Lexical Summary masas: To melt, dissolve, waste away, faint Original Word: מָסַס Strong's Exhaustive Concordance discourage, faint, be loosed, melt away, refuse, utterly A primitive root; to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief) -- discourage, faint, be loosed, melt (away), refuse, X utterly. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to dissolve, melt NASB Translation completely lose heart (1), drenched (1), dropped (1), melt (7), melt away (1), melted (5), melting (1), melts (1), wastes away (1), worthless (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מָסַס] verb dissolve, melt, intransitive (ᵑ7 מְסַס; compare מסה, and II. מאס); — Qal. Infinitive construct מְסֹס נֹסֵס Isaiah 10:18; like the melting (wasting away) of a נֹסֵס (q. v.) Niph`al Perfect וְנָמֵס consecutive Ezekiel 21:12; וְנָמָ֑ס Exodus 16:21; Psalm 112:10; נָמַ֫סּוּ Psalm 97:5 2t; Imperfect יִמַּס Deuteronomy 20:8 +; וַיִּמַּסּוּ Judges 15:14; Infinitive absolute הִמֵּס 2 Samuel 17:10; construct id. Psalm 68:3; Participle נָמֵס Psalm 22:15 2t.; — 1 melt (intransitive) of manna Exodus 16:21; wax Psalm 68:3 (simile of wicked); manacles Judges 15:14 (= vanished, dropped off); wicked Psalm 112:10 (melt away); especially of hills and mountains Micah 1:4; Psalm 97:5; Isaiah 34:3. 2 most often figurative of heart = faint, grow fearful, Nahum 2:11; 2 Samuel 17:10 (twice in verse) (compare Dr), Deuteronomy 20:8; Joshua 2:11; Joshua 5:1; Joshua 7:5; Isaiah 13:7; Isaiah 19:1; Ezekiel 21:12; Psalm 22:15. 3 Participle = wasted, consumptive (?), 1 Samuel 15:9 ("" נְמִבְזָה, read נִבְזָה see בזה Niph`al) < read נִמְאֶסֶת worthless, literally rejected (see מאס Niph`al) Hiph`il Perfect3plural הֵמַסּוּ אֶתלְֿבָבֵנוּ Deuteronomy 1:28 cause to melt ( = intimidate). Topical Lexicon Imagery and ScopeMasas paints a vivid picture of matter or morale turning soft, dissolving, and losing structural integrity. Scripture employs the verb to describe (1) literal melting under heat or fire, (2) the collapse of courage in the face of overwhelming threat, and (3) the wasting of strength under the weight of divine judgment. In every setting the word exposes creaturely frailty before greater power—whether the midday sun, a roaring furnace, or the presence of the Lord of Hosts. Literal Melting in Creation and Daily Life Exodus 16:21 records the manna that “melted when the sun grew hot,” reminding Israel that even heaven-sent provision must be gathered promptly in faithful obedience. The psalmist adopts the same verb for natural phenomena that cannot resist Yahweh’s advance: “As wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish before God” (Psalm 68:2), while mountains themselves “melt like wax in the presence of the LORD of all the earth” (Psalm 97:5). Micah 1:4 and Nahum 2:10 extend the image to an eschatological scale—earth quaking and hearts trembling when the Lord rises to witness against sin. Military Panic and the Collapse of Courage Moses warned anxious Israel not to be swayed by spies whose hearts had “melted” (Deuteronomy 1:28). Later, officers were instructed to send home any soldier whose heart “melts” lest fear spread through the ranks (Deuteronomy 20:8). The Canaanites experienced the same paralysis: Rahab testifies, “When we heard this, our hearts melted” (Joshua 2:11), and after Israel crossed the Jordan “their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites” (Joshua 5:1). The narrative of Joshua 7:5 shows the tragic reversal—Israel’s own courage melts when sin remains hidden in the camp, teaching that covenant disobedience robs God’s people of boldness. Personal Affliction and Inner Wasting David laments, “My heart is like wax; it melts away within me” (Psalm 22:14), anticipating the Messiah’s suffering as the pressures of divine wrath and human hostility converge on the cross. Psalm 112:10 records the wicked gnashing their teeth as their expectations melt away in the triumph of the righteous. Individual anguish joins cosmic upheaval to underline the comprehensive reach of God’s sovereignty. Prophetic Announcements of Judgment Isaiah declares, “The hearts of all the people will melt” (Isaiah 13:7) when Babylon falls; Ezekiel foretells Israel’s shock when the sword of judgment arrives: “Every heart will melt” (Ezekiel 21:7). In Isaiah 34:3 even corpses are said to “melt,” portraying the totality of divine vengeance against Edom. Such scenes reinforce that no fortress—physical or psychological—can withstand the holiness of God. Christological Echoes Masas reaches its interpretive climax in Psalm 22, a Messianic psalm cited in the Gospels. The melting heart of the Suffering Servant ultimately secures hearts that will never melt again, establishing a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Through His resurrection the One whose strength appeared to dissolve now imparts unwavering courage to His people. Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Call to Courage: Believers are urged to root their confidence not in self-assurance, which can melt in an instant, but in the immutable character of the Lord. Summary Masas confronts the reader with a choice: will one’s heart melt in terror and unbelief, or will it melt in contrition and worship before the One who alone can solidify faith? The verb’s diverse applications converge on a single truth—only those fortified by the fear of the LORD stand firm when every other confidence dissolves. Forms and Transliterations הִמֵּ֣ס הֵמַ֨סּוּ המס המסו וְנָמֵ֖ס וְנָמֵ֣ס וְנָמַ֤סּוּ וְנָמַ֥סּוּ וְנָמָ֑ס וְנָמָֽס׃ וַיִּמַּ֣ס וַיִּמַּ֥ס וַיִּמַּ֥סּוּ וימס וימסו ונמס ונמס׃ ונמסו יִמַּ֛ס יִמַּ֥ס יִמָּ֑ס יִמָּֽס׃ ימס כְּהִמֵּ֣ס כִּמְסֹ֥ס כהמס כמסס נָ֝מֵ֗ס נָ֭מַסּוּ נָמֵ֜ס נמס נמסו hê·mas·sū heMassu hêmassū him·mês himMes himmês kə·him·mês kehimMes kəhimmês kim·sōs kimSos kimsōs nā·mas·sū nā·mês Namassu nāmassū naMes nāmês vaiyimMas vaiyimMassu venaMas venaMassu venaMes way·yim·mas way·yim·mas·sū wayyimmas wayyimmassū wə·nā·mās wə·nā·mas·sū wə·nā·mês wənāmās wənāmassū wənāmês yim·mas yim·mās yimmas yimmāsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 16:21 HEB: וְחַ֥ם הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ וְנָמָֽס׃ NAS: grew hot, it would melt. KJV: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. INT: grew the sun melt Deuteronomy 1:28 Deuteronomy 20:8 Joshua 2:11 Joshua 5:1 Joshua 7:5 Judges 15:14 1 Samuel 15:9 2 Samuel 17:10 2 Samuel 17:10 Psalm 22:14 Psalm 68:2 Psalm 97:5 Psalm 112:10 Isaiah 10:18 Isaiah 13:7 Isaiah 19:1 Isaiah 34:3 Ezekiel 21:7 Micah 1:4 Nahum 2:10 21 Occurrences |
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