3988. ma'ac
Lexical Summary
ma'ac: To reject, despise, refuse, abhor

Original Word: מָאַס
Part of Speech: verb
Transliteration: ma'ac
Pronunciation: mah-as'
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-as')
KJV: abhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain, (become) loathe(some), melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, X utterly, vile person
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to spurn
2. (intransitively) to disappear

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
abhor, cast away off, contemn, despise, disdain, become loathsome, refuse,

A primitive root; to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear -- abhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain, (become) loathe(some), melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, X utterly, vile person.

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [מָאַס] verb reject (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic מְאַס reject, despise; BaES 15 compare (dubious) Arabic lightly esteem (Kam.); Assyrian ma°âsu is perhaps destroy MeissnSuppl. 55); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular מָאַס Isaiah 8:6 4t; suffix מְאָסָם Psalm 53:6; 2masculine singular מָאַסְתָּ Jeremiah 14:19 3t.; מָאַסְתָּה Judges 9:38; 1 Samuel 15:26 22t. Perfect; Imperfect יִמְאַס Job 8:20 3t; יִמְאָ֑ס Psalm 36:5; Job 36:5; suffix וַיִּמְאָֽסְךָ 1 Samuel 15:23,26; for וְאֶמְאָֽסְאךָ Hosea 4:6 (so Baer, compare DeComplut. Var. 18 f.; not ׳וָא van d. H) read וְאֶמְ˜אסְךָ; 3 masculine plural יִמְאֲסוּ Jeremiah 6:19 2t.; יִמְאָס֑וּן Isaiah 31:7; 12t. Imperfect; Infinitive absolute מָאוֺס Isaiah 7:15,16 מָאֹס Jeremiah 14:19; Lamentations 5:22; cstr. מָֽאָסְכֶם Isaiah 30:12; מָאֳסָם Amos 2:4; Participle מוֺאֵס Proverbs 15:32; מֹאֵס Isaiah 33:15, feminine מֹאֶסֶת Ezekiel 21:15 (text dubious, Co מוֺאֲסֵי; Berthol וּמְאַסֵּף), Ezekiel 21:18 (also dubious, Co מִטֻּמְאָתָס; Berthol מְאַסֵּף); —

1 reject, refuse,

a. with accusative: God rejects men Hosea 4:6; Hosea 9:17; 1 Samuel 15:23,26; 1 Samuel 16:1,7; 2 Kings 23:27; Jeremiah 7:29; Jeremiah 14:19 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 33:24,26; Leviticus 26:44 (H), Psalm 53:6; Job 8:20; Job 10:3; Lamentations 5:22 (twice in verse); זָנַחְתָּ וַתִּמְאָס Psalm 89:39; men reject God Numbers 11:20 (J), 1 Samuel 8:7; 1 Samuel 10:19; men 1 Samuel 8:7; Job 30:1; idols Isaiah 31:7, evil Psalm 36:5, knowledge Hosea 4:6, divine תורה Amos 2:4; Isaiah 5:24; דבר 1 Samuel 15:23,26, חקות Exodus 20:24, חקים2Kings 17:15; מוסר Job 5:17; Proverbs 3:11; variant reading things Isaiah 8:6; Ezekiel 21:15; Psalm 118:22; Job 31:13.

b. with בְ God rejects men 2 Kings 17:20; Jeremiah 6:30; Jeremiah 31:37; Psalm 78:59; Psalm 78:67, that in which man confides Jeremiah 2:37; men reject evil Isaiah 7:15,16, divine תורה Jeremiah 6:19, דבר Isaiah 30:12; Jeremiah 8:9 חקות Leviticus 26:15 (H); משׁפטים Leviticus 26:43 (H), Ezekiel 5:6; Ezekiel 20:13,16; variant reading things, Numbers 14:31 (J) Isaiah 33:15; Jeremiah 4:30; Psalm 106:24.

2 despise, with accusative, God subject שׂנאתי מאסתי חגיכם Amos 5:21 I hate, I despise your feasts; elsewhere men subject בי ׳גם עוילים מ Job 19:18 even young children despise me; חיי ׳אמ Job 9:21 I despise my life, compare מואס נפשׁוֺ Proverbs 15:32; בוֺ ׳הלא זה העם אשׁר מ Judges 9:38 is not this the people that thou despisedst? עָרִים׳מ Isaiah 33:8; object omitted Job 7:16 (< join to preceding Me Siegf Du); Job 34:33; Job 36:5; Job 42:6 (ᵑ6 Siegf אֶשְׁתֹּק; ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Symm Bö אֶמָּאֵס) Ezekiel 21:18 (but see above). —

Niph`al be rejected: Imperfect תִּמָּאֵם Isaiah 54:6 (wife); Participle נִמְאָס Jeremiah 6:30 (silver), Psalm 15:4 ( = reprobate; opposed to ׳יִרְאֵי י); + feminine נִמְאָסָה, נִמְאֶסֶת 1 Samuel 15:9 rejected, i.e. worthless (for HCT נָמֵם) according to We Klo Dr Kit Bu HPS ("" נמבזה, read נִבְזָה; compareמסס, בזה

Niph`al )

II. [מָאַס] verb Niph`al flow, run (Aramaic id., but rare and dubious; — secondary form of מסס q. v.); — Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִּמָּאֵס Job 7:5 my skin hath hardened and run (i. e. again, afresh; > GHoffm Du read וַיִּמַּס, Bu וַיִּמָּאס, √ מסס); 3 masculine plural כְּמוֺ מַיִם יִמָּֽאֲסוּ Psalm 58:8 (figurative of annihilation of wicked).

[מַאֲפֶה] see אפה.

מַאֲפֵל, מַאְמֵּלְיָה, see אפל.

מאץ

(compare Arabic a kind of white camel, whence LagBN 29 proposes מָאֹץ for the difficult אָמֹץ (אֲמֻצִּים) Zechariah 6:3,7).

Topical Lexicon
Scope and Sense of the Verb

The verb describes a deliberate, often covenantal, act of rejection or spurning. It is not an emotional whim but a volitional repudiation of something recognised and then set aside. The object rejected may be the Lord Himself, His word, His statutes, His prophets, wisdom, or (in fewer cases) particular individuals whom the Lord has chosen to set aside. The term therefore exposes the moral posture of the human heart and, conversely, the righteousness of God when He rejects the unrepentant.

Distribution

Roughly seventy-five occurrences span the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets. No usage is random; each instance advances the covenant storyline by underscoring the blessings of submission and the peril of defiance.

Covenantal Rejection in the Pentateuch

Leviticus is the earliest sustained cluster:

Leviticus 26:15 “...if you reject My statutes and despise My ordinances…”
Leviticus 26:43 “Yet for all this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them to destroy them utterly…”

Here, human rejection of the divine statutes is met by the threatened but ultimately restrained rejection by Yahweh. The tension between deserved judgment and covenant mercy is introduced.

Historical Books: Monarchy and Leadership

The Samuel narratives use the word to frame the decline of Saul and the rise of David:

1 Samuel 8:7 “They have not rejected you, they have rejected Me as their king.”
1 Samuel 15:23 “Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
1 Samuel 16:1 “I have rejected him from reigning over Israel.”

“Rejecting the word” equals “rejecting the LORD,” revealing the inseparability of God and His revelation. Israel’s demand for a king reflected the national heart; Saul’s loss of kingship reflected one man’s disobedience. The verb therefore bridges corporate and individual accountability.

Wisdom Literature: Moral and Practical Dimensions

Job, Psalms, and Proverbs broaden the semantic field to counsel and wisdom:

Job 5:17 “Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”
Psalm 118:22 “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”
Proverbs 1:7 “Fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

In worship and wisdom settings, rejection becomes a moral folly. God’s messianic cornerstone (Psalm 118:22) is spurned by builders who should have recognised its value, providing a prophetic template later cited in the New Testament.

Major Prophets: National Apostasy and Divine Response

Isaiah and Jeremiah employ the term as a judicial verdict:

Isaiah 5:24 “They have rejected the law of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
Jeremiah 6:19 “They have not listened to My words, and they have rejected My instruction.”
Jeremiah 14:19 “Have You utterly rejected Judah? Has Your soul loathed Zion?”

The prophets accuse Judah and Israel of rejecting Torah, covenant, and prophetic warning. God’s counter-rejection is portrayed as sorrowful but just.

Minor Prophets: Amplifying the Warning

Hosea, Amos, and Zechariah echo the theme:

Hosea 4:6 “Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests.”
Amos 2:4 “They have rejected the law of the LORD.”
Zechariah 11:8 “My soul loathed them, and their souls also despised Me.”

The verb magnifies the seriousness of rejecting divine knowledge; priesthood itself can be forfeited.

Christological Significance

Psalm 118:22 forms the backbone of the New Testament’s messianic application (Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7). The builders’ rejection of the cornerstone anticipates Israel’s leadership rejecting Jesus Christ. Thus, the Old Testament use of the verb prepares the reader for the climactic rejection at Calvary and the divine vindication that follows.

