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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מַסֵּכָה H4541
Pronunciation masēkāh
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 It and a molten idol 3× Judges 17:3, Judges 17:4, Judges 18:14
a molten 2× Exodus 32:8, Deuteronomy 9:16
a molten image 2× Deuteronomy 9:12, Psalms 106:19
and the cast images 2× 2 Chronicles 34:3, 2 Chronicles 34:4
cast images 2× 2 Chronicles 28:2, Hosea 13:2
molten 2× Exodus 34:17, Leviticus 19:4
the molten idol 2× Judges 18:17, Judges 18:18
[or] an image 1× Habakkuk 2:18
an alliance 1× Isaiah 30:1
an image 1× Nehemiah 9:18
and cast 1× Numbers 33:52
and cast idol 1× Nahum 1:14
and molten images 1× 1 Kings 14:9
and the blanket 1× Isaiah 28:20
cast idols 1× 2 Kings 17:16
images 1× Isaiah 30:22
into a molten 1× Exodus 32:4
or molten image 1× Deuteronomy 27:15
the sheet 1× Isaiah 25:7
to molten images 1× Isaiah 42:17
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 32:4 מַסֵּכָ֑ה to into a molten Noun - feminine singular Exodus 32:8 מַסֵּכָ֑ה to a molten Noun - feminine singular Exodus 34:17 מַסֵּכָ֖ה to molten Noun - feminine singular Leviticus 19:4 מַסֵּכָ֔ה to molten Noun - feminine singular Numbers 33:52 מַסֵּֽכֹתָם֙ to and cast Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural Deuteronomy 9:12 מַסֵּכָֽה׃ to a molten image Noun - feminine singular Deuteronomy 9:16 מַסֵּכָ֑ה to a molten Noun - feminine singular Deuteronomy 27:15 וּמַסֵּכָ֜ה to or molten image Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Judges 17:3 וּמַסֵּכָ֔ה to and a molten idol Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Judges 17:4 וּמַסֵּכָ֔ה to and a molten idol Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 32:4
Aligned rows 28
Books represented 14
Exodus 3 Leviticus 1 Numbers 1 Deuteronomy 3 Judges 5 1 Kings 1 2 Kings 1 2 Chronicles 3 Nehemiah 1 Psalms 1 Isaiah 5 Hosea 1 Nahum 1 Habakkuk 1
Source forms
מַסֵּכָ֖ה 4x mas·sê·ḵāh Exodus 34:17, 2 Kings 17:16, Isaiah 30:1, Habakkuk 2:18
מַסֵּכָ֑ה 3x mas·sê·ḵāh Exodus 32:4, Exodus 32:8, Deuteronomy 9:16
הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה 2x ham·mas·sê·ḵāh Judges 18:17, Judges 18:18
וְהַמַּסֵּכָ֥ה 2x wə·ham·mas·sê·ḵāh Isaiah 25:7, Isaiah 28:20
וּמַסֵּכָ֔ה 2x ū·mas·sê·ḵāh Judges 17:3, Judges 17:4
מַסֵּכָ֔ה 2x mas·sê·ḵāh Leviticus 19:4, Nehemiah 9:18
וְהַמַּסֵּכוֹת֙ 1x wə·ham·mas·sê·ḵō·wṯ 2 Chronicles 34:4
וְהַמַּסֵּכֽוֹת׃ 1x wə·ham·mas·sê·ḵō·wṯ 2 Chronicles 34:3
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular 11x Exodus 32:4, Exodus 32:8, Exodus 34:17, Leviticus 19:4
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular 5x Deuteronomy 27:15, Judges 17:3, Judges 17:4, Judges 18:14
Article | Noun - feminine singular 2x Judges 18:17, Judges 18:18
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural 2x 2 Chronicles 34:3, 2 Chronicles 34:4
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular 2x Isaiah 25:7, Isaiah 28:20
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular 2x Psalms 106:19, Isaiah 42:17
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural 1x 1 Kings 14:9
Noun - feminine plural 1x 2 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 definition Source: 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.
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