Lexical Summary
masas: To melt, dissolve, waste away, faint
Original Word:מָסַס
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:macac
Pronunciation:mah-sas'
Phonetic Spelling:(maw-sas')
KJV: discourage, faint, be loosed, melt (away), refuse, X utterly
NASB:melt, melted, completely lose heart, drenched, dropped, melt away, melting
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to liquefy
2. (figuratively) to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
discourage, faint, be loosed, melt away, refuse, utterly
A primitive root; to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief) -- discourage, faint, be loosed, melt (away), refuse, X utterly.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto dissolve, melt
NASB Translationcompletely lose heart (1), drenched (1), dropped (1), melt (7), melt away (1), melted (5), melting (1), melts (1), wastes away (1), worthless (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] , intransitive ( ; compare , and II. ); —
Infinitive constructIsaiah 10:18;like the melting (wasting away) of a (q. v.)
Perfect consecutiveEzekiel 21:12;Exodus 16:21;Psalm 112:10;Psalm 97:5 2t;ImperfectDeuteronomy 20:8 +;Judges 15:14;Infinitive absolute2 Samuel 17:10;construct id.Psalm 68:3;ParticiplePsalm 22:15 2t.; —
melt (intransitive) of mannaExodus 16:21; waxPsalm 68:3 (simile of wicked); manaclesJudges 15:14 (=vanished, dropped off); wickedPsalm 112:10 (melt away); especially of hills and mountainsMicah 1:4;Psalm 97:5;Isaiah 34:3.
=faint, grow fearful,Nahum 2:11;2 Samuel 17:10 (twice in verse) (compare Dr),Deuteronomy 20:8;Joshua 2:11;Joshua 5:1;Joshua 7:5;Isaiah 13:7;Isaiah 19:1;Ezekiel 21:12;Psalm 22:15.
Participle =wasted, consumptive (?),1 Samuel 15:9 ("" , read see
) < readworthless, literallyrejected (see )
Perfect3pluralDeuteronomy 1:28cause to melt ( = intimidate).
Topical Lexicon
Imagery and ScopeMasas paints a vivid picture of matter or morale turning soft, dissolving, and losing structural integrity. Scripture employs the verb to describe (1) literal melting under heat or fire, (2) the collapse of courage in the face of overwhelming threat, and (3) the wasting of strength under the weight of divine judgment. In every setting the word exposes creaturely frailty before greater power—whether the midday sun, a roaring furnace, or the presence of the Lord of Hosts.
Literal Melting in Creation and Daily Life
Exodus 16:21 records the manna that “melted when the sun grew hot,” reminding Israel that even heaven-sent provision must be gathered promptly in faithful obedience. The psalmist adopts the same verb for natural phenomena that cannot resist Yahweh’s advance: “As wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish before God” (Psalm 68:2), while mountains themselves “melt like wax in the presence of the LORD of all the earth” (Psalm 97:5).Micah 1:4 andNahum 2:10 extend the image to an eschatological scale—earth quaking and hearts trembling when the Lord rises to witness against sin.
Military Panic and the Collapse of Courage
Moses warned anxious Israel not to be swayed by spies whose hearts had “melted” (Deuteronomy 1:28). Later, officers were instructed to send home any soldier whose heart “melts” lest fear spread through the ranks (Deuteronomy 20:8). The Canaanites experienced the same paralysis: Rahab testifies, “When we heard this, our hearts melted” (Joshua 2:11), and after Israel crossed the Jordan “their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites” (Joshua 5:1). The narrative ofJoshua 7:5 shows the tragic reversal—Israel’s own courage melts when sin remains hidden in the camp, teaching that covenant disobedience robs God’s people of boldness.
Personal Affliction and Inner Wasting
David laments, “My heart is like wax; it melts away within me” (Psalm 22:14), anticipating the Messiah’s suffering as the pressures of divine wrath and human hostility converge on the cross.Psalm 112:10 records the wicked gnashing their teeth as their expectations melt away in the triumph of the righteous. Individual anguish joins cosmic upheaval to underline the comprehensive reach of God’s sovereignty.
Prophetic Announcements of Judgment
Isaiah declares, “The hearts of all the people will melt” (Isaiah 13:7) when Babylon falls; Ezekiel foretells Israel’s shock when the sword of judgment arrives: “Every heart will melt” (Ezekiel 21:7). InIsaiah 34:3 even corpses are said to “melt,” portraying the totality of divine vengeance against Edom. Such scenes reinforce that no fortress—physical or psychological—can withstand the holiness of God.
Christological Echoes
Masas reaches its interpretive climax inPsalm 22, a Messianic psalm cited in the Gospels. The melting heart of the Suffering Servant ultimately secures hearts that will never melt again, establishing a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Through His resurrection the One whose strength appeared to dissolve now imparts unwavering courage to His people.
Pastoral and Ministry Applications
1. Call to Courage: Believers are urged to root their confidence not in self-assurance, which can melt in an instant, but in the immutable character of the Lord.
2. Warning to the Unrepentant: Persistent rebellion will inevitably end in a melting of every false security.
3. Comfort in Weakness: Saints burdened by sorrow may find solidarity with their Savior whose heart once melted yet emerged victorious.
4. Urgency in Obedience: Like manna that disappears under the sun, opportunities for faithfulness may be fleeting; prompt obedience honors the Provider.
Summary
Masas confronts the reader with a choice: will one’s heart melt in terror and unbelief, or will it melt in contrition and worship before the One who alone can solidify faith? The verb’s diverse applications converge on a single truth—only those fortified by the fear of the LORD stand firm when every other confidence dissolves.
Forms and Transliterations
הִמֵּ֣ס הֵמַ֨סּוּ המס המסו וְנָמֵ֖ס וְנָמֵ֣ס וְנָמַ֤סּוּ וְנָמַ֥סּוּ וְנָמָ֑ס וְנָמָֽס׃ וַיִּמַּ֣ס וַיִּמַּ֥ס וַיִּמַּ֥סּוּ וימס וימסו ונמס ונמס׃ ונמסו יִמַּ֛ס יִמַּ֥ס יִמָּ֑ס יִמָּֽס׃ ימס כְּהִמֵּ֣ס כִּמְסֹ֥ס כהמס כמסס נָ֝מֵ֗ס נָ֭מַסּוּ נָמֵ֜ס נמס נמסו hê·mas·sū heMassu hêmassū him·mês himMes himmês kə·him·mês kehimMes kəhimmês kim·sōs kimSos kimsōs nā·mas·sū nā·mês Namassu nāmassū naMes nāmês vaiyimMas vaiyimMassu venaMas venaMassu venaMes way·yim·mas way·yim·mas·sū wayyimmas wayyimmassū wə·nā·mās wə·nā·mas·sū wə·nā·mês wənāmās wənāmassū wənāmês yim·mas yim·mās yimmas yimmās
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