Original Word: מָס
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: mac
Pronunciation: mahs
Phonetic Spelling: (mawce)
KJV: is afflicted
NASB: despairing man
Word Origin: [from H4549 (מָסַס - melt)]

1. fainting, i.e. (figuratively) disconsolate

is afflicted

From macac; fainting, i.e. (figuratively) disconsolate -- is afflicted.

see HEBREW macac

Word Origin
from masas
Definition
despairing
NASB Translation
despairing man (1).

II. [מַס] adjective despairing (literally melting, i.e. failing, collapsing); — לַמָּס Job 6:14 to him also despaireth belongeth kindness, etc.

Definition and Essence

The term מָס (Strong’s 4523) conveys the idea of one who is dissolving, melting away, or wasting into despair. In the single biblical occurrence, the emphasis is not on physical liquefaction but on a person whose inner strength has ebbed to the point of collapse, leaving him vulnerable and in need of steadfast compassion.

Scriptural Appearance

Job 6:14 supplies the sole occurrence: “A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” (Berean Standard Bible) Here Job, crushed under suffering, argues that loyalty is owed precisely when a heart is “melting.” The verse reveals how the ancient world understood friendship as covenantal: mercy shown in crisis was a sacred duty.

Literary and Emotional Nuance in Job

Job’s lament intensifies by choosing a word that pictures a solid substance turning to liquid. His faith is not extinguished, yet his resolve is flowing away. The poetry heightens the pathos: friends who should pour in comfort instead pour out suspicion. The language reminds readers that neglect can hasten spiritual erosion.

Historical and Cultural Backdrop

Wisdom literature prized mutual aid, and Near-Eastern covenants commonly pledged relief for the vulnerable. In failing Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar violate norms recognizable to any ancient hearer. The text thus becomes an ethical mirror for Israel and for later faith communities.

Theological Reflection

1. Divine Expectation of Compassion. The verse assumes God’s will that the strong uphold the weak (compare Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Isaiah 58:7).
2. Preservation of God-fearing Reverence. Mercy to the “melting” person serves a greater end: that he might not “forsake the fear of the Almighty.” Practical kindness is a means God uses to guard reverence in suffering saints.
3. Human Agency in God’s Care. Job 6:14 portrays friends as instruments through which God intends to sustain His afflicted servant, foreshadowing New Testament exhortations such as Galatians 6:2.

Intercanonical Links

While מָס itself is unique, the imagery of melting or fainting recurs. Hearts “melt” in terror before divine judgment (Joshua 2:11), and courage “dissolves” when sin is unchecked (Ezekiel 21:7). Conversely, the Lord strengthens hands that droop (Isaiah 35:3-4; Hebrews 12:12-13). Job 6:14 sits within this canonical pattern: human frailty meets either neglect or divine-aligned support.

Ministry and Pastoral Application

• Crisis Counseling: The verse authorizes persistent mercy even when the sufferer voices doubt or anger toward God.
• Church Community Life: Local assemblies act as covenantal friends, averting spiritual collapse through presence, prayer, and tangible aid.
• Discipleship: Teaching believers to recognize the “melting” season in others encourages proactive visitation, financial relief, and intercession.

Illustrative Sermon Points

1. “When Faith Feels Fluid” – God designs friendship to catch the soul before it spills away.
2. “Kindness That Preserves Awe” – Practical sympathy is a guardian of worship.
3. “From Melting to Molding” – The Lord can remold what despair melts, using compassionate believers as His hands.

Practical Implications for the Contemporary Believer

• Evaluate personal readiness to stand with those whose words appear faithless; Job 6:14 calls for steadfastness, not withdrawal.
• Engage in ministries of presence—hospital visits, grief support, crisis hotlines—that embody the kindness Job sought.
• Cultivate congregational cultures where expressions of deep anguish are met first with mercy, then with gentle truth, mirroring the divine sequence of comfort preceding correction.

In sum, מָס illuminates the critical moment when a person’s inner life threatens to disintegrate. Scripture answers that moment with the unwavering loyalty of godly companions, revealing both the gravity of human despair and the glory of covenant faithfulness.

לַמָּ֣ס למס lam·mās lamMas lammāsInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts