מַשָּׁא (mash.sah)
mash.sah
interest
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mash.sah refers specifically to the act of lending money at interest, or usury. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times within Nehemiah 5, where it describes a financial practice that had become a source of deep distress for the community.
In this context, the word carries a heavy ethical weight. The sources note that in Nehemiah 5:11, the interest rate charged was approximately one percent per month, which amounted to an annual return of twelve percent. While this might seem modest by modern standards, it was devastating for poor Israelites who were already struggling with famine and debt. Nehemiah condemns this use of mash.sah as a betrayal of community trust, demanding that the lenders restore not only the interest but also the fields and houses they had seized.
The rarity of the term highlights how exceptional such exploitation was considered in Israelite law. While other passages permit charging interest to foreigners, charging it to fellow Israelites was viewed as a violation of covenantal love. The word thus serves as a sharp reminder that economic relationships within the community were meant to support life, not extract profit from vulnerability.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mash.sah points to a specific kind of financial burden that crushes those already struggling. In Nehemiah’s time, it meant charging interest to fellow Israelites who were facing famine and debt. This was not just a business transaction; it was a breach of trust within the covenant community. When money is used to exploit vulnerability rather than support life, it damages the relationships God intended to flourish.
For your faith today, this word invites reflection on how we handle resources and relationships. It challenges us to consider whether our actions help others stand or if they add weight to their burdens. The call is toward generosity and fairness, ensuring that economic interactions build up rather than tear down. This approach honors the dignity of every person.
Ultimately, mash.sah reminds us that community thrives on mutual care. By choosing to lift others up instead of profiting from their need, we reflect a heart aligned with God’s justice. May you find wisdom in using your resources to foster peace and stability in your own circles.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- usury1×
- the/ usury1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַשָּׁ֥א1×
- הַ/מַּשָּׁ֥א1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 5:7
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.
This verse shows Nehemiah confronting the nobles directly, highlighting that exacting mash.sah was a public betrayal of brotherhood requiring immediate correction.
-
Nehemiah 5:10
I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.
Here Nehemiah includes himself in the rebuke, demonstrating that stopping this usury required personal sacrifice and leading by example rather than just demanding change from others.