Meshech
“Drawing out or possession”
Summary
Meshech was a son of Japheth whose descendants became the Moschi, a people dwelling in the mountains between the Black and Caspian seas who are frequently mentioned alongside Tubal in Scripture.
☩Origin and Location
Meshech was the sixth son of Japheth and founder of a tribe mentioned among his descendants. The Moschi inhabited the mountains between the Black and Caspian seas, in the region later known as Iberia, and are consistently coupled with Tubal (the Tibareni) as neighboring peoples in both Scripture and classical sources. Assyrian inscriptions mention them as Mushki, frequent enemies of Assyria, while Egyptian records refer to similar peoples.
☩Commerce and Character
Ezekiel describes Meshech and Tubal as traders with Tyre, dealing in slaves and vessels of bronze. The Moschian Mountains contained rich copper mines, and the region has always been noted for the export of slaves, particularly females prized for Turkish harems. In Psalm 120, the name occurs as a synonym for barbarous foreigners, paralleled with Kedar, expressing the psalmist's distress at dwelling among hostile peoples.
☩Prophetic Significance
Ezekiel prophesies against Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, predicting their ultimate judgment. The prophet also includes Meshech and Tubal among the nations consigned to the pit, emphasizing that despite their terror-inspiring power in the land of the living, they shall lie uncircumcised among the slain. Some scholars connect these peoples with the later Muscovites of Russia, though this identification remains debated.
Related Verses9 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Meshech," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Meshech; Mesech," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).