מַשְׂטֵמָה (mas.te.mah)
mas.te.mah
hatred
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun mas’temah denotes a deep-seated state of hostility or enmity between parties. It is not merely a fleeting feeling of dislike, but an active condition of animosity that defines the relationship between two entities. In the Hebrew Bible, this term captures the intensity of conflict where peace has completely broken down.
This word appears only twice in Scripture, both times within the book of Hosea (Hosea 9:7 and 12:6). In these contexts, it describes the hostile relationship between Israel and its neighbors, or the spiritual estrangement caused by idolatry. The sources highlight that mas’temah implies a settled opposition, reflecting a broken covenant bond rather than simple interpersonal friction.
Its usage underscores the seriousness of relational rupture in prophetic literature. By employing this specific term for enmity, the text emphasizes that the conflict is not accidental but rooted in a fundamental rejection of peace. The word serves as a stark marker of divine judgment and social disintegration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mas’temah describes more than a momentary annoyance or simple disagreement. It points to a deep, settled state of hostility where peace has completely broken down. When this term appears in Scripture, it marks a relationship that is fundamentally broken, often reflecting a rupture in the covenant bond between God and His people.
For your faith life, this word serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of turning away from truth. It illustrates how sin can harden hearts, replacing connection with enmity. Recognizing this pattern helps us value the peace we have in Christ, which bridges divides that human effort cannot heal.
May you find comfort in knowing that God desires reconciliation. Even when hostility seems entrenched, His grace offers a way back to wholeness and restored relationship.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- animosity2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַשְׂטֵמָֽה\׃1×
- מַשְׂטֵמָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Hosea 9:7
The days of visitation have come. The days of reckoning have come. Israel will consider the prophet to be a fool, and the man who is inspired to be insane, because of the abundance of your sins, and because your hostility is great.
This verse links the abundance of sins directly to great hostility, showing how spiritual failure fuels relational conflict.
-
Hosea 9:8
A prophet watches over Ephraim with my God. A fowler’s snare is on all of his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.
Here, hostility is found within the house of God, indicating that idolatry corrupts even sacred spaces and communities.