4862. mishalah
Lexical Summary
mishalah: Desire, request, petition

Original Word: מִשְׁאָלָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mish'alah
Pronunciation: mish-aw-law'
Phonetic Spelling: (mish-aw-law')
KJV: desire, petition
NASB: desires, petitions
Word Origin: [from H7592 (שָׁאַל שָׁאֵל - ask)]

1. a request

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
desire, petition

From sha'al; a request -- desire, petition.

see HEBREW sha'al

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from shaal
Definition
request, petition
NASB Translation
desires (1), petitions (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[מִשׁאָלָה] noun feminine request, petition; — plural construct מִשְׁאֲלֹת לִבָּ֑ךָ Psalm 37:4 (with נָתַן, of ׳י); suffixמִשְׁאֲלוֺתֶיךָ Psalm 20:6 (with מִלֵּא, of ׳י).

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrences

Psalm 20:5 and Psalm 37:4 contain the only appearances of מִשְׁאָלָה. In both settings the term expresses the movement of a heartfelt inner longing toward God, confident that He responds favorably to those who trust Him. Psalm 20:5 celebrates the king’s victories and prays, “May the Lord grant all your petitions”, portraying covenantal fellowship in which communal intercession surrounds the anointed ruler. Psalm 37:4 applies the same reality to every believer: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart”. The word’s limited use concentrates its meaning: true desires become petitions God is willing to satisfy when they arise from delight in Him.

Historical and Literary Setting

Both psalms are traditionally Davidic, composed in the context of Israel’s monarchy. Military challenges (Psalm 20) and social pressures from evildoers (Psalm 37) threatened the nation’s stability. Instead of urging political maneuvering, the psalmist directs hearts God-ward. Within Ancient Near Eastern culture, subjects petitioned their kings; here Israel’s king and people together petition the Divine King, reflecting the covenant structure described in Deuteronomy. The Hebrew word’s appearance in wisdom-style exhortation (Psalm 37) and royal liturgy (Psalm 20) shows its versatility: it belongs both in public worship and in private spiritual formation.

Theological Significance

1. Alignment of Will: מִשְׁאָלָה highlights that God answers not every whim but the desires formed by “delight” in Him. Thus it underlines the harmony of divine sovereignty and human longing.
2. Confidence in Prayer: The word connects desire and petition, anticipating Jesus’ invitation, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). The psalmist’s assurance foreshadows New Testament teaching that legitimate requests offered in faith will be granted (1 John 5:14-15).
3. Covenant Blessing: Granting desires is a royal benefit of belonging to the covenant people. This promise rests on God’s faithful character rather than human merit.
4. Ethical Implications: Psalm 37 opposes envy of the wicked by redirecting the heart’s appetite toward the Lord, implying that unbridled desire outside of covenant obedience will not be fulfilled.

Practical Application in Ministry

• Worship Planning: Psalm 20 provides liturgical language for commissioning leaders, missionaries, or anyone embarking on service, asking God to fulfill their “petitions.”
• Pastoral Counseling: Psalm 37:4 guides believers wrestling with unmet longings; counselors can distinguish between fleshly cravings and Spirit-shaped desires, encouraging delight in God as the path to fulfillment.
• Prayer Meetings: Using מִשְׁאָלָה passages fosters expectancy in intercession, uniting corporate prayer (Psalm 20) with individual devotion (Psalm 37).
• Discipleship: Teaching that desires are transformed, not suppressed, helps believers pursue holy ambition—echoing Paul’s goal “to please Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Related Biblical Themes

Petition and desire recur throughout Scripture even when מִשְׁאָלָה is absent. Hannah’s “request” (1 Samuel 1:17), Solomon’s “asked for wisdom” (1 Kings 3:11), and Hezekiah’s prayer for deliverance (2 Kings 19:19) demonstrate that God honors petitions aligned with His purposes. The New Testament carries the theme forward: Philippians 4:6 urges believers, “In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” James 4:3 warns that selfish motives hinder answers, reinforcing Psalm 37:4’s linkage of desire to delight in the Lord.

Christological Perspective

Jesus embodies perfect delight in the Father; His petitions are always granted (John 11:42). He invites His followers into this relationship: “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13). Thus מִשְׁאָלָה finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Son, who aligns believers’ desires with the Father’s will through the Spirit’s work.

Summary

מִשְׁאָלָה represents desires elevated into faithful petitions. Limited to two strategic psalms, the term teaches that when God Himself is the believer’s delight, He graciously grants the requests that flow from such a heart. This theme weaves through redemptive history, culminating in Christ and continuing in the church’s confident prayer life today.

Forms and Transliterations
מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ משאלותיך׃ משאלת miš’ălōṯ miš’ălōwṯeḵā miš·’ă·lō·w·ṯe·ḵā miš·’ă·lōṯ mishaLot mishaloTeicha
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Psalm 20:5
HEB: יְ֝הוָ֗ה כָּל־ מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
NAS: fulfill all your petitions.
KJV: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
INT: may the LORD all your petitions

Psalm 37:4
HEB: וְיִֽתֶּן־ לְ֝ךָ֗ מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת לִבֶּֽךָ׃
NAS: And He will give you the desires of your heart.
KJV: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
INT: the LORD will give the desires of your heart

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4862
2 Occurrences


miš·’ă·lōṯ — 1 Occ.
miš·’ă·lō·w·ṯe·ḵā — 1 Occ.

4861
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