What does מָשַׁשׁ (māšaš) mean in the Bible?
מָשַׁשׁ (māšaš): Tactile exploration implying uncertainty or blindness; to search by touch when vision fails
Hebrew · H4959
מָשַׁשׁ
To feel of ; by implication, to grope
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מָשַׁשׁH4959
Pronunciationmāšaš
What does מָשַׁשׁ (māšaš) mean in the Bible?
מָשַׁשׁ (māšaš): Tactile exploration implying uncertainty or blindness; to search by touch when vision fails
Full entry for מָשַׁשׁ (H4959) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4959?
The BSB source-word alignment has 9 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include - (1), a palpable (1), and grope (1), grope about (1), searched (1).
Where does מָשַׁשׁ (māšaš) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 27:12. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (4), Deuteronomy (2), Job (2), Exodus (1).
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-1×Deuteronomy 28:29
a palpable1×Exodus 10:21
and grope1×Job 5:14
grope about1×Deuteronomy 28:29
searched1×Genesis 31:34
They grope1×Job 12:25
touches me1×Genesis 27:12
who touched him1×Genesis 27:22
You have searched1×Genesis 31:37
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 27:12יְמֻשֵּׁ֙נִי֙totouches meVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singularGenesis 27:22וַיְמֻשֵּׁ֑הוּtowho touched himConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularGenesis 31:34וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁtosearchedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 31:37מִשַּׁ֣שְׁתָּtoYou have searchedVerb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularExodus 10:21וְיָמֵ֖שׁtoa palpableConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 28:29מְמַשֵּׁ֣שׁtogrope aboutVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularDeuteronomy 28:29יְמַשֵּׁ֤שׁto-Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularJob 5:14יְֽמַשְׁשׁ֥וּtoand gropeVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralJob 12:25יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ־toThey gropeVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 27:12
Aligned rows9
Books represented4
Genesis4Exodus1Deuteronomy2Job2
Source forms
וְיָמֵ֖שׁ1xwə·yā·mêšExodus 10:21
וַיְמֻשֵּׁ֑הוּ1xway·muš·šê·hūGenesis 27:22
וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁ1xway·maš·šêšGenesis 31:34
יְמֻשֵּׁ֙נִי֙1xyə·muš·šê·nîGenesis 27:12
יְמַשֵּׁ֤שׁ1xyə·maš·šêšDeuteronomy 28:29
יְֽמַשְׁשׁ֥וּ1xyə·maš·šūJob 5:14
יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ־1xyə·maš·šū-Job 12:25
מְמַשֵּׁ֣שׁ1xmə·maš·šêšDeuteronomy 28:29
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xJob 5:14, Job 12:25
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xExodus 10:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xGenesis 31:34
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular1xGenesis 27:22
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 28:29
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 28:29
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular1xGenesis 31:37
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular1xGenesis 27:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Tactile exploration implying uncertainty or blindness; to search by touch when vision fails
Strong'sH4959
Lexical occurrences9 versesWord forms1 form5 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 59:9-15Source Gloss
to feel of ; by implication, to grope
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Tactile exploration implying uncertainty or blindness; to search by touch when vision fails
to feel of; by implication, to grope BDB: feel Usage: feel, grope, search.
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 groups1Aligned forms5
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action5×
ImperfectJob 5:14 · Job 12:25 · Deut 28:293×
Participle activeDeut 28:291×
PerfectGen 31:371×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Metaphorical groping in darkness, seeking way forward without light
Showing 1 selected witness from 9 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מָשַׁשׁ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.