מָסַר (ma.sar)
ma.sar
to commit
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb masar primarily means to set something apart or deliver it up for a specific purpose. In its basic form, it describes the act of handing over responsibility or an object to another party. The sources note that this action is not merely physical transfer but involves a formal assignment, often carrying legal or ritual weight.
In Scripture, the word appears in two verses, with a significant occurrence in Numbers where it relates to warriors being assigned or delivered over for service. This usage highlights its sense of official designation rather than simple giving. The passive form indicates that someone is placed under the authority or care of another, emphasizing the structured nature of the relationship established by this act.
Its root conveys a clear image of transfer within a defined framework. Translators often render it as "commit" or "deliver," capturing the idea of entrusting something to another’s charge. This term underscores the seriousness of such handovers in biblical contexts, where what is delivered is significant and the recipient bears true responsibility for it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word masar describes a formal handing over, where responsibility is transferred from one party to another with serious intent. In Numbers, this term marks the official assignment of warriors for service, highlighting that such actions carry weight and structure. It is not merely a casual transfer but an entrusting of significant duties to those who will bear them.
For your faith, this reminds us that God often assigns roles within His community with purpose and care. When you feel called to serve or steward something important, remember that this involves trust placed in you by a higher authority. This sense of being committed to a task can bring clarity and strength, knowing that the responsibility comes with divine backing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ offer1×
- and/ they were selected1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִ/מְסָר\־1×
- וַ/יִּמָּֽסְרוּ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 31:5
So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
This verse uses masar to describe the official selection and delivery of warriors for battle, emphasizing the formal nature of their assignment.
-
Numbers 31:16
Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.
Here, masar refers to the women being delivered into the hands of Moses and the congregation, illustrating a transfer of custody with serious consequences.