Lexical Summary maseth: Tribute, burden, lifting up, elevation Original Word: משׂאֵת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance burden, collection, sign of fire, great flame, gift, lifting up, mess, oblation, From nasa'; properly, (abstractly) a raising (as of the hands in prayer), or rising (of flame); figuratively, an utterance; concretely, a beacon (as raised); a present (as taken), mess, or tribute; figuratively, a reproach (as a burden) -- burden, collection, sign of fire, (great) flame, gift, lifting up, mess, oblation, reward. see HEBREW nasa' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nasa Definition an uprising, utterance, burden, portion NASB Translation burden (1), cloud (2), gift (1), gifts (2), levy (2), lifting (1), portion (1), portions (1), present (1), signal (1), tribute (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַשְׂאֵת noun feminine uprising, utterance, burden, portion (on formation compare Ol§ 109 a Sta§ 272 b Köii. 1, 183; Phoenician (Pun) has משאת = payment, tax see Lzb326); — absolute ׳מ Judges 20:40 +; construct מַשְׂאַת Genesis 43:34 +; plural absolute מַשְׂאֹת Genesis 43:34, + (probably) מַשְׂאוֺת Lamentations 2:14 (see below); construct מַשְׂאֹת Genesis 43:34; — 1 that which rises, uprising, uplifting: a. הֶעָשָׁן ׳מ Judges 20:38 uprising of smoke, compare (׳הֶע omitted) Judges 20:40. b. in General = signal Jeremiah 6:1 (= נֵס Gf.). c. uplifting of hands (כַּמַּי) in prayer Psalm 141:2 ("" תְּפִלָּה). 2 utterance, oracle (= III. מַשָּׂא), Lamentations 2:14 (Bu Löhr). 3 burden Zephaniah 3:18 (of reproach, figurative). 4. a. portion (carried to some one), especially from table of king or superior, Genesis 43:34 (3 t. in verse) (J; on custom see Di and references), 2 Samuel 11:8; so read perhaps also 2 Samuel 19:43 (for ᵑ0 נִשֵּׂאת) Gr HPS. b. perhaps also more Generally, present, largess from a superior Jeremiah 40:5 ( + אֲרֻחָה food-allowance), Esther 2:18 (כְּיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ). c. exacted or enforced gift, from inferior, בַּר ׳מ Amos 5:11 (compare Phoenician above; see also מנחה). d. sacred contribution, tax משֶׁה ׳מ (׳י) עֶבֶד2Chronicles 24:6,9. e. offering to ׳י Ezekiel 20:40. Topical Lexicon Usage Overview מַשְׂאֵת occurs sixteen times across narrative, poetry, and prophetic literature. The contexts cluster around (1) festive portions distributed in fellowship, (2) royal or cultic contributions levied or offered, (3) burden-language for taxation or grief, (4) visible signal-fires in warfare, and (5) the lifting up of prayers or hands in worship. Together the occurrences trace a theology of “that which is lifted up,” whether as gracious gift, compulsory tribute, or spiritual offering. Festive Portions and Table Fellowship Genesis 43:34 (thrice) records Joseph’s lavish hospitality to his brothers: “He served them portions from his own table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than the rest.” The verse epitomizes unmerited favor and reconciliatory generosity. The elevated portion foreshadows the messianic banquet where the least-expected is most highly honored (compare Luke 14:15-24). 2 Samuel 11:8 reveals David sending Uriah away with a royal portion: “Then David said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and wash your feet.’ And a gift from the king followed him.” The gesture, meant to cloak sin, reminds the reader that even covenant gifts can be misused when the heart is corrupt. Royal Administration, Taxation, and Public Works 2 Chronicles 24:6, 2 Chronicles 24:9 narrate King Joash’s call for “the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD” to repair the Temple. Here מַשְׂאֵת denotes a mandatory contribution for covenant worship, showing that stewardship funds the continuity of sacred institutions. Esther 2:18 celebrates the new queen: “He proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the