מֹצָה
Motsah, a place in Palestine
Definition
Motsah (מֹצָה) is a proper noun referring to a specific location in ancient Palestine. It is identified as one of the towns within the tribal territory of Benjamin, as listed in the detailed account of the land allotment in Joshua 18:26. The name itself, meaning 'drained' or 'squeezed out,' likely describes a geographical feature, such as a spring or a place where water was extracted. As a place name, it appears only in this single biblical context, and its primary significance is its inclusion in the tribal inheritance list for Benjamin.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 18:26. It appears in a list of cities allotted to the tribe of Benjamin after the conquest of Canaan. The context is purely geographical and administrative, serving to document the precise boundaries and possessions of the Israelite tribes. There are no other usages or patterns, as it is a singular place name.
Etymology
The word מֹצָה (Môtsâh) is the feminine active participle of the root מָצָה (mātsâh, H4680), which means 'to drain out, to squeeze.' Thus, the place name literally means 'a drained place' or 'a place of extraction.' This likely refers to a location with a notable water source, such as a spring or well, that was actively used or managed.
Semantic Range
As a place name in a tribal boundary list, Motsah reflects the ancient Israelite practice of meticulously recording land inheritances, which was crucial for identity, governance, and the fulfillment of God's promise of the land to the tribes. Its name suggests it was a settlement known for its water source, a vital resource in the arid region. Its inclusion signifies that even small, otherwise obscure locations were part of God's providential distribution of the Promised Land.
No direct synonyms as a proper place name. Related toponyms in the same list include: Gibeon (H1391) — a major Benjaminite city; Anathoth (H6068) — a priestly city and hometown of Jeremiah.
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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