Divine Rejection as Righteous Judgment, Not Caprice

When God is subject, His rejection rests on covenant breach (e.g., 2 Kings 17:20; Hosea 9:17). Yet He never rejects a repentant heart (Psalm 51:17), and He promises ultimate restoration (Leviticus 26:44). The verb therefore highlights both holiness and mercy.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Preaching and Teaching: The repeated linkage of rejecting God’s word with personal and national ruin underscores the preacher’s call to herald Scripture faithfully (2 Timothy 4:2-4 echoes the theme).

2. Discipleship: Believers must cultivate a receptive heart toward biblical instruction, lest they repeat Israel’s history of spurning divine counsel.

3. Apologetics and Evangelism: The motif provides a diagnostic lens for cultural attitudes toward truth. Rejecting revelation is not mere intellectual doubt but moral resistance.

4. Church Leadership: As Saul’s downfall illustrates, continued disobedience disqualifies leaders. Elders must heed the “whole counsel of God” lest they be set aside.

Summary

The verb paints a sobering portrait of human obstinacy and divine integrity. Whether statutes, wisdom, prophetic warning, or Messiah Himself, what is rejected inevitably stands vindicated by God. Conversely, those who reject Him court judgment. Fittingly, the gospel invites all who once rejected to return in faith, assured that He “will not reject forever” (Lamentations 3:31).

Forms and Transliterations
אֶמְאַ֗ס אֶמְאַ֣ס אֶמְאַ֥ס אֶמְאַ֨ס אמאס הֲמָאֹ֨ס המאס וְאֶמְאָֽסְאךָ֙ וַ֭יִּמְאַס וַֽ֭יִּמְאֲסוּ וַיִּמְאֲס֣וּ וַיִּמְאֲסוּ־ וַיִּמְאַ֥ס וַיִּמְאַ֨ס וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֖ וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֣ וַיִּמְאָסֵ֑ם וַיִּמָּאֵֽס׃ וַתִּמְאָ֑ס וּ֠מָאַסְתִּי ואמאסאך וימאס וימאס׃ וימאסו וימאסו־ וימאסך וימאסם ומאסתי ותמאס יִמְאַס־ יִמְאָ֑ס יִמְאָֽס׃ יִמְאָס֗וּן יִמְאָסֵ֣ם יִמָּאֲס֣וּ ימאס ימאס־ ימאס׃ ימאסו ימאסון ימאסם מְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּ מְאַסְתִּ֔יו מְאַסְתִּ֤ים מְאַסְתִּֽיךָ׃ מְאַסְתֶּ֖ם מְאַסְתֶּ֣ם מְאַסְתֶּ֤ם מְאָסָֽם׃ מָ֣אֲסוּ מָ֭אַסְתִּי מָֽאָסְכֶ֖ם מָא֥וֹס מָאֲס֖וּ מָאֲס֗וּ מָאֲס֣וּ מָאֲסוּ־ מָאֳסָ֞ם מָאַ֖סְתִּי מָאַ֗סְתָּ מָאַ֙סְתָּ֙ מָאַ֙סְתָּה֙ מָאַ֜סְתָּ מָאַ֣ס מָאַ֣סְתָּה מָאַ֤ס מָאַ֥ס מָאַ֥סְתִּי מָאַס֙ מָאָ֔סוּ מָאָ֗סוּ מָאֹ֣ס מָאֹ֥ס מֹאֵ֞ס מֹאֶ֖סֶת מֹאֶ֥סֶת מאוס מאס מאסו מאסו־ מאסכם מאסם מאסם׃ מאסת מאסתה מאסתי מאסתיהו מאסתיו מאסתיך׃ מאסתים מאסתם מוֹאֵ֣ס מואס נִמְאָ֔ס נִמְאָ֗ס נמאס תִ֭מְאַס תִּמְאָ֑ס תִּמְאָ֔סוּ תִּמְאָֽס׃ תִמָּאֵ֖ס תמאס תמאס׃ תמאסו ’em’as ’em·’as emAs hă·mā·’ōs hămā’ōs hamaOs mā’as mā’āsəḵem mā’astā mā’astāh mā’astî mā’ăsū mā’āsū mā’ăsū- mā’ōs mā’osām mā’ōws mā·’ā·sə·ḵem mā·’ă·sū mā·’ā·sū mā·’ă·sū- mā·’as mā·’as·tā mā·’as·tāh mā·’as·tî mā·’o·sām mā·’ō·ws mā·’ōs maAs maaseChem maAsta maAstah Maasti maAsu maos mə’āsām mə’astem mə’astîhū mə’astîḵā mə’astîm mə’astîw mə·’ā·sām mə·’as·tem mə·’as·tî·hū mə·’as·tî·ḵā mə·’as·tîm mə·’as·tîw meaSam measTem measTicha measTihu measTim measTiv mō’ês mō’eseṯ mō·’e·seṯ mō·’ês mō·w·’ês moEs moEset mooSam mōw’ês nim’ās nim·’ās nimAs tim’ās ṯim’as tim’āsū tim·’ā·sū tim·’ās ṯim·’as ṯim·mā·’ês timAs timAsu ṯimmā’ês timmaEs ū·mā·’as·tî ūmā’astî Umaasti vaiyimAs vaiyimaseCha vaiyimaSem vaiyimaSu vaiyimmaEs vattimAs veemaseCha wat·tim·’ās wattim’ās way·yim·’ā·sə·ḵā way·yim·’ā·sêm way·yim·’ă·sū way·yim·’ă·sū- way·yim·’as way·yim·mā·’ês wayyim’as wayyim’āsəḵā wayyim’āsêm wayyim’ăsū wayyim’ăsū- wayyimmā’ês wə’em’āsəḵā wə·’em·’ā·sə·ḵā yim’ās yim’as- yim’āsêm yim’āsūn yim·’ā·sêm yim·’ā·sūn yim·’ās yim·’as- yim·mā·’ă·sū yimas yimaSem yimaSun yimmā’ăsū yimmaaSu
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Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 26:15
HEB: וְאִם־ בְּחֻקֹּתַ֣י תִּמְאָ֔סוּ וְאִ֥ם אֶת־
NAS: if, instead, you reject My statutes,
KJV: And if ye shall despise my statutes,
INT: if my statutes reject and if my ordinances

