מוֹצָא (mo.tsa)
mo.tsa
exit
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 16 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun moṣāʾ literally means an exit, but in Scripture it carries a rich range of meanings centered on the idea of something coming forth from a source. It can refer to a physical place of departure, such as the east where the sun rises (Psalms 103:12), or the source of a spring. More abstractly, it describes what issues forth from a person or thing, such as a command, an utterance, or even a product like silver from a mine.
This word highlights the connection between origin and output. In Job 28:24, for instance, God is described as determining its "going forth" when speaking about the ways of the wind and clouds, emphasizing divine control over natural processes. Similarly, in Numbers 30:6-15, the term appears in legal contexts regarding vows, referring to the act of issuing or declaring something binding. The word thus bridges the gap between a hidden source and its visible manifestation.
Understanding moṣāʾ helps clarify how ancient Hebrew thought viewed speech and action as tangible outputs from an inner reality. Just as water flows from a spring or silver emerges from ore, words and commands are seen as having real force once they exit the mouth or mind of the speaker. This perspective underscores the seriousness of vows and the power of divine decree in biblical theology.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word moṣāʾ reminds us that what comes out of a source defines its reality. In ancient thought, speech and action were not abstract ideas but tangible outputs from an inner heart. When Scripture speaks of words proceeding from God’s mouth, it highlights their power to sustain life, just as manna sustained Israel in the wilderness.
This perspective invites us to consider our own words with care. Just as a spring determines the quality of its water, the condition of our heart shapes what we speak and do. It is a gentle call to align our inner life with truth, knowing that our words carry weight and consequence in our relationships and before God.
Ultimately, this word points to the reliability of God’s promises. His commands go forth with purpose, and His guidance remains steady even when we face dry places. We can trust that what He initiates will bring life, offering hope for renewal in our own lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] export of2×
- [the] outlet of2×
- to/ points of departure/ their1×
- points of departure/ their1×
- into/ springs of1×
- going forth/ his1×
- exit/ your1×
- and/ springs of1×
- and/ like/ a spring of1×
- a going forth of1×
- [the] utterance of1×
- [the] going forth of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מוֹצָ֣א2×
- וּ/מוֹצָ֧א2×
- מוֹצָאֵי/הֶ֛ם1×
- מוֹצָֽאֲ/ךָ֙1×
- מוֹצָ֥א1×
- מוֹצָ֞א1×
- מוֹצָ֑א1×
- מֽוֹצָא֑/וֹ1×
- מֹצָ֣א1×
- מֹ֣צָא1×
- לְ/מוֹצָאֵי/הֶֽם\׃1×
- לְ/מוֹצָ֥אֵי1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, allowed you to be hungry, and fed you with manna, which you didn’t know, neither did your fathers know, that he might teach you that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of Yahweh’s mouth.
This verse uses the concept of 'proceeding out' to show that God’s word is the true sustenance for human life, far more than physical bread.
-
Daniel 9:25
“Know therefore and discern that from the going out of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem to the Anointed One, the prince, will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times.
Here the term marks the decisive starting point of a divine timeline, anchoring prophecy in a specific historical command to restore Jerusalem.
-
Jeremiah 17:16
As for me, I have not hurried from being a shepherd after you. I haven’t desired the woeful day. You know. That which came out of my lips was before your face.
The prophet distinguishes his own faithful speech from false messages by noting that what came out of his lips was directly aligned with God’s will.