H4853b H4853b
oracle, prophetic burden — a solemn divine pronouncement, usually introducing judgment oracles against nations
Massa (homonym III, distinct from the common noun meaning 'load') is a technical prophetic term introducing oracular speech, appearing 27 times almost exclusively as a superscription heading. Isaiah deploys it most extensively: 'the oracle concerning Babylon' (Isa 13:1), Moab (15:1), Damascus (17:1), Egypt (19:1), the wilderness of the sea (21:1), Dumah (21:11), Arabia (21:13), the valley of vision (22:1), and Tyre (23:1). Nahum opens with 'the oracle concerning Nineveh' (Nah 1:1), Habakkuk introduces his book as 'the oracle that the prophet saw' (Hab 1:1), and Zechariah and Malachi use the extended formula 'the oracle of the word of YHWH' (Zech 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1). Jeremiah 23:33-40 contains a famous pun: the people ask 'what is the massa of YHWH?' and God retorts 'you are the massa' — playing on 'oracle' and 'burden.'
Senses
1. oracle, prophetic burden — A solemn prophetic pronouncement or oracle, typically functioning as a superscription introducing judgment speech against a foreign nation. Dominates Isaiah's collection of oracles against the nations (Isa 13:1; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1, 11, 13; 22:1; 23:1). Also introduces Nahum (Nah 1:1), Habakkuk (Hab 1:1), and the late prophetic formula 'oracle of the word of YHWH' (Zech 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1). Jeremiah 23:33-38 exploits the homonymic overlap with 'burden' in a devastating pun. The earliest narrative use applies it to God's pronouncement against Ahab's dynasty (2 Kgs 9:25). 27×
AR["الْحِمْلُ", "حِمْلَ", "حِمْلُ", "وَحْيٌ", "وَحْيُ"]·ben["ভার", "ভারবাক্য"]·DE["Last"]·EN["An-oracle", "Oracle", "burden", "burden-of", "oracle-of"]·FR["de-porte!", "oracle"]·heb["משא"]·HI["भार", "भारी", "भारी-वचन"]·ID["Beban", "Ucapan", "Ucapan-ilahi", "beban"]·IT["oracolo"]·jav["Pamedhar", "Wangsit", "momotan", "momotan-ipun", "pawarta-awrat", "wangsit"]·KO["경고", "경고라", "경고이다", "의-짐", "의-짐이라고", "의-짐인가", "짐", "짐인가"]·PT["Carga-de-", "Oráculo", "Oráculo-de", "Peso-de", "Sentença", "Sentença-de", "carga", "carga-de-"]·RU["Бремя", "Пророчество", "бремя", "пророчество"]·ES["Carga", "Carga-de", "Oráculo-de", "carga-de", "carga?", "oráculo-de"]·SW["Mzigo", "Neno", "Unabii", "mzigo", "mzigo-wa"]·TR["Kehanet", "Yukun", "Yük", "Yükü", "Yükü-", "yük", "yükü"]·urd["بوجھ"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† III. מַשָּׂא n.m. Is 14:28 utterance, oracle (cf. נשׂא 1 b (6); Gf Je 23:33);—מ׳ abs. Is 14:28 +; usually cstr. 13:1 +;—of prophetic utterance: 2 K 9:25 Is 14:28 Ez 12:10 2 Ch 24:27 (c. עַל); מ׳ בָבֶל Is 13:1, מ׳ מוֹאָב 15:1, cf. 17:1; 19:1; 21:1, 11; 22:1; 23:1; 30:6 Na 1:1; מ׳ בערב Is 21:13 is later ins. (Di); מ׳ = revelation, הַמּ׳ אֲשֶׁר חָזָה חֲבַקּוּק הַנָּבִיא Hb 1:1; מ׳ י׳ utterance of…