Leviticus 26:43
HEB: וּבְיַ֔עַן בְּמִשְׁפָּטַ֣י מָאָ֔סוּ וְאֶת־ חֻקֹּתַ֖י
NAS: because they rejected My ordinances
KJV: even because they despised my judgments,
INT: because my ordinances rejected my statutes abhorred

Leviticus 26:44
HEB: אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֗ם לֹֽא־ מְאַסְתִּ֤ים וְלֹֽא־ גְעַלְתִּים֙
NAS: of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor
KJV: of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor
INT: of their enemies nor reject nor abhor

Numbers 11:20
HEB: יַ֗עַן כִּֽי־ מְאַסְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־ יְהוָה֙
NAS: to you; because you have rejected the LORD
KJV: unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD
INT: because for have rejected the LORD who

Numbers 14:31
HEB: הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר מְאַסְתֶּ֖ם בָּֽהּ׃
NAS: the land which you have rejected.
KJV: the land which ye have despised.
INT: the land which have rejected

Judges 9:38
HEB: הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָאַ֣סְתָּה בּ֔וֹ צֵא־
NAS: whom you despised? Go
KJV: him? [is] not this the people that thou hast despised? go out,
INT: the people whom despised out now

1 Samuel 8:7
HEB: לֹ֤א אֹֽתְךָ֙ מָאָ֔סוּ כִּֽי־ אֹתִ֥י
NAS: that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected
KJV: in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected
INT: for not rejected for have rejected

1 Samuel 8:7
HEB: כִּֽי־ אֹתִ֥י מָאֲס֖וּ מִמְּלֹ֥ךְ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
NAS: to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king
KJV: unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign
INT: rejected for have rejected being over

1 Samuel 10:19
HEB: וְאַתֶּ֨ם הַיּ֜וֹם מְאַסְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־ אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֗ם
NAS: But you have today rejected your God,
KJV: And ye have this day rejected your God,
INT: you have today rejected your God who

1 Samuel 15:23
HEB: הַפְצַ֑ר יַ֗עַן מָאַ֙סְתָּ֙ אֶת־ דְּבַ֣ר
NAS: Because you have rejected the word
KJV: and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word
INT: and insubordination Because have rejected the word of the LORD

1 Samuel 15:23
HEB: דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֖ מִמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס
NAS: of the LORD, He has also rejected you from [being] king.
KJV: of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.
INT: the word of the LORD rejected from king

1 Samuel 15:26
HEB: עִמָּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י מָאַ֙סְתָּה֙ אֶת־ דְּבַ֣ר
NAS: I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word
KJV: I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word
INT: with for have rejected the word of the LORD

1 Samuel 15:26
HEB: דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֣ יְהוָ֔ה מִהְי֥וֹת
NAS: and the LORD has rejected you from being
KJV: and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king
INT: the word of the LORD has rejected and the LORD being

