shikhmo. The Septuagint renders misrah archē ('rule'), and the Vulgate principatus.
- Range of meaning
Rule, dominion, princely authority. The noun appears only in Isaiah 9:6–7. It belongs to the root ś-r-r, 'to rule, act as prince', which also gives sar ('prince, official, commander') and probably the name Sarah ('princess'). It means the right and power to rule, not the apparatus that administers a state.
- Against the English
KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV and NASB all say 'government'. YLT's 'princely power' is closer to the root. 'Dominion' or 'rule' fits best.
- How it drifted
In 1611 'government' mainly meant the act of governing, rule or control: 'the government shall be upon his shoulder'. Modern English hears an institution: the state, its ministries, elected officials, public policy. The Hebrew points to a person exercising royal authority.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In the Bible only here and in v. 6. Related forms: śar (Isa 3:3–4, 'princes'), the verb in Judg 9:22 and Esth 1:22 ('ruling'), and Hos 12:4 ('strove', a pun on Israel). The Septuagint renders it archē ('rule, sovereignty'), the Vulgate imperium / principatus.
Where it appears
Isaiah · 2
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Isaiah 9:6 הַמִּשְׂרָ֖ה the dominion
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Here: A rare word for princely rule, found only here and in v. 7. It comes from the same root as sar ('prince') in the last name of the verse.
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Isaiah 9:7 הַמִּשְׂרָ֜ה the dominion
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
Here: 'The dominion.' The Bible uses this word only here and in v. 6 ('the dominion will be on his shoulder'). It comes from the same root as sar, 'prince, commander', so it chimes with the title 'Prince (sar) of Peace' just before it. It means princely, royal authority, not a civil administration.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.