מַסָּה (mas.sah)
mas.sah
Massah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Massah identifies a specific location in the wilderness where the Israelites tested God. The name translates directly to "temptation" or "testing," serving as a permanent reminder of that moment when the people challenged Jehovah’s presence and provision.
This site is frequently paired with Meribah, meaning "quarreling," in biblical narratives such as Exodus 17:7 and Deuteronomy 6:16. Together, these names mark a turning point where doubt replaced trust, highlighting the tension between divine faithfulness and human impatience during their journey.
The sources note that Massah appears primarily in Deuteronomy and Psalms, often cited as a warning against hardening one’s heart. By recalling this place of testing, the text underscores the danger of questioning God’s care when circumstances become difficult.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Massah marks a moment when fear overtook faith. In the wilderness, the Israelites faced thirst and doubt, asking if God was truly present with them. They named the place Massah, meaning testing, because they challenged His care. This story reminds us that our struggles often reveal what we truly believe about God’s presence.
When life feels dry or uncertain, it is natural to question. Yet Scripture invites us to remember that God remains faithful even when our trust wavers. The warning in Psalms 95 urges us not to harden our hearts as they did. Instead, we are called to listen to His voice and rest in His provision.
This place serves as a gentle reminder for today. It shows that testing is not just about God proving Himself to us, but about us choosing to trust Him. In your own moments of doubt, may you find peace in knowing He is near, even when circumstances seem silent.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Massah2×
- at/ Massah1×
- at <the>/ Massah1×
- and/ at/ Massah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַסָּ֖ה1×
- מַ֝סָּ֗ה1×
- וּ/בְ/מַסָּ֔ה1×
- בַּ/מַּסָּֽה\׃1×
- בְּ/מַסָּ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 17:7
He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is Yahweh among us, or not?”
This verse establishes the origin of the name Massah, linking it directly to the people's quarrel and their specific question about God's presence.
-
Deuteronomy 6:16
You shall not tempt Yahweh your God, as you tempted him in Massah.
Here the word becomes a moral command, warning future generations not to repeat the dangerous testing of God at that location.
-
Psalms 95:8
Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
The psalmist uses Massah as a historical warning against spiritual hardness, urging readers to learn from Israel's past failure.