Lexical Summary massa': Burden, load, oracle, prophecy Original Word: מַשָּׂא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance burden, carry away, prophecy, they set, song, tribute From nasa'; a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire -- burden, carry away, prophecy, X they set, song, tribute. see HEBREW nasa' Brown-Driver-Briggs II. מַשָּׂא noun masculinePsalm 38:5 load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute; — ׳מ absolute Nehemiah 13:19 +; construct 2 Kings 5:17 +; suffix מַשָּׂאוֺ Exodus 23:5 2t.; מַשַּׂאֲכֶם Deuteronomy 1:12; מַשָּׂאָם Numbers 4:27 2t.; — 1 load, burden of ass Exodus 23:5 (E), mules 2 Kings 5:17, camels 2 Kings 8:9, compare Isaiah 46:1,2; hanging on a peg Isaiah 22:25 (figurative); forbidden on Sabbath Jeremiah 17:21,22,24,27; Nehemiah 13:15,19; figurative of people as burden Numbers 11:11,17 (JE), Deuteronomy 1:12, compare עַלֿ ׳הָיָה לְמ 2 Samuel 15:33; 2 Samuel 19:36 (אֶלֿ), also וָאֶהְיֶה עָלַי לְמַשָּׂא Job 7:20; of iniquities Psalm 38:5. — Hosea 8:10 read מְשֹׁחַ, so ᵐ5 We Now GASm. 2 verbal noun, lifting, uplifting, only נַפְשָׁם ׳מ Ezekiel 24:25 the uplifting of their soul, i.e. that to which they lift up their soul, their heart's desire. 3 verbal noun, bearing, carrying, Numbers 4:24 (+ לַעֲבֹד), 2 Chronicles 20:25; 35:3 (בַּכָּתֵף), so probably 1 Chronicles 15:22 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 15:27 (compare Be Kau; > singing, uplifting of voice, e.g. Öttli); especially of responsibility and duty of bearing sacred vessels (often "" עֲבֹדָה, מְּקֻדָּה) Numbers 4:15,19,27 (twice in verse); Numbers 4:49, ׳עֲבֹדַת מ Numbers 4:47, ׳מִשְׁמֶרֶת מ Numbers 4:31; Numbers 4:32. 4 perhaps what is carried, brought, i.e. tribute ׳כֶּסֶף מ2Chronicles 17:11 silver as tribute (+ מִנְחָה; compare נשׂא Qal; others, silver by the load i.e. in great quantity). — I. מַשָּׂא see above. III. מַשָּׂא noun masculineIsaiah 14:28 utterance, oracle (compare נשׂא 1b (6); GfJeremiah 23:33); — ׳מ absolute Isaiah 14:28 +; usually construct Isaiah 13:1 +; — of prophetic utterance: 2 Kings 9:25; Isaiah 14:28; Ezekiel 12:10; 2Chronicles 24:27 (with עַל); בָבֶל ׳מ Isaiah 13:1, מוֺאָב ׳מ Isaiah 15:1, compare Isaiah 17:1; Isaiah 19:1; Isaiah 21:1,11; Isaiah 22:1; Isaiah 23:1; Isaiah 30:6; Nahum 1:1; בערב ׳מ Isaiah 21:13 is later insert (Di); ׳מ = revelation, אֲשֶׁר חָזָה חֲבַקּוּק הַנָּבִיא ׳הַמּ Habakkuk 1:1; ׳י ׳מ utterance of ׳י Jeremiah 23:33,34,36,38 (3 t. in verse) (compare 2 Kings 9:25), see also 2 Kings 9:33 b (read אַתֶּם הַמַּשָּׂא), with word-play, — followed by וְנָטַשְׁתִּי 2 Kings 9:36 b; ׳דְבַר י ׳מ Zechariah 9:1 (+ בארץ), Zechariah 12:1 (+ עַליִֿשְׂרָאֵל), Malachi 1:1 (+ ׳אֶליִֿשׂ). — Proverbs 31:1 see I. מַשָּׂא, p. 601 above; in Proverbs 30:1 read מִמַּשָּׂא from Massa (Mühlau, De), or הַמַּשָּׂאִי (Wild), which however is perhaps not original, but borrowed from Proverbs 31:1 (compare Wildon the passage FrankenbSpr. p. 5; corrupt name of Agur's home or tribe, Kau). Topical Lexicon Scope of the Wordמַשָּׂא embraces the idea of anything borne or lifted. In Scripture it is applied to (1) physical loads, (2) inner or administrative pressures, (3) compulsory tributes, (4) the assigned loads of Levitical service, and (5) prophetic “burdens” – weighty messages carried from God to His people. About sixty-five occurrences spread across all major periods of Old-Testament history show the word’s versatility and theological depth. Physical Loads and Acts of Mercy The earliest usage concerns literal freight. Exodus 23:5 commands compassion even toward an enemy: “If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying helpless under its load, you must help him with it”. Similar scenes appear in 2 Kings 5:17 (Naaman’s “load of earth”) and Nehemiah 13:15, 19, where “loads” hauled on the Sabbath provoked reform. These texts ground the principle that neighbor-love extends to practical assistance. By extension, the Apostolic admonition, “Carry one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), echoes the ethic already embedded in מַשָּׂא. Leadership Pressures and Shared Responsibility Moses cried, “Why have You laid such a burden on me?” (Numbers 11:11). The Lord answered by distributing the same מַשָּׂא among seventy elders (Numbers 11:17). Deuteronomy 1:12 resumes the lesson: “How can I bear your burdens all by myself?” The word therefore describes the weight of shepherding God’s people. Nehemiah felt the same strain: “The former governors placed a heavy burden on the people… but I did not do so” (Nehemiah 5:15). Faithful leadership relieves burdens rather than adding to them (cf. Matthew 23:4). Tribute, Tax and Political Levies During the monarchy the noun can denote imposed dues. “Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and a tribute of silver” (2 Chronicles 17:11). The taxation placed on Judah by foreign powers (2 Chronicles 24:27; 33:19) likewise appears under מַשָּׂא. In this sense the burden is not merely weight but obligation—fitting the prophetic denunciations of oppressive rule (e.g., Isaiah 14:4). Levitical Service: Ordered Loads for Holy Things Numbers 4 details the transporting of the tabernacle: “Assign each man by name the items he is to carry” (Numbers 4:32). For the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites the מַשָּׂא was a sanctified trust, never to be touched irreverently (Numbers 4:15, 19). Bearing God’s dwelling-place portrayed the privilege and peril of approaching holiness. When the ark was later moved to Jerusalem, Chenaniah “was to direct the music” (literally, “was in charge of the burden,” 1 Chronicles 15:22), suggesting that even worship leadership carries a sacred load. Prophetic Burdens From Isaiah through Malachi the term becomes technical for a divine oracle. Each heading underscores the gravity of revelation: • “The oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz received” (Isaiah 13:1). The message weighs first upon the prophet, then upon the nation. Its content may promise judgment (Isaiah 23:1) or hope (Zechariah 12:1). Because the burden is God-given, it demands faithful delivery; hence Jeremiah exposes counterfeit use: “‘What burden?’ you ask. ‘I will forsake you,’ declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:33). False prophets treated the phrase as a licence for self-made oracles, turning the very word מַשָּׂא into a liability that God forbids them to utter (Jeremiah 23:36-38). Figurative Loads in Wisdom and Poetry Job laments, “Have I become a burden to You?” (Job 7:20). The Psalter recalls deliverance: “I relieved his shoulder of the load” (Psalm 81:6) and confesses hardship: “You laid a burden on our backs” (Psalm 66:11). Proverbs introduces collected sayings as a “burden” (Proverbs 30:1; 31:1), indicating inspired counsel of weight and authority. Historical Development 1. Wilderness era – Mַשָּׂא is literal cargo (Numbers 4) and administrative strain (Numbers 11). This progression shows an organic link: the physical burden of the tabernacle becomes the spiritual burden of the word; the God who ordered the Levites to lift holy objects also appoints prophets to lift a holy message. Theological Threads a. Divine ownership of every burden. Whether the load is timber, taxes, or truth, it is ultimately assigned by the LORD (Psalm 55:22; Isaiah 46:3-4). b. Shared bearing. Levites, elders, and fellow believers distribute the weight (Numbers 11:17; Galatians 6:2). c. Accountability in revelation. A prophet may not discard or distort the מַשָּׂא without incurring judgment (Jeremiah 23:34). d. Anticipation of the One who would “carry our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4). The manifold burdens of the Old Covenant converge on the Messiah, who invites, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Ministry Implications • Servant-leaders today must avoid placing unnecessary loads on congregations while shouldering the weight of faithful teaching. Summary מַשָּׂא moves from the donkey’s pack-saddle to the prophet’s scroll, from the tangible poles of the sanctuary to the intangible weight of divine revelation. Across its many contexts the term reminds God’s people that every burden is assigned, measured, and ultimately borne by Him who “daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation” (Psalm 68:19). Forms and Transliterations בְּמַשָּׂ֑א בְּמַשָּׂ֣א בַּמַּשָּׂ֔א במשא הַמַּ֫שָּׂ֥א הַמַּשָּׂ֖א הַמַּשָּׂ֗א הַמַּשָּׂ֣א הַמַּשָּׂ֤א הַמַּשָּׂ֥א הַמַּשָּׂא֙ המשא וּלְמַשָּֽׂא׃ וּמַֽשַּׂאֲכֶ֖ם וּמַשָּׂ֥א ולמשא׃ ומשא ומשאכם כְּמַשָּׂ֥א כמשא לְמַשָּֽׂא׃ לְמַשָּׂ֔א למשא למשא׃ מִמַּשָּׂ֖א מַ֝שָּׂ֗א מַשָּׂ֑א מַשָּׂ֔א מַשָּׂ֖א מַשָּׂ֗א מַשָּׂ֛א מַשָּׂ֣א מַשָּׂ֤א מַשָּׂ֥א מַשָּׂא֑וֹ מַשָּׂא֔וֹ מַשָּׂא֙ מַשָּׂאָ֔ם מַשָּׂאָֽם׃ מַשָּׂאֽוֹ׃ ממשא משא משאו משאו׃ משאם משאם׃ bam·maś·śā bammasSa bammaśśā bə·maś·śā bemasSa bəmaśśā ham·maś·śā hammasSa hammaśśā kə·maś·śā kemasSa kəmaśśā lə·maś·śā lemasSa ləmaśśā maś·śā maś·śā·’ām maś·śā·’ōw masSa maśśā maśśā’ām maśśā’ōw massaAm massaO mim·maś·śā mimasSa mimmaśśā ū·lə·maś·śā ū·maś·śā ū·maś·śa·’ă·ḵem ulemasSa ūləmaśśā umasSa ūmaśśā ūmaśśa’ăḵem umassaaChemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 23:5 HEB: רֹבֵץ֙ תַּ֣חַת מַשָּׂא֔וֹ וְחָדַלְתָּ֖ מֵעֲזֹ֣ב NAS: [helpless] under its load, you shall refrain KJV: thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear INT: lying under load shall refrain leaving Numbers 4:15 Numbers 4:19 Numbers 4:24 Numbers 4:27 Numbers 4:27 Numbers 4:31 Numbers 4:32 Numbers 4:47 Numbers 4:49 Numbers 11:11 Numbers 11:17 Deuteronomy 1:12 2 Samuel 15:33 2 Samuel 19:35 2 Kings 5:17 2 Kings 8:9 2 Kings 9:25 1 Chronicles 15:22 1 Chronicles 15:22 1 Chronicles 15:27 2 Chronicles 17:11 2 Chronicles 20:25 2 Chronicles 24:27 2 Chronicles 35:3 65 Occurrences |
    |