מָס
fainting, i.e. (figuratively) disconsolate
Definition
The Hebrew noun מָס (mâç) denotes a state of fainting or despair, specifically the emotional and spiritual collapse that comes from a complete loss of support or hope. It is used figuratively to describe someone who is utterly disconsolate, forsaken, and without comfort. This profound sense of abandonment is vividly illustrated in its sole biblical occurrence in Job 6:14, where Job laments that a friend's kindness should not be withheld from one who is in this desperate condition. The word captures the extremity of human suffering where all strength and solace have failed.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in the poetic book of Job. It is used in a specific context of relational and spiritual crisis. In Job 6:14, Job directly addresses his friend Eliphaz, arguing that true loyalty (חֶסֶד, *ḥeseḏ*) is most critically needed by a person who is in a state of מָס—someone who has been abandoned by the fear (or reverence) of God. The usage highlights a moment of extreme personal desolation and the ethical imperative to offer comfort to those in such a state.
Etymology
מָס (mâç) is a derivative of the root מָסַס (māsaṣ, H4549), which means 'to melt, dissolve, or faint.' This root conveys the idea of something losing its solidity or strength, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. The noun form מָס thus encapsulates the resulting state of that dissolution—a complete collapse into despair. Cognates in other Semitic languages carry similar meanings of melting or wasting away, reinforcing the concept of fundamental weakness and disintegration.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, מָס is theologically significant as it describes the deepest pit of human despair, a state where one feels utterly forsaken, even by the fear of God (Job 6:14). It confronts the reader with the reality of profound suffering and the human need for divine and communal compassion. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Job by highlighting the severity of Job's accusation against his friends: they have failed to extend covenant loyalty (חֶסֶד) precisely when it was most desperately needed. It connects to doctrines of suffering, theodicy, and the ethical demands of true friendship and community within the covenant.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, especially within the wisdom tradition reflected in Job, a person's well-being was deeply tied to their perceived standing with God and their community. To be in a state of מָס was to be socially and spiritually isolated—a condition considered worse than physical affliction. The expectation, as Job argues, was that one's companions had a sacred duty to provide support and 'fear' (reverent loyalty) to prevent or alleviate this total collapse. This contrasts with a modern, more individualistic view of despair.
יָגוֹן (yāḡôn, H3015) — deep grief or sorrow, more focused on the internal emotion of mourning. דְּאָבָה (də'āḇâ, H1674) — languishing or pining away, often from sorrow or disappointment. עָמַל (ʿāmal, H5999) — trouble, labor, or misery, with a stronger connotation of toil and trouble as a source of weariness.
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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