What does מַס (mas) mean in the Bible?
מַס (mas): Forced labor tax that burdens and weakens; denotes both the corvée system and oppressive servitude imposed by kings
Hebrew · H4522
מַס
Properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
מַס H4522
Pronunciation mas
What does מַס (mas) mean in the Bible?
מַס (mas): Forced labor tax that burdens and weakens; denotes both the corvée system and oppressive servitude imposed by kings
Full entry for מַס (H4522) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4522?
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of the forced labor (4), as forced laborers (2), into forced labor (2), the forced labor (2), to forced labor (2).
Where does מַס (mas) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 49:15. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Kings (7), Judges (4), 2 Chronicles (2), Joshua (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It of the forced labor 4× 1 Kings 5:14, 1 Kings 9:15, 1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
as forced laborers 2× Judges 1:30, Judges 1:33
into forced labor 2× Judges 1:28, Judges 1:35
the forced labor 2× 2 Samuel 20:24, 1 Kings 4:6
to forced labor 2× Joshua 17:13, Isaiah 31:8
- 1× 1 Kings 5:13
. . . 1× Exodus 1:11
a labor force 1× 1 Kings 5:13
a slave 1× Lamentations 1:1
forced 1× Joshua 16:10
forced labor 1× Proverbs 12:24
forced laborers 1× Deuteronomy 20:11
to be forced 1× 1 Kings 9:21
to be forced laborers 1× 2 Chronicles 8:8
to labor 1× Genesis 49:15
tribute 1× Esther 10:1
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 49:15 לְמַס־ to to labor Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Exodus 1:11 מִסִּ֔ים to . . . Noun - masculine plural Deuteronomy 20:11 לָמַ֖ס to forced laborers Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Joshua 16:10 לְמַס־ to forced Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Joshua 17:13 לָמַ֑ס to to forced labor Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Judges 1:28 לָמַ֑ס to into forced labor Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Judges 1:30 לָמַֽס׃ס to as forced laborers Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Judges 1:33 לָמַֽס׃ס to as forced laborers Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Judges 1:35 לָמַֽס׃ to into forced labor Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular 2 Samuel 20:24 הַמַּ֑ס to the forced labor Article | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 49:15
Aligned rows 23
Books represented 12
Genesis 1 Exodus 1 Deuteronomy 1 Joshua 2 Judges 4 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 7 2 Chronicles 2 Esther 1 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 1 Lamentations 1
Source forms
הַמַּ֔ס 3x ham·mas 1 Kings 5:13, 1 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 10:18
לְמַס־ 3x lə·mas- Genesis 49:15, Joshua 16:10, 1 Kings 9:21
לָמַֽס׃ס 3x lā·mas Judges 1:30, Judges 1:33, Lamentations 1:1
הַמַּֽס׃ס 2x ham·mas 1 Kings 4:6, 1 Kings 5:14
לָמַ֑ס 2x lā·mas Joshua 17:13, Judges 1:28
לָמַֽס׃ 2x lā·mas Judges 1:35, Proverbs 12:24
הַמַּ֑ס 1x ham·mas 2 Samuel 20:24
הַמַּ֜ס 1x ham·mas 1 Kings 9:15
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular 9x Deuteronomy 20:11, Joshua 17:13, Judges 1:28, Judges 1:30
Article | Noun - masculine singular 7x 2 Samuel 20:24, 1 Kings 4:6, 1 Kings 5:13, 1 Kings 5:14
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct 4x Genesis 49:15, Joshua 16:10, 1 Kings 9:21, 2 Chronicles 8:8
Noun - masculine singular 2x 1 Kings 5:13, Esther 10:1
Noun - masculine plural 1x Exodus 1:11
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Forced labor tax that burdens and weakens; denotes both the corvée system and oppressive servitude imposed by kings
Source Gloss
properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Forced labor tax that burdens and weakens; denotes both the corvée system and oppressive servitude imposed by kings
properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor BDB: body of forced labourers Usage: discomfited, levy, task(-master), tribute(-tary).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
forced labor or servitude imposed as a burden on the diligent versus the lazy
Showing 1 selected witness from 23 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מַס is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain