4944. mashshaq
Lexical Summary
mashshaq: Cupbearer

Original Word: מַשָּׁק
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mashshaq
Pronunciation: mash-shak'
Phonetic Spelling: (mash-shawk')
KJV: running to and fro
NASB: rushing about
Word Origin: [from H8264 (שָׁקַק - quenched)]

1. a traversing, i.e. rapid motion

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
running to and fro

From shaqaq; a traversing, i.e. Rapid motion -- running to and fro.

see HEBREW shaqaq

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from shaqaq
Definition
a running, rushing
NASB Translation
rushing about (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[מַשָׁק] noun [masculine] running, rushing; — construct מַשַּׁק Isaiah 33:4, of locusts.

שׁקר (√ of following; deceive; Aramaic שְׁקַר deceive, also noun deceit, Pa`el deceive, and derivatives; Assyrian tašsirtu [Dl-gir-] a lie,so Late Hebrew שֶׁקֶר, Arabic and (loan-word ?)).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

מַשָּׁק appears once in Scripture, Isaiah 33:4, where it supplies a vivid noun for the rapacious “swarming” or “pouncing” of a victorious host upon abandoned spoil. Though rare, the term opens a window on the prophetic imagination, portraying the sudden, irresistible gathering of plunder after the Lord has overthrown His enemies.

Biblical Occurrence

Isaiah 33:4 – “Your plunder will be gathered as if by locusts; like a swarm of locusts men will pounce on it.”

Here מַשָּׁק depicts the circling, sweeping motion of a cloud of locusts descending on a field. In context, the prophet announces Assyria’s collapse and Judah’s deliverance. The same Assyrian army that had once devoured the nations is itself stripped clean; Judah’s remnant collects the booty with locust-like thoroughness.

Imagery and Word Picture

1. Relentless Efficiency: Locusts consume everything in their path, leaving nothing behind (Joel 1:4). מַשָּׁק conveys the same exhaustive completeness in the gathering of plunder.
2. Suddenness: A swarm descends without warning; the fall of the oppressor will be equally swift (Isaiah 37:36-37).
3. Reversal: The devourer becomes the devoured (compare Isaiah 10:12-14). The image assures God’s people that oppressive powers cannot outlast divine justice.

Historical Setting: Siege and Deliverance

Isaiah 33 stands against the backdrop of Sennacherib’s 701 B.C. campaign. Judah, cornered by Assyria’s vast forces, appeared doomed. Yet the Lord promised that He Himself would arise (Isaiah 33:10). When the angel of the Lord struck the Assyrian camp, Jerusalem awoke to an enemy in full retreat (2 Kings 19:35-36). Mַשָּׁק captures the aftermath: relieved Judeans streaming out to collect abandoned weapons, provisions, and treasures—as eagerly and thoroughly as locusts sweeping a field.

Theological Themes

• Divine Retribution: God reverses oppression, turning the spoils of evildoers over to the faithful (Proverbs 13:22).
• Covenant Faithfulness: The crushing of Assyria vindicates the Lord’s promises to protect Zion (Isaiah 31:5).
• Eschatological Foreshadowing: The imagery anticipates the ultimate routing of evil powers when the Messiah reigns (Revelation 19:17-21).

Ministry and Devotional Application

• Confidence in God’s Sovereignty: Believers facing overwhelming odds can remember Judah’s deliverance; the Lord can reduce the mightiest foe to spoil to be gathered.
• Call to Holiness: The chapter links deliverance with righteous living (Isaiah 33:15-16). Victory is not license but incentive to walk uprightly.
• Stewardship of Blessing: Like Judah gathering spoil, the church must wisely steward victories God grants—using resources for worship, witness, and care for the needy (Acts 4:34-35).

Related Biblical Motifs

Exodus 12:35-36 – Israel plunders Egypt on the night of redemption.

2 Chronicles 20:25 – Jehoshaphat’s men find “more goods, clothing, and articles of value than they could carry.”

Psalm 68:12 – “Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the spoil.”

These parallels reinforce the pattern: God defeats the oppressor, and His people gather the spoils.

Key Takeaways

1. מַשָּׁק, though used once, underscores God’s power to reverse fortunes decisively.
2. The locust imagery assures believers that the Lord’s judgment is both swift and exhaustive.
3. Every triumph entrusted to God’s people carries responsibility for worshipful, generous stewardship.

Forms and Transliterations
כְּמַשַּׁ֥ק כמשק kə·maš·šaq kemashShak kəmaššaq
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Isaiah 33:4
HEB: אֹ֖סֶף הֶֽחָסִ֑יל כְּמַשַּׁ֥ק גֵּבִ֖ים שׁוֹקֵ֥ק
NAS: As locusts rushing about men rush about
KJV: of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts
INT: gathers the caterpillar rushing of locusts rush

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 4944
1 Occurrence


kə·maš·šaq — 1 Occ.

4943
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