Lexical Summary maccekah: Molten image, cast image, idol Original Word: מַסֵּכָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance covering, molten image, vail From nacak; properly, a pouring over, i.e. Fusion of metal (especially a cast image); by implication, a libation, i.e. League; concretely a coverlet (as if poured out) -- covering, molten (image), vail. see HEBREW nacak Brown-Driver-Briggs I. מַסֵּכָה noun feminine 1 molten metal, or image; 2 libation; — ׳מ Exodus 32:4 +; construct מַסֵּכַת Isaiah 30:22; plural מַסֵּכוֺת 1 Kings 14:9 +; suffix מַסֵּכֹתָם Numbers 33:52; — 1 libation, with covenant sacrifice in making covenant Isaiah 30:1 (= 1 נֶסֶךְ; see, however, below II. [נָסַךְ]). 2 molten metal, or image: עֵגֶל מַסֵּכָה molten calf Exodus 32:4,8; Deuteronomy 9:16; Nehemiah 9:18, compare Psalm 106:19; אֱלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה molten gods Exodus 34:17; Leviticus 19:4; ׳צַלְמֵי מ Numbers 33:52; מֶּסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה Deuteronomy 27:15; Judges 17:3,4; Judges 18:14; Nahum 1:14; 2Chronicles 34:3,4, elsewhere (variously) Deuteronomy 9:12; Judges 18:17,18; 1 Kings 14:9; 2 Kings 17:16; 2Chronicles 28:2; Isaiah 30:22; Isaiah 42:17; Hosea 13:2; Habakkuk 2:18. II. מַסֵּכָה noun feminine woven stuff, web, especially as covering; — absolute הַנְּסוּכָה עַלֿ ׳הַמּ Isaiah 25:7 the web that is woven over all the nations (i.e. mourning-veil, symbol of distress; "" הַלּוֺט הַלּוֺט); = bed- covering Isaiah 28:20 (in figurative). Perhaps also ׳לִנְסֹךְ מ Isaiah 30:1 weave a web ("" לַעֲשׂוֺת עֵצָה), reference to negotiations with Egypt (so ᵑ9 Aq Ew De Che Di; > ᵐ5 Ges Hi Kn Brd Du pour a libation; ׳מ not elsewhere = נֶסֶךְ). Topical Lexicon Overview מַסֵּכָה designates an object or substance produced by pouring. In Scripture it most often refers to a cast-metal idol, but in a few passages it describes a covering or a libation. Taken together, the word traces a persistent conflict between the saving revelation of the LORD and the man-made substitutes that threaten covenant faithfulness. Survey of Old Testament Usage 1. Molten idols: Exodus 32:4, 32:8; 34:17; Leviticus 19:4; Numbers 33:52; Deuteronomy 9:12, 9:16; 27:15; Judges 17:3-6; 18:14-31; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Chronicles 34:3-7 (in the Chronicler’s summary); Psalm 106:19; Isaiah 30:22; 40:19; 41:29; 42:17; 44:10; 45:20; Jeremiah 10:14; 51:17; Hosea 13:2; Habakkuk 2:18. Roughly twenty-eight instances appear in the Hebrew canon. Molten Images and Israel’s Worship From Sinai forward the molten image represents corporate rebellion. When Aaron “made it into a molten calf” (Exodus 32:4) the nation exchanged the invisible Redeemer for a visible fraud. Moses shattered the tablets, burned the calf, and ground it to powder, underscoring that idolatry destroys fellowship with God and corrupts priestly ministry. The statutes that follow are uncompromising: “You shall make no molten gods for yourselves” (Exodus 34:17), a command repeated in Leviticus 19:4 and later codified in Deuteronomy 27:15 with a covenant curse. These laws protect both the transcendence of God and the purity of His people. Micah’s Household Shrine (Judges 17–18) The Ephraimite Micah collects two hundred shekels of silver, fashions a מַסֵּכָה, hires a Levite, and invents a rival liturgy. The Danites later seize the image and transplant this syncretism to Laish. The narrative exposes how quickly private compromise breeds tribal apostasy when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). Idolatry under the Monarchies Northern Israel institutionalized the