king’s bounty.” The word captures the largesse of empire even while God’s providence quietly safeguards His people. Amos 5:11 rebukes exploitation: “You levy a tax on the poor and exact a tribute of grain from them.” The prophet indicts a perversion of מַשְׂאֵת—what should sustain worship instead crushes the vulnerable, provoking divine judgment. Burden, Grief, and Exile Zephaniah 3:18 speaks comfort: “I will gather those who grieve over the appointed feasts, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.” The festival that once felt like an unbearable burden is transformed into joy when the LORD gathers His remnant. Lamentations 2:14 laments false prophecy: “They have not exposed your guilt to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you burdens of deception.” The misdirected מַשְׂאֵת intensifies exile’s sorrow by substituting empty encouragement for true repentance. Jeremiah 40:5 shows Nebuzaradan granting Jeremiah “provisions and a gift,” an unexpected kindness amid national collapse, illustrating God’s care for His prophet even through pagan authorities. Signal Fires and Military Strategy Judges 20:38, Judges 20:40 describe the Benjaminites’ defeat: “The men of Israel had arranged that a great cloud of smoke should rise from the city as a signal.” מַשְׂאֵת functions as a visual “lifting” that coordinates judgment against entrenched sin, highlighting both human planning and divine retribution. Jeremiah 6:1 likewise commands, “Set up a signal fire at Beth-hakkerem,” warning of Babylon’s advance. The lifted smoke becomes a call to urgent repentance. Worship and Priestly Offering Psalm 141:2 elevates devotion into liturgy: “May my prayer be set before You like incense, the lifting up of my hands like the evening offering.” The psalmist transforms personal supplication into a figurative מַשְׂאֵת, teaching that sincere prayer ascends as surely as sacrificial smoke. Ezekiel 20:40 anticipates restored worship: “There I will accept you and there I will require your offerings and the choicest gifts of all your holy things.” Post-exilic Israel will bring her מַשְׂאֵת to a sanctified shrine, vindicating God’s covenant fidelity. Ministry Principles and Theological Threads 1. Grace-Portion: Joseph’s multiplied serving and David’s intended hospitality show that God invites sinners to a table of abundance, culminating in the Lord’s Supper where the greater Benjamin—Jesus—receives the highest portion yet shares it with His brethren. Summary מַשְׂאֵת portrays whatever is “lifted up”—portion, tribute, signal, burden or offering. Across its varied uses the term reinforces three enduring truths: God freely bestows favor, He expects righteous stewardship, and He invites His people to lift up holy hands, hearts, and resources in worship until every burden is finally lifted in the kingdom of His Son. Forms and Transliterations וְהַמַּשְׂאֵ֗ת וּמַשְׂאֵ֖ת וּמַשְׂאַת־ והמשאת ומשאת ומשאת־ מִמַּשְׂאֹ֥ת מַֽשְׂאַ֥ת מַשְׂא֥וֹת מַשְׂאֵ֑ת מַשְׂאֵ֖ת מַשְׂאֵ֥ת מַשְׂאַ֞ת מַשְׂאַ֥ת מַשְׂאַ֧ת מַשְׂאַת֙ מַשְׂאֹ֜ת מַשְׂאוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם ממשאת משאות משאותיכם משאת maś’aṯ maś’êṯ maś’ōṯ maś’ōwṯ maś’ōwṯêḵem maś·’aṯ maś·’êṯ maś·’ō·w·ṯê·ḵem maś·’ō·wṯ maś·’ōṯ masAt masEt masOt masoteiChem mim·maś·’ōṯ mimasOt mimmaś’ōṯ ū·maś·’aṯ- ū·maś·’êṯ ūmaś’aṯ- ūmaś’êṯ umasat umasEt vehammasEt wə·ham·maś·’êṯ wəhammaś’êṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 43:34 HEB: וַיִּשָּׂ֨א מַשְׂאֹ֜ת מֵאֵ֣ת פָּנָיו֮ NAS: He took portions to them from his own table, KJV: And he took [and sent] messes unto them from before him: INT: took portions table as Genesis 43:34 Genesis 43:34 Judges 20:38 Judges 20:40 2 Samuel 11:8 2 Chronicles 24:6 2 Chronicles 24:9 Esther 2:18 Psalm 141:2 Jeremiah 6:1 Jeremiah 40:5 Lamentations 2:14 Ezekiel 20:40 Amos 5:11 Zephaniah 3:18 16 Occurrences |
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