מָשַׁשׁ
to feel of; by implication, to grope
Definition
The Hebrew verb מָשַׁשׁ (mâshash) primarily means 'to feel' or 'to grope,' often describing a tactile search in the absence of sight. In several passages, it denotes physically touching or examining by hand, as when Jacob feels Isaac's skin to confirm his identity (Genesis 27:12, 22) or when Laban searches the tents for his stolen idols (Genesis 31:34, 37). The word also conveys a sense of helpless groping in darkness, symbolizing disorientation and judgment, such as in the plague of darkness in Egypt (Exodus 10:21) or as a curse for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:29). In poetic books like Job, it metaphorically describes the confusion and stumbling of the wicked (Job 5:14; 12:25).
Biblical Usage
מָשַׁשׁ is used eight times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, legal, and poetic contexts. In Genesis, it describes deliberate physical examination (Genesis 27:12, 22; 31:34, 37). In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it depicts groping in literal or metaphorical darkness as a form of divine judgment (Exodus 10:21; Deuteronomy 28:29). In Job, it is used figuratively for the disorientation and futility experienced by those who oppose God (Job 5:14; 12:25). The usage shifts from concrete physical action to symbolic spiritual blindness across these books.
Etymology
מָשַׁשׁ is a primitive root verb in Hebrew, with no clear derivation from other Semitic roots. It is related by meaning to the idea of tactile perception. Cognates may exist in other Semitic languages with similar senses of touching or feeling, but its primary development in Hebrew emphasizes both literal touch and the metaphorical extension to groping without guidance.
Semantic Range
This word theologically highlights themes of human limitation, divine judgment, and spiritual blindness. The act of groping in darkness, as in Exodus 10:21 and Deuteronomy 28:29, symbolizes the consequences of turning from God's light and guidance. In Job, it illustrates the futility of human wisdom without divine insight. Understanding מָשַׁשׁ enriches reading by emphasizing how physical actions in Scripture often mirror spiritual realities, reminding believers of the need for God's illumination in a fallen world.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, darkness was often associated with danger, chaos, and divine displeasure. Groping (מָשַׁשׁ) in such contexts would have been understood as a sign of vulnerability, loss, or curse, contrasting with the safety and order represented by light. This cultural backdrop amplifies the word's impact in passages describing judgment, where the inability to see or navigate reflects a breakdown in divine favor and protection.
מוּשׁ (mûsh, H4181) — to feel or touch, but with a nuance of handling or removing; טָפַל (ṭāphal, H2942) — to smear or plaster, sometimes used for physical contact in a different sense; חָשַׁב (ḥāshav, H2803) — to think or regard, contrasting as mental rather than tactile perception.
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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