Strong's Lexicon massa': Burden, load, oracle, prophecy Original Word: מַשָּׂא Word Origin: Derived from the root נָשָׂא (nasa'), meaning "to lift, carry, or bear." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G5413 (phortion): Refers to a load or burden, often used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe spiritual or moral responsibilities (e.g., Galatians 6:5). - G922 (baros): Denotes weight or burden, used in contexts of both physical and metaphorical weight (e.g., Matthew 23:4). Usage: The Hebrew word "massa'" primarily refers to a burden or load, something that is carried or borne. In a prophetic context, it is often used to denote an oracle or a divine message that a prophet is tasked with delivering. This dual usage highlights both the physical and spiritual dimensions of the term, emphasizing the weightiness of the message or responsibility. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the concept of a "burden" was not only physical but also spiritual and communal. Prophets were seen as bearers of God's messages, which were often heavy with judgment or significant change. The term "massa'" reflects the gravity and responsibility associated with conveying God's word to the people. In a society where oral tradition was paramount, the delivery of a "massa'" was a significant event, often met with both anticipation and trepidation. Brown-Driver-Briggs II. מַשָּׂא noun masculinePsalm 38:5 load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute; — ׳מ absolute Nehemiah 13:19 +; construct 2 Kings 5:17 +; suffix מַשָּׂאוֺ Exodus 23:5 2t.; מַשַּׂאֲכֶם Deuteronomy 1:12; מַשָּׂאָם Numbers 4:27 2t.; — 1 load, burden of ass Exodus 23:5 (E), mules 2 Kings 5:17, camels 2 Kings 8:9, compare Isaiah 46:1,2; hanging on a peg Isaiah 22:25 (figurative); forbidden on Sabbath Jeremiah 17:21,22,24,27; Nehemiah 13:15,19; figurative of people as burden Numbers 11:11,17 (JE), Deuteronomy 1:12, compare עַלֿ ׳הָיָה לְמ 2 Samuel 15:33; 2 Samuel 19:36 (אֶלֿ), also וָאֶהְיֶה עָלַי לְמַשָּׂא Job 7:20; of iniquities Psalm 38:5. — Hosea 8:10 read מְשֹׁחַ, so ᵐ5 We Now GASm. 2 verbal noun, lifting, uplifting, only נַפְשָׁם ׳מ Ezekiel 24:25 the uplifting of their soul, i.e. that to which they lift up their soul, their heart's desire. 3 verbal noun, bearing, carrying, Numbers 4:24 (+ לַעֲבֹד), 2 Chronicles 20:25; 35:3 (בַּכָּתֵף), so probably 1 Chronicles 15:22 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 15:27 (compare Be Kau; > singing, uplifting of voice, e.g. Öttli); especially of responsibility and duty of bearing sacred vessels (often "" עֲבֹדָה, מְּקֻדָּה) Numbers 4:15,19,27 (twice in verse); Numbers 4:49, ׳עֲבֹדַת מ Numbers 4:47, ׳מִשְׁמֶרֶת מ Numbers 4:31; Numbers 4:32. 