Hebrew · H7257, H8478, H4853 · unreviewed

רֹבֵץ תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ

To crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal); by implication, to recline , repose , brood , lurk , imbed · the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of , etc. · a burden ; specifically, tribute , or (abstractly) porterage ; figuratively, an utterance , chiefly a doom , especially singing ; mental, desire

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

רָבַץ H7257 to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal); by implication, to recline , repose , brood , lurk , imbed
תַּחַת H8478 the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of , etc.
Pronunciation tachtav
Spatial foundation shifting to substitution: beneath becomes "in place of" or "instead of" through positional logic.
Open lexicon entry →
מַשָּׂא H4853 a burden ; specifically, tribute , or (abstractly) porterage ; figuratively, an utterance , chiefly a doom , especially singing ; mental, desire
Pronunciation massāʾ
Literal weight becomes prophetic weight: burden evolves from physical load to oracular utterance or doom-laden proclamation.
Open lexicon entry →

What does רֹבֵץ תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ (rovets tachat massa'o) mean in the Bible?

רָבַץ · תַּחַת · מַשָּׂא is a Hebrew word meaning "to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal); by implication, to recline , repose , brood , lurk , imbed".

Full entry for רֹבֵץ תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ (H7257, H8478, H4853) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal); by implication, to recline , repose , brood , lurk , imbed
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 14×
Participle active Deut 22:6 · Deut 33:13 · Exod 23:5 · Gen 4:7 · Gen 29:2 · Gen 49:14 · Gen 49:25
Imperfect Isa 11:6 · Isa 27:10 · Isa 11:7 · Isa 14:30 · Ezek 34:14
Perfect Ezek 19:2 · Gen 49:9
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action
Participle active Isa 54:11 · Jer 33:12
Imperfect Isa 13:20 · Song 1:7
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 18 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Participle 9 Imperfect 7 Perfect 2
Stem
Qal 14 Hiphil 4
Mood
Indicative/jussive 7 Indicative 2

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Sources