sin of the calf at Bethel and Dan (2 Kings 17:16). Prophets like Hosea and Isaiah denounced the practice: “Now they continue to sin and make for themselves molten images of silver” (Hosea 13:2). Jeremiah mocks the craftsmen: “Every goldsmith is put to shame by his molten image, for his idols are false” (Jeremiah 10:14). Josiah’s reform illustrates the proper response. He “smashed the altars and the molten images into powder” (2 Chronicles 34:7), demonstrating that genuine revival demands the physical destruction of idolatrous artifacts. Prophetic Promises of Cleansing Isaiah anticipates a day when the faithful “will cast them away like a menstrual cloth and say, ‘Away with you!’” (Isaiah 30:22). Zechariah echoes the theme, foretelling a land cleansed of idols (Zechariah 13:2). The ultimate fulfillment arrives in the Messiah’s reign when the nations abandon their forged deities. Metaphorical Extensions: Veil and Covering Isaiah widens the term’s reach: “On this mountain He will swallow up the veil that enfolds all peoples” (Isaiah 25:7). Here מַסֵּכָה pictures the spiritual pall that blinds the nations. In Isaiah 30:1 the rebellious weave a “covering” but not of the Spirit, preferring self-made security to divine guidance. These metaphors sharpen the contrast between man-devised coverings and God’s redemptive plan. Cultic Libations Because the root idea is “poured out,” מַסֵּכָה also relates to offerings of wine (Numbers 28:7 and parallels). The drink offering was emptied “in the sanctuary to the LORD,” dramatizing total surrender. Counterfeit libations—like the idolatrous “drink offerings” condemned in Isaiah 57:6—pervert this legitimate act of worship. Theological and Ministry Implications • God alone defines acceptable worship; human creativity apart from revelation breeds idolatry. Contemporary Application Modern believers seldom bow to cast metal, yet any poured-out energy, wealth, or affection directed toward a substitute for God becomes a functional מַסֵּכָה. Faithful ministry calls the church to expose such rivals, proclaim the unchanging holiness of God, and invite all peoples to behold the unveiled glory of the Lord in the face of Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה המסכה וְהַמַּסֵּכָ֥ה וְהַמַּסֵּכֽוֹת׃ וְהַמַּסֵּכוֹת֙ וּמַסֵּכָ֑ה וּמַסֵּכָ֔ה וּמַסֵּכָ֛ה וּמַסֵּכָ֜ה וּמַסֵּכוֹת֙ והמסכה והמסכות והמסכות׃ ומסכה ומסכות לְמַסֵּכָ֖ה לְמַסֵּכָֽה׃ למסכה למסכה׃ מַסֵּֽכֹתָם֙ מַסֵּכ֛וֹת מַסֵּכַ֣ת מַסֵּכָ֑ה מַסֵּכָ֔ה מַסֵּכָ֖ה מַסֵּכָ֨ה מַסֵּכָֽה׃ מסכה מסכה׃ מסכות מסכת מסכתם ham·mas·sê·ḵāh hammasseChah hammassêḵāh lə·mas·sê·ḵāh lemasseChah ləmassêḵāh mas·sê·ḵāh mas·sê·ḵaṯ mas·sê·ḵō·ṯām mas·sê·ḵō·wṯ masseChah masseChat masseChot massechoTam massêḵāh massêḵaṯ massêḵōṯām massêḵōwṯ ū·mas·sê·ḵāh ū·mas·sê·ḵō·wṯ umasseChah umassechOt ūmassêḵāh ūmassêḵōwṯ vehammasseChah vehammasseChot wə·ham·mas·sê·ḵāh wə·ham·mas·sê·ḵō·wṯ wəhammassêḵāh wəhammassêḵōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 32:4 HEB: וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֖הוּ עֵ֣גֶל מַסֵּכָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֵ֤לֶּה NAS: and made it into a molten calf; KJV: after he had made it a molten calf: INT: and made calf A molten said This Exodus 32:8 Exodus 34:17 Leviticus 19:4 Numbers 33:52 Deuteronomy 9:12 Deuteronomy 9:16 Deuteronomy 27:15 Judges 17:3 Judges 17:4 Judges 18:14 Judges 18:17 Judges 18:18 1 Kings 14:9 2 Kings 17:16 2 Chronicles 28:2 2 Chronicles 34:3 2 Chronicles 34:4 Nehemiah 9:18 Psalm 106:19 Isaiah 25:7 Isaiah 28:20 Isaiah 30:1 Isaiah 30:22 Isaiah 42:17 28 Occurrences |
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