What does מַסֵּכָה (masēkāh) mean in the Bible?
מַסֵּכָה (masēkāh): Cast metal idol or libation offering; theologically significant as object of idolatrous worship condemned throughout OT.
Hebrew · H4541
מַסֵּכָה
Properly, a pouring over, i.e. fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation , i.e. league ; concretely a coverlet (as if poured out)
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מַסֵּכָהH4541
Pronunciationmasēkāh
What does מַסֵּכָה (masēkāh) mean in the Bible?
מַסֵּכָה (masēkāh): Cast metal idol or libation offering; theologically significant as object of idolatrous worship condemned throughout OT.
Full entry for מַסֵּכָה (H4541) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4541?
The BSB source-word alignment has 28 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and a molten idol (3), a molten (2), a molten image (2), and the cast images (2), cast images (2).
Where does מַסֵּכָה (masēkāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 32:4. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (5), Judges (5), 2 Chronicles (3), Deuteronomy (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand a molten idol3×Judges 17:3, Judges 17:4, Judges 18:14
a molten2×Exodus 32:8, Deuteronomy 9:16
a molten image2×Deuteronomy 9:12, Psalms 106:19
and the cast images2×2 Chronicles 34:3, 2 Chronicles 34:4
cast images2×2 Chronicles 28:2, Hosea 13:2
molten2×Exodus 34:17, Leviticus 19:4
the molten idol2×Judges 18:17, Judges 18:18
[or] an image1×Habakkuk 2:18
an alliance1×Isaiah 30:1
an image1×Nehemiah 9:18
and cast1×Numbers 33:52
and cast idol1×Nahum 1:14
and molten images1×1 Kings 14:9
and the blanket1×Isaiah 28:20
cast idols1×2 Kings 17:16
images1×Isaiah 30:22
into a molten1×Exodus 32:4
or molten image1×Deuteronomy 27:15
the sheet1×Isaiah 25:7
to molten images1×Isaiah 42:17
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 32:4מַסֵּכָ֑הtointo a moltenNoun - feminine singularExodus 32:8מַסֵּכָ֑הtoa moltenNoun - feminine singularExodus 34:17מַסֵּכָ֖הtomoltenNoun - feminine singularLeviticus 19:4מַסֵּכָ֔הtomoltenNoun - feminine singularNumbers 33:52מַסֵּֽכֹתָם֙toand castNoun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 9:12מַסֵּכָֽה׃toa molten imageNoun - feminine singularDeuteronomy 9:16מַסֵּכָ֑הtoa moltenNoun - feminine singularDeuteronomy 27:15וּמַסֵּכָ֜הtoor molten imageConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularJudges 17:3וּמַסֵּכָ֔הtoand a molten idolConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularJudges 17:4וּמַסֵּכָ֔הtoand a molten idolConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 32:4
Aligned rows28
Books represented14
Exodus3Leviticus1Numbers1Deuteronomy3Judges51 Kings12 Kings12 Chronicles3Nehemiah1Psalms1Isaiah5Hosea1Nahum1Habakkuk1
Source forms
מַסֵּכָ֖ה4xmas·sê·ḵāhExodus 34:17, 2 Kings 17:16, Isaiah 30:1, Habakkuk 2:18
מַסֵּכָ֑ה3xmas·sê·ḵāhExodus 32:4, Exodus 32:8, Deuteronomy 9:16
הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה2xham·mas·sê·ḵāhJudges 18:17, Judges 18:18
וְהַמַּסֵּכָ֥ה2xwə·ham·mas·sê·ḵāhIsaiah 25:7, Isaiah 28:20
וּמַסֵּכָ֔ה2xū·mas·sê·ḵāhJudges 17:3, Judges 17:4
מַסֵּכָ֔ה2xmas·sê·ḵāhLeviticus 19:4, Nehemiah 9:18
וְהַמַּסֵּכוֹת֙1xwə·ham·mas·sê·ḵō·wṯ2 Chronicles 34:4
וְהַמַּסֵּכֽוֹת׃1xwə·ham·mas·sê·ḵō·wṯ2 Chronicles 34:3
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular11xExodus 32:4, Exodus 32:8, Exodus 34:17, Leviticus 19:4
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular5xDeuteronomy 27:15, Judges 17:3, Judges 17:4, Judges 18:14
Article | Noun - feminine singular2xJudges 18:17, Judges 18:18
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural2x2 Chronicles 34:3, 2 Chronicles 34:4
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular2xIsaiah 25:7, Isaiah 28:20
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular2xPsalms 106:19, Isaiah 42:17
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural1x1 Kings 14:9
Noun - feminine plural1x2 Chronicles 28:2
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Cast metal idol or libation offering; theologically significant as object of idolatrous worship condemned throughout OT.
Source Gloss
properly, a pouring over, i.e. fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation , i.e. league ; concretely a coverlet (as if poured out)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Cast metal idol or libation offering; theologically significant as object of idolatrous worship condemned throughout OT.
properly, a pouring over, i.e. fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation, i.e. league; concretely a coverlet (as if poured out) BDB: woven stuff Usage: covering, molten (image), vail.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
מַסֵּכָה 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.