מַסָּה
a testing, of men (judicial) or of God (querulous)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַסָּה (maççâh) refers to a 'testing' or 'trial,' specifically a situation that proves or examines the character of those involved. It can describe a judicial testing of people, as in Job 9:23 where God is said to mock the trial of the innocent. More prominently, it refers to the querulous testing of God by humans, most famously in Psalm 95:8, 'Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,' where Israel tested God's patience and provision. In Deuteronomy (e.g., 4:34, 7:19), the word is used retrospectively to describe the great trials (the plagues and exodus events) by which God tested Egypt and demonstrated His power to Israel.
Biblical Usage
מַסָּה is used five times in the Old Testament, primarily in historical reflection and poetic contexts. In Deuteronomy (4:34, 7:19, 29:3), it refers to the 'trials' or 'testings' (the signs and wonders) that God inflicted upon Egypt, serving as a foundational memory of God's deliverance. In the poetic books, it takes on a more relational meaning: Job 9:23 uses it for a judicial 'trial' of the innocent, and Psalm 95:8 uses it for Israel's rebellious testing of God at Massah, linking it to the place name as a lasting symbol of faithlessness.
Etymology
מַסָּה is a noun derived from the root נָסָה (H5254), meaning 'to test,' 'to try,' or 'to prove.' The root conveys the idea of putting someone or something to the test to discover their true nature or limits. The noun form specifically denotes the instance or event of such a testing.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the tension in the divine-human relationship regarding testing. Israel's testing of God at Massah (Psalm 95:8) becomes a paradigmatic warning against unbelief and hardening of the heart, referenced later in the New Testament (Hebrews 3:7-15). Conversely, God's testing of Egypt (Deuteronomy 7:19) demonstrates His sovereign power in judgment. Understanding מַסָּה enriches reading by highlighting that a 'trial' can be either a human challenge to God's authority or a divine act of revelation and judgment, demanding a response of either faith or rebellion.
In its original context, a 'מַסָּה' was not a neutral experiment but a high-stakes proving ground, often occurring in wilderness or crisis settings (like the Exodus). The naming of the location Massah (Exodus 17:7) after this event cemented it in Israel's cultural memory as a landmark of failure. This differs from a modern, more clinical understanding of a 'test'; it carried strong connotations of relational strife, doubt, and the peril of provoking a holy God.
נִסָּיוֹן (nissayon, H4532) — a more general term for 'trial' or 'test,' often used for God testing human faith (e.g., Genesis 22:1). בְּחִינָה (bĕchîynâh, H974) — a 'test' or 'examination,' often in contexts of proving genuineness, like testing metals (Psalm 66:10).
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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