Massa מַשָּׂא

Male Arabia H4854 2 books

Son of Ishmael, grandson of Abraham.

Who is Massa in the Bible?

Massa was a son of Ishmael and grandson of Abraham, mentioned in the genealogical records of Genesis 25:14 and 1 Chronicles 1:30. He was one of twelve sons born to Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, and thus belonged to the Ishmaelite tribes that settled in the Arabian Peninsula. While Massa appears primarily in biblical genealogies rather than narrative accounts, his inclusion in these family records underscores the biblical emphasis on documenting Abraham's extended lineage and the establishment of nations descended from his line. Some scholars suggest that Massa may have given his name to both a tribe and a geographical region in the ancient Near East, though this connection remains uncertain.

Biography

Massa was one of the twelve sons of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. He is mentioned in the genealogies of Ishmael's descendants (Gen.25.14; 1Ch.1.30). As a grandson of Abraham, Massa was part of the Ishmaelite tribes that settled in the Arabian Peninsula.

Family

In Scripture

2 biblical books ; 1 with study content
Genesis 1 verse
1 Chronicles 1 verse
  • 1 Chronicles 1:30

    "Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,"

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script
Named Hebrew מַשָּׂא
Encyclopedia Article

Massa

ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)

abia near Babylon as their habitat. The marginal reading of the heading to Pr 31 mentions Lemuel as king of Massa. If that reading is accepted, it would seem that a tribe and probably a place were named from Ishmael's descendant. The reading is doubtful, however, for where the phrase recurs in Pr 30 (Revised Version (British and American)) it appears to be a gloss.

mas'-a-ker.

See INNOCENTS, MASSACRE OF THE.

mas'-a, mer'-i-ba (maccah umeribhah, "proving and strife"; peirasmos kai loidoresis): These na