1 Samuel 16:1
HEB: שָׁא֔וּל וַאֲנִ֣י מְאַסְתִּ֔יו מִמְּלֹ֖ךְ עַל־
NAS: Saul, since I have rejected him from being king
KJV: for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning
INT: Saul I have rejected being over

1 Samuel 16:7
HEB: קוֹמָת֖וֹ כִּ֣י מְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּ כִּ֣י ׀ לֹ֗א
NAS: because I have rejected him; for God
KJV: of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man
INT: the height because have rejected because not

2 Kings 17:15
HEB: וַיִּמְאֲס֣וּ אֶת־ חֻקָּ֗יו
NAS: They rejected His statutes
KJV: And they rejected his statutes,
INT: rejected his statutes and his covenant

2 Kings 17:20
HEB: וַיִּמְאַ֨ס יְהוָ֜ה בְּכָל־
NAS: The LORD rejected all the descendants
KJV: And the LORD rejected all the seed
INT: rejected the LORD all

2 Kings 23:27
HEB: אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּ֠מָאַסְתִּי אֶת־ הָעִ֨יר
NAS: Israel. And I will cast off Jerusalem,
KJV: Israel, and will cast off this city
INT: have removed Israel will cast city likewise

Job 5:17
HEB: שַׁ֝דַּ֗י אַל־ תִּמְאָֽס׃
NAS: reproves, So do not despise the discipline
KJV: correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening
INT: of the Almighty nay despise

Job 7:5
HEB: עוֹרִ֥י רָ֝גַ֗ע וַיִּמָּאֵֽס׃
NAS: My skin hardens and runs.
KJV: is broken, and become loathsome.
INT: my skin hardens and runs

Job 7:16
HEB: מָ֭אַסְתִּי לֹא־ לְעֹלָ֣ם
NAS: I waste away; I will not live
KJV: I loathe [it]; I would not live alway:
INT: I waste not forever

Job 8:20
HEB: אֵ֭ל לֹ֣א יִמְאַס־ תָּ֑ם וְלֹֽא־
NAS: God will not reject [a man of] integrity,
KJV: Behold, God will not cast away a perfect
INT: God Nor reject integrity Nor

Job 9:21
HEB: אֵדַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֗י אֶמְאַ֥ס חַיָּֽי׃
NAS: of myself; I despise my life.
KJV: my soul: I would despise my life.
INT: take of myself despise my life

Job 10:3
HEB: תַעֲשֹׁ֗ק כִּֽי־ תִ֭מְאַס יְגִ֣יעַ כַּפֶּ֑יךָ
NAS: to oppress, To reject the labor
KJV: unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work
INT: to oppress indeed to reject the labor of your hands

Job 19:18
HEB: גַּם־ עֲ֭וִילִים מָ֣אֲסוּ בִ֑י אָ֝ק֗וּמָה
NAS: young children despise me; I rise
KJV: Yea, young children despised me; I arose,
INT: Even young despise rise speak

75 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3988
75 Occurrences


’em·’as — 5 Occ.
hă·mā·’ōs — 1 Occ.
mā·’as — 5 Occ.
mā·’ā·sə·ḵem — 1 Occ.
mā·’as·tā — 4 Occ.
mā·’as·tāh — 2 Occ.
mā·’as·tî — 3 Occ.
mā·’ā·sū — 12 Occ.
mā·’ō·ws — 3 Occ.
mə·’ā·sām — 1 Occ.
mə·’as·tem — 3 Occ.
mə·’as·tî·ḵā — 1 Occ.
mə·’as·tî·hū — 1 Occ.
mə·’as·tîm — 1 Occ.
mə·’as·tîw — 1 Occ.
mō·w·’ês — 2 Occ.
mō·’e·seṯ — 2 Occ.
mā·’o·sām — 1 Occ.
nim·’ās — 2 Occ.
tim·’ās — 3 Occ.
tim·’ā·sū — 1 Occ.
ṯim·mā·’ês — 1 Occ.
ū·mā·’as·tî — 1 Occ.
way·yim·’as — 3 Occ.
way·yim·’ā·sə·ḵā — 2 Occ.
way·yim·’ā·sêm — 1 Occ.
way·yim·’ă·sū — 3 Occ.
way·yim·mā·’ês — 1 Occ.
wat·tim·’ās — 1 Occ.
wə·’em·’ā·sə·ḵā — 1 Occ.
yim·’as- — 3 Occ.
yim·’ā·sêm — 1 Occ.
yim·’ā·sūn — 1 Occ.
yim·mā·’ă·sū — 1 Occ.

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