מֵישַׁע (me.sah)
me.sah
Mesha
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Meša (מֵישַׁע) means “deliverance” or “salvation.” It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, identifying the king of Moab during the reigns of Israel’s Ahab and Jehoram (2 Kings 3:4). As a personal name, it likely expressed hope for divine rescue or reflected a belief that God had already provided safety for his people.
While the name itself is simple, its bearer plays a significant role in the narrative of 2 Kings 3. Meša is described as a sheep breeder who paid tribute to the king of Israel but later rebelled. His story highlights the political tensions between Moab and Israel, showing how names carrying theological weight like “deliverance” can become ironic or contested in historical conflict.
Translators typically render מֵישַׁע as Meša or Mesha, preserving the proper noun form rather than translating the meaning. This keeps the focus on the historical figure while allowing readers to discover the name’s deeper significance through lexical study. The single occurrence underscores how even brief biblical references can anchor larger historical and theological themes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Meša carries the hopeful meaning of "deliverance" or "salvation." In the biblical record, this name belongs to a king who once paid tribute to Israel but later rebelled against them. This historical tension shows that names in Scripture are not just labels; they often reflect deep longings for safety and rescue, even when the surrounding circumstances are complex.
For your faith life, this reminds us that true deliverance is more than political stability or economic security. While Meša relied on tribute and military power, the biblical narrative points toward a deeper hope. We can trust that God understands our struggles for safety and provides a rescue that endures beyond changing alliances or temporary victories.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Mesha1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מֵישַׁ֥ע1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 3:4
Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder; and he supplied the king of Israel with one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.
This verse introduces Meša as a sheep breeder who supplied tribute, establishing the political context for his later rebellion and highlighting the irony of a name meaning "deliverance" in a time of subjugation.