מַשָּׁאָה

מַשָּׁאָה

a loan

Definition

מַשָּׁאָה refers specifically to a loan or debt, particularly in the context of lending to a fellow Israelite. In Deuteronomy 24:10, it describes the item taken as collateral for a loan, emphasizing the lender's responsibility not to enter the borrower's house to seize it. In Proverbs 22:26, it warns against becoming surety for another person's debts. The word carries the sense of a financial obligation that creates a binding relationship between two parties.

Biblical Usage

This noun appears only twice in the Old Testament, both in wisdom and legal contexts. In Deuteronomy 24:10, it is used in Torah legislation regulating the ethical treatment of poor debtors. In Proverbs 22:26, it appears in wisdom literature cautioning against financial recklessness. In both cases, the word denotes a debt that carries social and ethical implications, not merely a commercial transaction.

Etymology

Derived from the root נָשָׁא (nāšā’, H5375), meaning 'to lend' or 'to be a creditor.' מַשָּׁאָה is the feminine form of the masculine noun מַשָּׁא (mashshā’, H4855), which also means 'debt' or 'loan.' The root conveys the act of lending, with this noun form specifying the thing lent or the debt obligation itself.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it touches on God's concern for economic justice and the protection of the vulnerable within the covenant community. The laws in Deuteronomy 24:10-13, which use this term, reflect Yahweh's character as a defender of the poor, limiting the power of creditors and preserving the dignity of debtors. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting that debt in Israel was not a purely financial matter but a social relationship governed by covenant ethics, contrasting sharply with exploitative practices of surrounding nations. In ancient Israel, loans were primarily subsistence loans to the poor, not commercial investments. Taking a loan often meant pledging a essential item like a cloak (Deuteronomy 24:12-13) as collateral. The cultural expectation, rooted in the Law, was that creditors show compassion and not aggressively seize collateral, as the poor had few legal protections. This contrasts with modern impersonal banking systems. מַשָּׁא (mashshā’, H4855) — the masculine form of the same word, also meaning 'debt' or 'loan.' נֶשֶׁךְ (neshek, H5392) — refers specifically to 'interest' or 'usury,' the charge on a loan. חוֹב (ḥôḇ, H2320) — a more general term for 'debt' or 'obligation.'

Word Details