מַשֹּׂא (mas.so)
mas.so
respect
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mas’so literally means “a lifting up.” In the Bible, it appears only once, in 2 Chronicles 19:7, where King Jehoshaphat warns judges not to show partiality. The phrase “lifting up of a person” describes treating someone with undue favor or elevation based on their status rather than the facts of the case.
This usage highlights how bias operates by elevating one individual above another unfairly. The word captures the act of giving someone an unearned advantage, which Jehoshaphat explicitly forbids in his judicial instructions. The imagery suggests that justice should remain level, not tilted by personal connections or social standing.
Though rare, this term offers a vivid picture of injustice as an imbalance. It reminds readers that true fairness requires treating all people equally, without raising up the powerful or lowering the weak. This single occurrence underscores the importance of impartiality in leadership and community life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mas’so literally means “a lifting up,” but in Scripture it describes an unfair elevation of one person over another. It appears only once, in King Jehoshaphat’s warning to judges: do not show respect of persons or take bribes. This rare term paints justice as a scale that must remain level, never tilted by status, wealth, or influence.
For your daily life, this word invites you to examine how you treat others. Do you give extra weight to those who are powerful or well-connected? True fairness means seeing every person as equally valuable before God. When we refuse to “lift up” the privileged unfairly, we reflect a heart aligned with divine justice.
May your interactions be marked by integrity and equal regard for all people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ lifting up of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מַשֹּׂ֥א1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 19:7
Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.”
This is the only biblical occurrence, where Jehoshaphat commands judges to avoid elevating individuals based on status rather than truth.