מַשָּׂא
Massa, a son of Ishmael
Definition
Massa is the name of a son of Ishmael, Abraham's son through Hagar, and thus one of the twelve tribal princes descended from Ishmael (Genesis 25:14, 1 Chronicles 1:30). The name itself is identical to the common Hebrew noun מַשָּׂא (massa'), meaning 'burden,' 'oracle,' or 'lifting up.' While the biblical text does not explicitly explain the naming, the shared form suggests a symbolic connection to the concept of a burden or a prophetic utterance. As a proper noun, its primary function is to identify this specific ancestor of an Ishmaelite tribe, whose descendants likely formed a nomadic group in the Arabian Peninsula.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a proper name in the Old Testament, appearing only in two genealogical lists: Genesis 25:14 and 1 Chronicles 1:30. In both contexts, it simply identifies Massa as one of the twelve sons of Ishmael, with no further narrative or descriptive details provided about his life or tribe.
Etymology
Massa is derived from the root נָשָׂא (nasa', H5375), meaning 'to lift, carry, bear.' It is the same as the common noun מַשָּׂא (massa', H4853), which can mean a physical 'burden,' a 'tribute' payment, or, importantly, a 'prophetic oracle' (as in Isaiah 13:1). The name likely carries the connotation of 'burden' or 'oracle,' though its specific application to Ishmael's son is not explained in scripture.
Semantic Range
The name Massa serves as a subtle thematic link within the biblical narrative. As a son of Ishmael, his name meaning 'burden' or 'oracle' may reflect the burden of the covenant promise passing through Isaac, not Ishmael (Genesis 17:18-21). It reminds readers of God's sovereign choice and the different destinies of the covenant line and the other nations. Understanding its etymological connection to 'oracle' can also prompt reflection on how God's word defines the identity and fate of peoples.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, names were often significant and descriptive. Bearing a name meaning 'burden' or 'oracle' would have been understood as carrying a weighty identity or destiny. As an Ishmaelite tribal name, it likely identified a specific nomadic clan in northern Arabia, known for its trade routes and interactions with other Semitic peoples.
מַשָּׂא (massa', H4853) — The identical common noun meaning 'burden,' 'load,' 'tribute,' or 'oracle,' from which the proper name is derived.
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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