H4531b H4531b
Massah, place of testing in the wilderness; or trials/testings
The name given to a wilderness location where Israel tested the Lord by doubting his presence and provision (Exodus 17:7, Deuteronomy 6:16, 9:22), often paired with Meribah ('strife'). The name means 'testing' or 'trial,' and Psalm 95:8 uses it to warn against hardening hearts as the wilderness generation did. Deuteronomy 33:8 also mentions testing Levi 'at Massah,' possibly referring to the same incident or another trial. The place-name itself became a byword for the temptation to test God's faithfulness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A proper name for a wilderness location where Israel tested God, derived from the word for 'testing' or 'trial.' Some contexts use it as a common noun for testings (Deuteronomy 4:34, 7:19, 29:3—the trials God inflicted on Egypt). The multilingual glosses reflect this ambiguity, rendering it sometimes as a place name (Massah, Masá) and sometimes as 'trials.' The site symbolizes the perpetual temptation to doubt God's care when circumstances seem threatening. 4×
AR["التَّجَارِبَ", "الْمِحَنَ", "بِتَجَارِبَ", "مَسَّةَ"]·ben["পরীক্ষা-দিয়ে", "পরীক্ষাগুলি-যে", "মস্সার", "সেই-পরীক্ষাগুলি"]·DE["Massah", "der-trials", "durch-trials"]·EN["Massah", "by-trials", "the-trials"]·FR["de-fondre", "le-trials", "par-trials"]·heb["ב-מסות", "ה-מסות", "מסה"]·HI["-परीक्षाओं-में", "परीक्षाएँ", "मस्सा"]·ID["Masa", "Pencobaan-pencobaan", "Ujian-ujian", "dengan-ujian-ujian"]·IT["[מסה]", "da-trials", "il-trials"]·jav["Masa", "Pacoban-pacoban", "ngangge-coben-coben", "pacoban-pacoban"]·KO["그-시험들을", "맛사-의", "시험들-로"]·PT["As-provações", "Massá", "as-provas", "com-provas"]·RU["-Испытания", "Массы", "испытания", "испытаниями"]·ES["Las-pruebas", "Masá", "con-pruebas"]·SW["Masa", "kwa-majaribu", "majaribu"]·TR["Massa", "denemeler", "sınamalarla-"]·urd["-آزمائشوں-سے", "-آزمائشیں", "آزمائشیں", "مسہ-میں"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. מַסָּה n.f. test, trial, proving;—cstr. מַסַּת Jb 9:23; pl. מַסֹּת Dt 4:34; 7:19, מסּוֹת Dt 29:2:—testings or provings of Pharaoh and Egyptians at Exodus, Dt 4:34 (v. Dr), 7:19; 29:2 (‖ אֹתֹת);—test, trial, of innocent person Jb 9:23 according to Hi al., but v. i. מַסָּה sub מסס.