מָסַס
to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)
Definition
The verb מָסַס (mâçaç) primarily means 'to melt' or 'to dissolve,' describing a physical process of liquefaction, as seen when manna melted in the sun (Exodus 16:21). Figuratively, it describes a person's spirit or courage 'melting away' due to overwhelming circumstances. This can be from fear, as when the hearts of Israel's enemies melted in terror (Joshua 2:11, 5:1), or from grief and exhaustion, as when the Israelites' hearts melted and became like water after a military defeat (Joshua 7:5). It also denotes a wasting away of the body due to disease (Deuteronomy 28:65 uses a related form).
Biblical Usage
מָסַס is used 20 times, primarily in narrative and legal contexts. It appears in the Pentateuch (Exodus, Deuteronomy), the Historical Books (Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel), and once in poetry (Psalm 107:26). Its usage consistently depicts a complete loss of strength or resolve. In military contexts, it describes the psychological defeat of enemies (Joshua 2:11) or the demoralization of one's own troops, which the law addresses by sending the fearful home (Deuteronomy 20:8). It is also used for the physical weakening of Samson's bonds (Judges 15:14) and the emotional collapse of Saul's army (1 Samuel 14:16).
Etymology
As a primitive root, מָסַס is not derived from another Hebrew word. Its core meaning relates to dissolution or liquefaction. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'masāsu' ('to wash away'), supporting the idea of a flowing or wasting away. The figurative meanings of fear and discouragement developed naturally from the physical concept of solidity dissolving into weakness.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant for understanding the human condition before God and in crisis. It portrays the fragility of human courage and physical strength when confronted with divine judgment, overwhelming enemies, or personal failure. The command in Deuteronomy 20:8, to send home those whose heart 'melts,' shows God's understanding of human weakness and His desire for an army trusting in His strength, not their own. The 'melting' of enemy hearts (Joshua 2:11) is directly attributed to their recognition of Yahweh's power, highlighting that true security and steadfastness are found only in God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by conveying the visceral, total nature of this collapse—more than mere sadness, it is a dissolution of one's very being.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the 'heart' (לֵב) was considered the seat of both emotion and willpower. For one's heart to 'melt' was not just to feel afraid, but to experience a catastrophic failure of resolve and decision-making capacity, rendering a person or army ineffective. This contrasts with a modern view where fear might be a temporary emotion; here, it describes a complete psychological and spiritual defeat.
מָג (mâg, H4127) — also means 'to melt,' but often with a focus on the object being dissolved (e.g., mountains melt), while מָסַס focuses on the internal experience. חָת (châth, H2865) — means 'to be shattered' or 'dismayed,' often by terror, but implies a breaking rather than a dissolving. רָפָה (râphâh, H7503) — means 'to sink' or 'become slack,' describing a loss of physical or mental grip, but not necessarily a liquefaction.
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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