4 perhaps what is carried, brought, i.e. tribute ׳כֶּסֶף מ2Chronicles 17:11 silver as tribute (+ מִנְחָה; compare נשׂא Qal; others, silver by the load i.e. in great quantity). — I. מַשָּׂא see above. III. מַשָּׂא noun masculineIsaiah 14:28 utterance, oracle (compare נשׂא 1b (6); GfJeremiah 23:33); — ׳מ absolute Isaiah 14:28 +; usually construct Isaiah 13:1 +; — of prophetic utterance: 2 Kings 9:25; Isaiah 14:28; Ezekiel 12:10; 2Chronicles 24:27 (with עַל); בָבֶל ׳מ Isaiah 13:1, מוֺאָב ׳מ Isaiah 15:1, compare Isaiah 17:1; Isaiah 19:1; Isaiah 21:1,11; Isaiah 22:1; Isaiah 23:1; Isaiah 30:6; Nahum 1:1; בערב ׳מ Isaiah 21:13 is later insert (Di); ׳מ = revelation, אֲשֶׁר חָזָה חֲבַקּוּק הַנָּבִיא ׳הַמּ Habakkuk 1:1; ׳י ׳מ utterance of ׳י Jeremiah 23:33,34,36,38 (3 t. in verse) (compare 2 Kings 9:25), see also 2 Kings 9:33 b (read אַתֶּם הַמַּשָּׂא), with word-play, — followed by וְנָטַשְׁתִּי 2 Kings 9:36 b; ׳דְבַר י ׳מ Zechariah 9:1 (+ בארץ), Zechariah 12:1 (+ עַליִֿשְׂרָאֵל), Malachi 1:1 (+ ׳אֶליִֿשׂ). — Proverbs 31:1 see I. מַשָּׂא, p. 601 above; in Proverbs 30:1 read מִמַּשָּׂא from Massa (Mühlau, De), or הַמַּשָּׂאִי (Wild), which however is perhaps not original, but borrowed from Proverbs 31:1 (compare Wildon the passage FrankenbSpr. p. 5; corrupt name of Agur's home or tribe, Kau). Strong's Exhaustive Concordance burden, carry away, prophecy, they set, song, tribute From nasa'; a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire -- burden, carry away, prophecy, X they set, song, tribute. see HEBREW nasa' Forms and Transliterations בְּמַשָּׂ֑א בְּמַשָּׂ֣א בַּמַּשָּׂ֔א במשא הַמַּ֫שָּׂ֥א הַמַּשָּׂ֖א הַמַּשָּׂ֗א הַמַּשָּׂ֣א הַמַּשָּׂ֤א הַמַּשָּׂ֥א הַמַּשָּׂא֙ המשא וּלְמַשָּֽׂא׃ וּמַֽשַּׂאֲכֶ֖ם וּמַשָּׂ֥א ולמשא׃ ומשא ומשאכם כְּמַשָּׂ֥א כמשא לְמַשָּֽׂא׃ לְמַשָּׂ֔א למשא למשא׃ מִמַּשָּׂ֖א מַ֝שָּׂ֗א מַשָּׂ֑א מַשָּׂ֔א מַשָּׂ֖א מַשָּׂ֗א מַשָּׂ֛א מַשָּׂ֣א מַשָּׂ֤א מַשָּׂ֥א מַשָּׂא֑וֹ מַשָּׂא֔וֹ מַשָּׂא֙ מַשָּׂאָ֔ם מַשָּׂאָֽם׃ מַשָּׂאֽוֹ׃ ממשא משא משאו משאו׃ משאם משאם׃ bam·maś·śā bammasSa bammaśśā bə·maś·śā bemasSa bəmaśśā ham·maś·śā hammasSa hammaśśā kə·maś·śā kemasSa kəmaśśā lə·maś·śā lemasSa ləmaśśā maś·śā maś·śā·’ām maś·śā·’ōw masSa maśśā maśśā’ām maśśā’ōw massaAm massaO mim·maś·śā mimasSa mimmaśśā ū·lə·maś·śā ū·maś·śā ū·maś·śa·’ă·ḵem ulemasSa ūləmaśśā umasSa ūmaśśā ūmaśśa’ăḵem umassaaChemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 23:5 HEB: רֹבֵץ֙ תַּ֣חַת מַשָּׂא֔וֹ וְחָדַלְתָּ֖ מֵעֲזֹ֣ב NAS: [helpless] under its load, you shall refrain KJV: thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear INT: lying under load shall refrain leaving Numbers 4:15 Numbers 4:19 Numbers 4:24 Numbers 4:27 Numbers 4:27 Numbers 4:31 Numbers 4:32 Numbers 4:47 Numbers 4:49 Numbers 11:11 Numbers 11:17 Deuteronomy 1:12 2 Samuel 15:33 2 Samuel 19:35 2 Kings 5:17 2 Kings 8:9 2 Kings 9:25 1 Chronicles 15:22 1 Chronicles 15:22 1 Chronicles 15:27 2 Chronicles 17:11 2 Chronicles 20:25 2 Chronicles 24:27 2 Chronicles 35:3 65 Occurrences |