H4541a H4541a
A molten/cast idol image; rarely, a libation or covering poured out in covenant-making
Used almost exclusively for cast metal idols, massekah denotes an image formed by pouring molten metal into a mold — the infamous golden calf of Exodus 32 being its defining instance. Paired frequently with pesel (carved image), it became a standard term for denouncing idolatry across Deuteronomy, Judges, Kings, and the prophets. A single occurrence in Isaiah 30:1 uses the word in a strikingly different way, referring to a libation or covering poured out as part of an illicit political alliance, a covenant woven apart from God's Spirit.
Senses
1. molten/cast image (idol) — A metal idol formed by casting molten material into a mold. English glosses consistently render 'cast image' or 'molten image,' while Spanish uses 'imagen fundida' (melted image), reinforcing the metallurgical process. The golden calf episodes (Exod 32:4, 8; Deut 9:16; Neh 9:18; Ps 106:19) define the prototype; the term appears in prohibitions (Exod 34:17; Lev 19:4) and in prophetic condemnations of northern idolatry (Hos 13:2; 1 Kgs 14:9). 25×
AR["المَسبوكُ", "الْ-مَسْبُوكَ", "تَمَاثِيلَ", "تِمثالًا-مَسبوكًا", "تِمْثَالِ", "لِلمَسْبُوكِ", "مَسبوكاً", "مَسبوكَةً", "مَسْبُوكًا", "مَسْبُوكَاتِهِمْ", "مَسْبُوكَةً", "مَسْبُوكَةٍ", "وَ-الْمَسْبُوكَاتِ", "وَ-مَسْبُوكًا", "وَ-مَسْبُوكٌ", "وَ-مَسْبُوكٍ", "وَمَسْبُوكًا"]·ben["এবং-ঢালাই-করা-মূর্তি", "এবং-ঢালাই-মূর্তি", "ও-ঢালাই-মূর্তি", "গলানো", "ঢালাই", "ঢালাই-করা-মূর্তি", "ঢালাই-করা-মূর্তিকে", "ঢালাই-মূর্তি", "ঢালাই-মূর্তিদের-এর", "ঢালাই।", "তাদের-ঢালাইয়ের"]·DE["[והמסכות]", "[ומסכה]", "[למסכה]", "[מסכה]", "[מסכות]", "[מסכת]", "der-werfen-Bild", "ein-gegossen-Bild", "gegossen", "gegossen-Bild", "ihr-werfen-Goetzen", "und-werfen-Bild", "werfen-metal"]·EN["a-cast-image", "a-molten-image", "and-cast-image", "and-the-cast-images", "cast-metal", "molten", "molten-image", "molten-images", "of-gold", "the-cast-image", "their-cast-idols", "to-a-molten-image"]·FR["[והמסכות]", "[למסכה]", "[מסכות]", "[מסכת]", "et-fonte", "et-jeter-image", "fondu", "fondu-image", "fonte", "jeter-metal", "le-jeter-image", "leur-jeter-idols", "molten", "un-molten-image"]·heb["ה-מסכה", "ו-ה-מסכות", "ו-מסכה", "ל-מסכה", "מסכה", "מסכות", "מסכת", "מסכתם"]·HI["उनकी-ढली-हुई", "और-ढली-मूर्ति", "और-ढली-हुई-मूर्ति", "और-ढली-हुई-मूर्तियों", "को-ढली-हुई-मूर्ति", "ढला-हुआ", "ढली-मूर्ति-का", "ढली-हुई-मूर्ति", "ढाली-मूर्तियाँ", "ढाली-हुई", "ढाले-हुए"]·ID["berhala-tuangan", "dan-patung-patung-tuangan", "dan-patung-tuangan", "dan-patung-tuangan;", "kepada-patung-tuangan", "patung-patung-tuangan", "patung-tuangan", "tuangan", "tuangan-mereka"]·IT["[והמסכות]", "[ומסכה]", "[למסכה]", "[מסכה]", "[מסכות]", "[מסכת]", "e-gettare-immagine", "fuso", "fuso-immagine", "gettare-metal", "il-gettare-immagine", "loro-gettare-idoli", "un-fuso-immagine"]·jav["cor", "cor,", "cor-coranipun", "cor;", "dhateng-reca-cor", "lan-reca-tuangan", "lan-réca-tuangan", "reca-cithakan", "reca-tuangan", "recani-recani-tuangan", "tuangan"]·KO["그리고-그-부어만든-상들을", "그리고-주조-를", "부어-만든", "부어-만든-것-그들의", "부어-만든-상을", "부어-만든-우상", "부어-만든-우상을", "부어만든-상의", "부은-우상을", "부은-우상이", "에-부어-만든-우상", "주물", "주조-상들을"]·PT["a-imagem-fundida", "e-as-imagens-fundidas", "e-imagem-fundida", "e-imagem-fundida?", "fundição", "imagem-de", "imagem-fundida", "imagens-fundidas", "para-imagem-fundida", "suas-fundidas"]·RU["и-литое", "и-литой-идол", "и-литые-идолы", "и-литых-идолов", "и-литьё", "и-литьём", "изображений-", "истукану", "литого", "литое", "литой-идол", "литым", "литых", "литых-идолов", "литых-их", "литьё"]·ES["a-imagen-fundida", "de-fundición", "e-imagen-de-fundición", "e-imagen-de-fundición?", "fundición", "fundición-de", "imagen-de-fundición", "imágenes-fundidas", "la-imagen-de-fundición", "sus-fundiciones", "una-imagen-fundida", "y-fundición", "y-las-fundiciones"]·SW["chuma-kilichoyeyushwa", "kwa-sanamu-za-kusubu", "na-sanamu-ya-kusubu", "na-sanamu-ya-kuyeyusha", "sanamu-ya-kuyeyusha", "sanamu-ya-kuyeyushwa", "sanamu-za-kuyeyuka", "wa-sanamu", "whamaּseּkwot", "ya-kuyeyushwa"]·TR["dokme-putuunun", "dokulmus-puta", "dökme", "dökme-metal", "dökme-put", "dökme-putlar", "döküm", "döküm-put", "dökümü", "ve-dökme-put", "ve-dökme-putlardan", "ve-dökme-putları", "ve-döküm"]·urd["ان-کے-ڈھلے-ہوئے", "اور-ڈھالے-ہوئے-بُت", "اور-ڈھلی-ہوئی-مورت", "اور-ڈھلی-ہوئی-مورتوں", "بتوں-کے", "ڈھالا-ہوا", "ڈھالا-ہوا-بُت", "ڈھالی-ہوئی-مورتیں", "ڈھالے-ہوئے", "ڈھالے-ہوئے-بُت", "ڈھلا-ہوا", "ڈھلی-ہوئی-مورت", "ڈھلی-ہوئی-مورتیں", "ڈھلے-ہوئے-بتوں-سے"]
Exod 32:4, Exod 32:8, Exod 34:17, Lev 19:4, Num 33:52, Deut 9:12, Deut 9:16, Deut 27:15, Judg 17:3, Judg 17:4, Judg 18:14, Judg 18:17 (+13 more)
2. covering / libation (alliance) — A libation, covering, or woven alliance — something 'poured out' in the context of covenant-making apart from God. Occurring only in Isaiah 30:1, where Israel weaves an alliance with Egypt that is not of God's Spirit. English renders 'covering,' Spanish 'libación,' reflecting the ambiguity between a drink offering and a protective pact. BDB connects this to the root nasak (to pour) rather than to the casting of metal. 1×
AR["سَكِيبَةً"]·ben["আচ্ছাদন"]·DE["[מסכה]"]·EN["a-covering"]·FR["[מסכה]"]·heb["מסכה"]·HI["गठबंधन"]·ID["persekutuan"]·IT["[מסכה]"]·jav["prajanjian"]·KO["부어만든-상을"]·PT["libação"]·RU["союз"]·ES["libación"]·SW["sadaka-ya-kinywaji"]·TR["dokme-sunusu"]·urd["مورتی"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. מַסֵּכָה n.f. 1. libation; 2. molten metal, or image;—מ׳ Ex 32:4 +; cstr. מַסֵּכַת Is 30:22; pl. מַסֵּכוֹת 1 K 14:9 +; sf. מַסֵּכֹתָם Nu 33:52;— 1. libation, with covenant sacrif. in making covenant Is 30:1 (= 1. נֶסֶךְ; see, however, sub II. [נָסַךְ]). 2. molten metal, or image: עֵגֶל מַסֵּכָה molten calf Ex 32:4, 8; Dt 9:16; Ne 9:18, cf. ψ 106:19; אֱלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה molten gods Ex 34:17; Lv…