4852. Mesha

Lexical Summary

Mesha: Mesha

Original Word: מֵשָׁא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Mesha'
Pronunciation: MAY-shah
Phonetic Spelling: (may-shaw')
KJV: Mesha
NASB: Mesha
Word Origin: [of foreign derivation]

1. Mesha, a place in Arabia

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Mesha

Of foreign derivation; Mesha, a place in Arabia -- Mesha.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
one extremity of the territory of the Joktanites
NASB Translation
Mesha (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מֵשָׁא proper name, of a location limiting territory of Joktanites, Genesis 10:30; Dl^{Par 243} identifies with Assyrian Maš (Syro-Arabic desert); > district Mesene, on Persian Gulf, Thes⁸²³ (compare Di); ᵐ5 Μασση(ε), whence Di I. מַשָּׂא q. v. (after Hal^{Mél.91 f.})

[מַשְׂאָב] see שׂאב. מְשׁאָה see מְשׂוֺאָה.

מַשָּׁאוֺן, מַשֻּׁאוֺת see II. נשׁא.

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrence

Genesis 10:30: “And their territory extended from Mesha to Sephar, the eastern hill country.” Mesha marks the western-most limit of the Joktanite clans—descendants of Shem—in the inspired Table of Nations.

Geographical Identification

1. Arabian Peninsula – Most scholars place Mesha somewhere in north-western or south-western Arabia, forming a counterpart to Sephar (identified with ancient Zafar in modern Yemen).
2. Possible Sites – Suggestions range from the oasis region of Mecca, to the Madaʾin Ṣāliḥ district, to the mountainous ridge near the modern Saudi-Jordanian border. All options lie on the natural caravan route that later linked the incense kingdoms of southern Arabia with the Levant.
3. Boundary Marker – By pairing Mesha (west) with Sephar (east), Genesis gives a broad sweep across Arabia, indicating a settled domain rather than a single city. Scripture thus supplies an early geographic framework for peoples who would later become prominent in Arab history.

Role in the Table of Nations

• Joktan’s thirteen sons (Genesis 10:26-29) populate the southern Semitic sphere.
• Mesha functions as a territorial anchor for the list, verifying that post-Flood migrations spread far beyond Mesopotamia.
• The careful placement of Mesha underlines God’s orderly dispersal of humanity after Babel, preparing the stage for later redemptive history that will reach “every tribe and tongue.”

Historical and Archaeological Considerations

• South-Arabian Inscriptions – Sabaean texts mention a region called “Mshʿ,” possibly reflecting Mesha; these inscriptions locate it along the frankincense route active by the second millennium B.C.
• Trade Networks – The Joktanite corridor from Mesha to Sephar became a conduit for spices, gold, and exotic goods (cf. references to Sheba and Ophir), corroborating Genesis’ picture of early civilization.
• Continuity of Toponyms – Even in Islamic-era geography, names such as Mashah and Maṣʿa cling to the proposed areas, attesting a long memory of the place-name.

Theological Significance

1. Sovereign Boundaries – By recording Mesha, Scripture affirms that “He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands” (Acts 17:26), reinforcing divine governance over nations.
2. Reliability of Genesis – Precise boundary notices lend historical ballast to the genealogies, inviting confidence in the entire narrative arc that stretches from Creation to Christ.
3. Missional Foreshadowing – The spread of Joktan’s line toward Arabia foreshadows later gospel inroads among Arab peoples (e.g., Acts 2:11; Galatians 1:17), reminding the Church that God’s saving purpose has always encompassed the whole earth.

Ministry Reflection

• Teaching Genealogies – Mesha encourages pastors to treat the Table of Nations not as a dry list but as a map of divine faithfulness.
• Apologetics – Noting archaeological echoes of Mesha arms believers with tangible evidence that the biblical record engages real history.
• Global Vision – Remembering that the descendants of Joktan once lived “from Mesha to Sephar” motivates prayer for modern Arabs, confident that the Lord who set their ancient boundaries also calls them to the everlasting kingdom in Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

מִמֵּשָׁ֑א ממשא mim·mê·šā mimeSha mimmêšā

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 10:30
HEB: וַֽיְהִ֥י מוֹשָׁבָ֖ם מִמֵּשָׁ֑א בֹּאֲכָ֥ה סְפָ֖רָה
NAS: extended from Mesha as you go
KJV: And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest
INT: extended now their settlement Mesha go Sephar

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 4852
1 Occurrence

mim·mê·šā — 1 Occ.