מַשְׁאָב (mash.av)
mash.av
well
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 mash’av refers specifically to a drawing place for water, such as a well or cistern where vessels are lowered to fetch liquid. It is a functional term describing the location where water is accessed rather than the water source itself. The word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Judges 5:11.
In this single instance, Deborah’s song uses mash’av to describe where people "recount righteous deeds" of Yahweh. This suggests that wells were not merely practical stops but social hubs where communities gathered to share news and celebrate God’s interventions. The term highlights how essential resources shaped daily life and communal memory in ancient Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mash’av points to a place of drawing water, a well or cistern where vessels are lowered to fetch liquid. In ancient Israel, these spots were more than just practical stops for hydration; they served as social hubs where communities gathered. This single occurrence in Judges 5:11 reveals that wells were central to communal memory and shared experience.
Deborah’s song highlights how people would recount righteous deeds at these places of drawing water. It suggests that essential resources shaped daily life and fostered a sense of unity among God’s people. When we consider this, we see how ordinary moments can become opportunities for worship and remembrance.
This perspective invites us to view our own gatherings not just as routines but as chances to celebrate God’s interventions. Whether in a quiet moment or a busy community setting, there is value in pausing to acknowledge the good work of the Lord. May you find joy in these shared experiences, knowing that your presence contributes to the collective story of faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] places for drawing water1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַשְׁאַבִּ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 5:11
Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse Yahweh’s righteous acts, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. “Then Yahweh’s people went down to the gates.
This verse uniquely links the physical act of drawing water with the spiritual practice of rehearsing Yahweh’s righteous acts, showing wells as centers for communal worship.