Lexical Summary mashash: To feel, to grope Original Word: מָשַׁשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance feel, grope, search A primitive root; to feel of; by implication, to grope -- feel, grope, search. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to feel, grope NASB Translation feel (1), felt (2), felt through (2), grope (3), gropes (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מָשַׁשׁ] verb feel, grope (Late Hebrew id. Pi`el; Arabic  feel; Ethiopic  Di166; Aramaic  , מְשַׁשׁ Pa`el, Palpel — see also ימשׁ, II. מושׁ); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular suffix יְמֻשֵּׁנִי Genesis 27:12 perhaps my father will feel me; וַיְמֻשֵּׁהוּ Genesis 27:22 and he felt of him (both J). Pi`el Perfect2masculine singular מִשַּׁשְׁתָּ; Imperfect3masculine singular יְמַשֵּׁשׁ Deuteronomy 28:29, וַיְמַשֵּׁשׁ Genesis 31:34; 3masculine plural יִמַשְׁשׁוּ Job 5:4; Job 12:25; Participle מְמַשֵּׁשׁ Deuteronomy 28:29; — feel over or through, grope: — 1 לָבָּן אֶתכָּֿלהָֿאֹהֶל ׳וַיְמ Genesis 31:24 and Laban felt through the whole tent (i.e. searched it); so (object כֵּלַי) Genesis 31:37 thou hast felt through all my possessions (or baggage; both E). 2 grope, of blind Deuteronomy 28:29b (in simile), periphrase conjectural, וְהָיִיתָ מְמַשֵּׁשׁDeuteronomy 28:29 a and thou shalt become one that gropes at noonday (figurative of judicial blindness); compare Job 5:14; Job 12:25. Hiph`il Imperfect וְיָמֵשׁ חשֶׁךְ Exodus 10:21 that one may feel (the) darkness; read also Imperative suffix הֲמִשֵׁנִי (for והימשׁני, see ימשׁ, p. 413 above) Judges 16:26 and let me touch the pillars (2 accusative) מִשְׁתֶּה see שׁתה. מֵת see מות. p 559,1059 Topical Lexicon Overview The verb מָשַׁשׁ is used only nine times in the Old Testament, yet it paints a vivid picture of human limitation—whether through blindness, deceit, or judgment—set against the absolute sovereignty of God. It always involves the action of feeling or groping, either in literal darkness or moral and spiritual darkness. Canonical Distribution • Patriarchal narratives: Genesis 27:12; Genesis 27:22; Genesis 31:34; Genesis 31:37 Narrative Contexts in Genesis 1. Jacob’s deception of Isaac (Genesis 27:12, 22). The aging, blind patriarch relies on touch to confirm identity. The verb underscores both Isaac’s vulnerability and Jacob’s calculated manipulation. Sight is absent; discernment fails; blessing still proceeds, demonstrating that divine election stands even when human means are flawed. The Plague of Felt Darkness (Exodus 10:21) “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a darkness that can be felt.’” The verb captures the tactile quality of the ninth plague. Egypt’s vaunted sun-god Ra is eclipsed; the oppressors grope helplessly, while Israel has light in Goshen. מָשַׁשׁ here becomes an enacted parable of divine judgment versus covenant mercy. Covenant Curses and Social Blindness (Deuteronomy 28:29) “and at noon you will grope like a blind man in the darkness. You will not prosper in your ways.” Within Moses’ covenant lawsuit, the verb warns that disobedience brings disorientation at life’s brightest hour. Material prosperity, military success, and national stability all collapse when spiritual perception is lost. The doubled use in the verse intensifies the threat: unfaithfulness produces perpetual, midday blindness. Wisdom Literature Portraits of Human Futility (Job 5:14; Job 12:25) • Job 5:14 contrasts God’s deliverance of the righteous with the frustration of the crafty: “They encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night.” Both passages depict God turning human wisdom into confusion. In Job’s debate, מָשַׁשׁ exposes the insufficiency of human insight and the need for divine revelation. Theological Themes 1. Human limitation. Whether aged (Isaac), idolatrous (Laban, Egypt), or rebellious (Israel under curse), mankind is shown incapable of self-illumination. Practical Ministry Application • Pastoral exhortation: warn against self-reliance that leads to spiritual blindness; call believers to walk in the light provided by God’s Word (Psalm 119:105; John 8:12). Summary מָשַׁשׁ consistently presents a stark contrast: human beings grasping in darkness while God alone provides true sight and guidance. Whether in patriarchal tents, over the fields of Egypt, or in the anguished poetry of Job, the verb reinforces the biblical truth that “the LORD is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1). Forms and Transliterations וְיָמֵ֖שׁ וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁ וַיְמֻשֵּׁ֑הוּ וימש וימשהו וימשש יְֽמַשְׁשׁ֥וּ יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ־ יְמַשֵּׁ֤שׁ יְמֻשֵּׁ֙נִי֙ ימשני ימשש ימששו ימששו־ מְמַשֵּׁ֣שׁ מִשַּׁ֣שְׁתָּ ממשש מששת mə·maš·šêš memashShesh məmaššêš miš·šaš·tā mishShashta miššaštā vaymashShesh vaymushShehu veyaMesh way·maš·šêš way·muš·šê·hū waymaššêš waymuššêhū wə·yā·mêš wəyāmêš yə·maš·šêš yə·maš·šū yə·maš·šū- yə·muš·šê·nî yemashShesh yemashShu yəmaššêš yəmaššū yəmaššū- yemushSheni yəmuššênîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 27:12 HEB: אוּלַ֤י יְמֻשֵּׁ֙נִי֙ אָבִ֔י וְהָיִ֥יתִי NAS: my father will feel me, then I will be as a deceiver KJV: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem INT: Perhaps will feel my father become Genesis 27:22 Genesis 31:34 Genesis 31:37 Exodus 10:21 Deuteronomy 28:29 Deuteronomy 28:29 Job 5:14 Job 12:25 9 Occurrences |
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