What does מָסַס (māsas) mean in the Bible?
מָסַס (māsas): Physical dissolution as metaphor for emotional collapse—melting away under overwhelming fear, grief, or physical suffering
Hebrew · H4549
מָסַס
To liquefy ; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)
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מָסַסH4549
Pronunciationmāsas
What does מָסַס (māsas) mean in the Bible?
מָסַס (māsas): Physical dissolution as metaphor for emotional collapse—melting away under overwhelming fear, grief, or physical suffering
Full entry for מָסַס (H4549) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4549?
The BSB source-word alignment has 21 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include will melt (4), melt (3), melted (3), . . . (1), and waste away (1).
Where does מָסַס (māsas) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 16:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (4), Psalms (4), Joshua (3), 2 Samuel (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 Itwill melt4×Isaiah 13:7, Isaiah 19:1, Ezekiel 21:7, Micah 1:4
melt3×Deuteronomy 20:8, Psalms 97:5, Nahum 2:10
melted3×Joshua 2:11, Joshua 5:1, Joshua 7:5
. . .1×2 Samuel 17:10
and waste away1×Psalms 112:10
and worthless1×1 Samuel 15:9
as a sickness consumes a man1×Isaiah 10:18
broke loose1×Judges 15:14
have made our hearts melt1×Deuteronomy 1:28
it melted away1×Exodus 16:21
it melts away1×Psalms 22:14
melts1×Psalms 68:2
will flow1×Isaiah 34:3
will melt with fear1×2 Samuel 17:10
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 16:21וְנָמָֽס׃toit melted awayConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 1:28הֵמַ֨סּוּtohave made our hearts meltVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralDeuteronomy 20:8יִמַּ֛סtomeltVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularJoshua 2:11וַיִּמַּ֣סtomeltedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularJoshua 5:1וַיִּמַּ֣סtomeltedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularJoshua 7:5וַיִּמַּ֥סtomeltedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularJudges 15:14וַיִּמַּ֥סּוּtobroke looseConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1 Samuel 15:9וְנָמֵ֖סtoand worthlessConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular2 Samuel 17:10הִמֵּ֣סtowill melt with fearVerb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute2 Samuel 17:10יִמָּ֑סto. . .Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 16:21
Aligned rows21
Books represented11
Exodus1Deuteronomy2Joshua3Judges11 Samuel12 Samuel2Psalms4Isaiah4Ezekiel1Micah1Nahum1
Source forms
וַיִּמַּ֣ס2xway·yim·masJoshua 2:11, Joshua 5:1
הִמֵּ֣ס1xhim·mês2 Samuel 17:10
הֵמַ֨סּוּ1xhê·mas·sūDeuteronomy 1:28
וַיִּמַּ֥ס1xway·yim·masJoshua 7:5
וַיִּמַּ֥סּוּ1xway·yim·mas·sūJudges 15:14
וְנָמֵ֖ס1xwə·nā·mês1 Samuel 15:9
וְנָמֵ֣ס1xwə·nā·mêsEzekiel 21:7
וְנָמָ֑ס1xwə·nā·māsPsalms 112:10
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular4xDeuteronomy 20:8, 2 Samuel 17:10, Isaiah 13:7, Isaiah 19:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular3xExodus 16:21, Psalms 112:10, Ezekiel 21:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular3xJoshua 2:11, Joshua 5:1, Joshua 7:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xIsaiah 34:3, Micah 1:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xJudges 15:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular1x1 Samuel 15:9
Preposition-k | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct1xPsalms 68:2
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1xIsaiah 10:18
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical dissolution as metaphor for emotional collapse—melting away under overwhelming fear, grief, or physical suffering
Source Gloss
to liquefy ; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical dissolution as metaphor for emotional collapse—melting away under overwhelming fear, grief, or physical suffering
to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief) BDB: dissolve Usage: discourage, faint, be loosed, melt (away), refuse, × utterly.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms9
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action8×
Imperfect2Sam 17:10 · Deut 20:8 · Isa 13:7 · Isa 19:14×
PerfectNah 2:11 · Ps 22:15 · Ps 97:53×
Infinitive absolute2Sam 17:101×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
PerfectDeut 1:281×
Word Origins
מָסַס is a primitive root - no further derivation.