מָאַס
to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear
Definition
The Hebrew verb מָאַס (mâʼaç) primarily means to reject, despise, or spurn, often with a strong emotional and volitional component of contempt. In a transitive sense, it describes the deliberate rejection of people (e.g., God's people rejecting His rule in 1 Samuel 8:7), covenants (Leviticus 26:15), or things deemed worthless. In a rarer intransitive sense, it can mean to melt away or disappear, as seen in the context of a withering soul (Psalm 107:18). The word conveys a decisive act of dismissal, whether directed toward God, His laws, or other people.
Biblical Usage
מָאַס is used 69 times across various genres, especially in prophetic and historical books. It frequently appears in contexts of covenant rebellion, where Israel rejects God's statutes (Leviticus 26:43) or His chosen leaders (1 Samuel 10:19). God also uses the word to express His potential rejection of a disobedient people (Numbers 14:31) or, contrastingly, His refusal to utterly cast them off (Leviticus 26:44). The usage underscores relational breakdown and moral judgment.
Etymology
A primitive root, its core meaning relates to refusing or despising. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, support senses of rejection or scorn. The Hebrew development emphasizes a conscious, willful act of dismissal, often with moral overtones.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the serious biblical theme of covenant rejection. It describes both human sin—the spurning of God's authority and word—and divine judgment. Yet, key passages like Leviticus 26:44 reveal God's enduring faithfulness even when His people deserve to be 'rejected.' Understanding מָאַס deepens the reader's grasp of repentance, divine patience, and the gravity of turning away from God.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, especially within covenant frameworks, to 'reject' (מָאַס) was not a mild disapproval but a profound social and relational rupture, akin to repudiating a treaty or king. This cultural weight informs its biblical usage for severing a bond with God.
בָּזָה (bāzâ, H959) — to despise or hold in contempt, often with a focus on scornful evaluation; גָּעַל (gāʿal, H1602) — to loathe or abhor, with stronger connotations of disgust or revulsion.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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