Original Word: מִסָּה
Part of Speech: Noun
Transliteration: miccah
Pronunciation: mis-saw' or mis-sath'
Phonetic Spelling: (mis-saw')
KJV: tribute
NASB: tribute
Word Origin: [from H4549 (מָסַס - melt) (in the sense of flowing)]

1. abundance
2. (adverbially) liberally

abundance, tribute

From macac (in the sense of flowing); abundance, i.e. (adverbially) liberally: tribute.

see HEBREW macac

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
sufficiency
NASB Translation
tribute (1).

מִסַּת noun sufficiency (derivation obscure: Aramaic מִיסַּת, , common in ᵑ7 ᵑ6, both absolute and construct in sense of sufficiency, enough; e.g. for Hebrew רַב 2 Samuel 24:16 ᵑ7, דַּי Exodus 36:7 ᵑ7 ᵑ6, Obadiah 5 ᵑ7 ᵑ6, for לְפִי Exodus 12:4 ᵑ7; the amount of the debt, PS²¹⁸³); — Deuteronomy 16:10 and thou shalt keep the pilgrimage of weeks מִסַּת נִדְבַת יָָֽדְךָ according to (adverb accusative) the sufficiency of the free-will offering of thy hand, which thou shalt give, i.e. with the full amount that thou canst afford (compare דֵּי שֶׂשׁה Leviticus 5:7; Leviticus 12:8; ᵑ7 כְּמִיסַּת אִימְּרָא).

מִסְתּוֺר, מַסְתֵּר, מִסְתָּר see סתר.

[מַעְבָּד] see עבד. [מַעֲבֶה] see עבה.

[מַעֲבָר], מַעְבָּרָה see עבר.

מַעְגָּל, מַעְגָּ֫לָה see עגל.

Biblical Context

Deuteronomy 16 outlines Israel’s annual pilgrimage festivals: Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Within this chapter מִסָּה (missah) appears once, in verse 10, describing the offering each household brings to the Feast of Weeks. The verse reads, “Then you are to celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a freewill offering that you give in proportion to the blessing the LORD your God has given you” (Deuteronomy 16:10).

Meaning within Deuteronomy 16:10

Missah denotes a proportional, voluntary contribution. It is not a fixed tithe but a measure determined by how richly the worshiper recognizes God’s favor. By attaching the gift to perceived blessing, Moses calls Israel to self-examination: gratitude governs generosity.

Connection to the Feast of Weeks

1. Timing: Offered seven weeks after the first sheaf of barley, it coincided with wheat harvest (Exodus 34:22).
2. Audience: “You, your son and daughter, your male and female servants, the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow” (Deuteronomy 16:11) were to rejoice together—social equity expressed through shared food.
3. Content: Alongside the prescribed animal sacrifices (Leviticus 23:18-20), missah added a personal element, blending required worship with heartfelt giving.

Theology of Voluntary Giving

• God blesses first; people respond (1 John 4:19).
• Giving is measured by ability, never compulsion (2 Corinthians 9:7).
• Cheerful, proportionate offerings maintain gratitude, restrain greed, and support communal worship.

Historical Background and Cultural Practice

Israel’s agrarian economy meant crops equaled livelihood. Offering from harvest affirmed that fruitfulness was not the farmer’s achievement alone but Yahweh’s gift (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Archaeological evidence from Near-Eastern threshing floors shows communal celebrations that mirror the collective rejoicing prescribed in Deuteronomy 16.

Ministry Insight for Today

• Stewardship training: Congregations can link harvest seasons, paychecks, or bonuses to intentional thanksgiving offerings.
• Corporate rejoicing: Fellowship meals echo the shared feast, knitting diverse believers into one body (Acts 2:46-47).
• Care for vulnerable groups: Missah was enjoyed by Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows; modern practice should likewise prioritize benevolence funds and mercy ministries.

Messianic Foreshadowing

The Feast of Weeks becomes Pentecost, the setting for the Spirit’s outpouring (Acts 2:1-4). