Lexical Summary
mashshuoth: Banners, signals, ensigns
Original Word:מַשּׁוּאָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:masshuw'ah
Pronunciation:mash-shoo-OTH
Phonetic Spelling:(mash-shoo-aw')
KJV: desolation, destruction
NASB:ruins
Word Origin:[forH4875 (מְשׁוֹאָה מְשׁוֹאָה - desolation)]
1. ruin
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
desolation, destruction
Or mashshu ah {mash-shoo-aw'}; formshow'ah; ruin -- desolation, destruction.
see HEBREWmshow'ah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
nashaDefinitionperhaps deceptions
NASB Translationruins (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
deceptionsPsalm 73:18;
Psalm 74:3, but meaning not suitable; read probably , see below (so Klo Now
Hup Bae).
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Theological Themeמַשּׁוּאָה conveys the idea of complete devastation—ruin so thorough that only desolation remains. Scripture uses the term to underscore the certainty, suddenness, and totality of God’s judgment against wickedness, while simultaneously affirming His faithfulness to preserve the righteous.
Usage in the Old Testament
1.Psalm 73:18 highlights the sudden downfall awaiting the arrogant: “Surely You set them on slippery places; You cast them down to destruction”. The word paints a picture of a precipitous collapse engineered by divine justice.
2.Psalm 74:3 laments the desecration of the sanctuary: “Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed”. Here, the word stresses the depth of national and spiritual catastrophe suffered by God’s people.
Historical Context
Psalm 73 is attributed to Asaph, a Levitical singer living in the early monarchy. Surrounded by opulent yet corrupt elites, he wrestles with the prosperity of the wicked until he enters the sanctuary and perceives their ultimate destiny—מַשּׁוּאָה.Psalm 74, traditionally linked to the aftermath of the Babylonian invasion, mourns the smoking remains of Solomon’s Temple. In both settings, the word serves as a sober reminder that earthly power cannot shield anyone from covenantal accountability.
Intertextual Connections
Though the exact term appears only twice, its theological counterpart surfaces across Scripture:
•Isaiah 13:9–11 depicts the “day of the LORD” bringing desolation upon Babylon.
•Ezekiel 33:27 warns of cities laid waste because of persistent iniquity.
•Revelation 18:17 mirrors the motif when commercial Babylon falls: “In a single hour such great wealth has been laid waste!”
Doctrinal Insights
1. Divine Justice: מַשּׁוּאָה assures believers that God’s moral order is not mocked. Ungodly success is temporary; judgment is inevitable.
2. Covenant Faithfulness: Even when Israel’s sanctuary lay in ruins, the Psalms anticipate restoration (Psalm 74:12–17), revealing that judgment is never God’s last word for His people.
Implications for Ministry
• Preaching: The term warns complacent hearts and comforts those troubled by apparent triumphs of evil.
• Pastoral Care: It anchors grieving congregations to hope; devastation can be a prelude to renewal when God’s purposes prevail.
• Discipleship: Teaching about מַשּׁוּאָה nurtures a holy fear of sin and a steadfast trust in God’s ultimate vindication.
Personal and Corporate Application
Believers should examine life choices in light of eternity, recognizing that unrepented sin courts ruin. Meanwhile, congregations facing external hostility or internal failure can recall that destruction is never final for those who cling to the Covenant-Keeper. Mourning turns to mission when ruins become places where God’s restorative glory can again dwell (Haggai 2:9).
Forms and Transliterations
לְמַשֻּׁא֣וֹת לְמַשּׁוּאֽוֹת׃ למשאות למשואות׃ lə·maš·šu·’ō·wṯ lə·maš·šū·’ō·wṯ lemashshuot ləmaššu’ōwṯ ləmaššū’ōwṯ
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
