Berean Strong's Lexicon mashash: To feel, to grope Original Word: מָשַׁשׁ Word Origin: A primitive root Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G5584 (psēlaphaō): To feel or grope, used in Acts 17:27 where Paul speaks of people seeking God, "so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." Usage: The Hebrew verb "mashash" primarily means to feel or to grope, often used in contexts where someone is searching or fumbling in the dark. It conveys a sense of uncertainty or blindness, both physically and metaphorically. The term is used to describe actions where tactile exploration is necessary due to a lack of sight or understanding. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, darkness was often associated with chaos and danger, as artificial lighting was limited. The act of groping or feeling one's way in the dark was a common experience, symbolizing a lack of direction or clarity. This imagery is used in the Bible to depict spiritual blindness or a lack of divine guidance. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to feel, grope NASB Translation feel (1), felt (2), felt through (2), grope (3), gropes (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מָשַׁשׁ] verb feel, grope (Late Hebrew id. Pi`el; Arabic feel; Ethiopic Di166; Aramaic , מְשַׁשׁ Pa`el, Palpel — see also ימשׁ, II. מושׁ); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular suffix יְמֻשֵּׁנִי Genesis 27:12 perhaps my father will feel me; וַיְמֻשֵּׁהוּ Genesis 27:22 and he felt of him (both J). Pi`el Perfect2masculine singular מִשַּׁשְׁתָּ; Imperfect3masculine singular יְמַשֵּׁשׁ Deuteronomy 28:29, וַיְמַשֵּׁשׁ Genesis 31:34; 3masculine plural יִמַשְׁשׁוּ Job 5:4; Job 12:25; Participle מְמַשֵּׁשׁ Deuteronomy 28:29; — feel over or through, grope: — 1 לָבָּן אֶתכָּֿלהָֿאֹהֶל ׳וַיְמ Genesis 31:24 and Laban felt through the whole tent (i.e. searched it); so (object כֵּלַי) Genesis 31:37 thou hast felt through all my possessions (or baggage; both E). 2 grope, of blind Deuteronomy 28:29b (in simile), periphrase conjectural, וְהָיִיתָ מְמַשֵּׁשׁDeuteronomy 28:29 a and thou shalt become one that gropes at noonday (figurative of judicial blindness); compare Job 5:14; Job 12:25. Hiph`il Imperfect וְיָמֵשׁ חשֶׁךְ Exodus 10:21 that one may feel (the) darkness; read also Imperative suffix הֲמִשֵׁנִי (for והימשׁני, see ימשׁ, p. 413 above) Judges 16:26 and let me touch the pillars (2 accusative) מִשְׁתֶּה see שׁתה. מֵת see מות. p 559,1059 Strong's Exhaustive Concordance feel, grope, search A primitive root; to feel of; by implication, to grope -- feel, grope, search. Forms and Transliterations וְיָמֵ֖שׁ וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁ וַיְמֻשֵּׁ֑הוּ וימש וימשהו וימשש יְֽמַשְׁשׁ֥וּ יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ־ יְמַשֵּׁ֤שׁ יְמֻשֵּׁ֙נִי֙ ימשני ימשש ימששו ימששו־ מְמַשֵּׁ֣שׁ מִשַּׁ֣שְׁתָּ ממשש מששת mə·maš·šêš memashShesh məmaššêš miš·šaš·tā mishShashta miššaštā vaymashShesh vaymushShehu veyaMesh way·maš·šêš way·muš·šê·hū waymaššêš waymuššêhū wə·yā·mêš wəyāmêš yə·maš·šêš yə·maš·šū yə·maš·šū- yə·muš·šê·nî yemashShesh yemashShu yəmaššêš yəmaššū yəmaššū- yemushSheni yəmuššênîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 27:12 HEB: אוּלַ֤י יְמֻשֵּׁ֙נִי֙ אָבִ֔י וְהָיִ֥יתִי NAS: my father will feel me, then I will be as a deceiver KJV: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem INT: Perhaps will feel my father become Genesis 27:22 Genesis 31:34 Genesis 31:37 Exodus 10:21 Deuteronomy 28:29 Deuteronomy 28:29 Job 5:14 Job 12:25 9 Occurrences |