מָסָה (ma.sah)

The Hebrew verb masah describes the physical process of melting or dissolving into a liquid state. In the Old Testament, it appears exclusively in the Hiphil stem, which gives the word a causative force. This means it does not simply describe something melting on its own, but rather depicts an agent causing that dissolution. The primary sense is to melt, consume, or cause something to vanish through heat or pressure.

Scripture applies this concrete image in two distinct contexts. In Joshua 2:9-11, Rahab tells the spies that the fear of Israel has caused the hearts of the Canaanite inhabitants to "melt" (masah). Here, the word functions figuratively to describe intense intimidation or terror that dissolves courage. Similarly, Psalm 68:2 uses the imagery metaphorically, asking God to make enemies scatter like wax before fire. In both cases, the solid resolve of people is reduced to a fluid state of defeat.

Translators often render this verb as "melt," "dissolve," or "scatter" depending on whether the context is physical or psychological. The word carries a sense of irreversible change; once wax melts, it cannot easily return to its original form. This highlights the power of the divine action described in these texts, where fear or judgment breaks down resistance completely.