Massa
Massa, a son of Ishmael, was a grandson of Abraham (Gen.25.14; 1Ch.1.30).
Biography
Massa was one of the twelve sons of Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn through Hagar the Egyptian, making him a grandson of the patriarch Abraham (Genesis 25:14; 1 Chronicles 1:30). His birth fulfilled God's promise to Abraham that Ishmael would become a great nation and father twelve princes (Genesis 17:20; 25:16). Massa is regarded as the ancestor of an Arabian tribal group that bore his name, likely inhabiting the desert regions of northern Arabia. The name Massa may also appear in Proverbs 30:1 and 31:1, where the Hebrew word rendered "oracle" or "prophecy" could alternatively be read as a geographical reference to the land of Massa, potentially connecting the wisdom of Agur and King Lemuel to this Ishmaelite territory.
Significance
Massa's significance resides in his connection to God's faithfulness in keeping covenant promises. Though Ishmael was not the child of promise through whom the Abrahamic covenant would be transmitted, God nonetheless pledged to bless Ishmael abundantly, and the listing of Massa among twelve princely sons demonstrates the fulfillment of that divine word. The possible association of Massa with the wisdom traditions of Proverbs 30-31 is theologically intriguing, suggesting that godly wisdom was not confined exclusively to Israel but could be found among peoples connected to Abraham's broader family. Massa thus illustrates that God's providential care extends beyond the covenant line while maintaining His particular redemptive purposes through Isaac.
Verse Appearances (2)
Genesis
1 Chronicles
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]