Bible Word Study
מַשְׂרֵקָה
Masrêqâh · Masrekah, a place in Idumaea
מַשְׂרֵקָה
Masrekah, a place in Idumaea
Definition
Masrekah is a proper noun referring to a specific location in the ancient region of Idumaea (Edom). It is mentioned as the city or place from which Samlah, one of the kings of Edom, originated (Genesis 36:36, 1 Chronicles 1:47). The name itself is derived from a word meaning 'vineyard,' suggesting it was likely a fertile, wine-producing area. As a geographical name, it signifies a specific site within the territory of the Edomites, the descendants of Esau.
Biblical Usage
The word Masrekah is used exclusively in two parallel passages listing the kings of Edom before the Israelite monarchy. It appears in Genesis 36:36 and 1 Chronicles 1:47, both times identifying the origin of King Samlah. Its usage is strictly as a toponym (place name) within genealogical and historical records, with no narrative or poetic occurrences.
Etymology
Masrekah (מַשְׂרֵקָה) is a denominative form derived from the root שׂוֹרֵק (sorêq, H7796), which refers to a choice red grapevine or vineyard. The name essentially means 'place of the vineyard' or 'vineyard town,' indicating its agricultural character. This connection to viticulture is a common feature in ancient Semitic place names.
Semantic Range
While Masrekah itself is a specific location, its mention in the Edomite king lists (Genesis 36, 1 Chronicles 1) serves a theological purpose. These lists demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling the promise to Abraham that nations and kings would come from his line (Genesis 17:6), which included the lineage of his grandson Esau (Edom). The detail, including places like Masrekah, grounds the biblical narrative in real history and geography, affirming the historical reality of these peoples as part of God's sovereign plan. As a place name meaning 'vineyard,' Masrekah reflects the agricultural and economic importance of viticulture in the ancient Near East. A town named for its vineyards would have been a center of wine production, a valuable commodity. This contrasts with a modern understanding of a place name, which may not immediately convey its primary industry or characteristic. For the original audience, the name instantly communicated the town's primary function and resource. שׂוֹרֵק (sorêq, H7796) — The root word, meaning a choice vine or grape, from which Masrekah is derived. כֶּרֶם (kerem, H3754) — A more general Hebrew term for a vineyard or plantation.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]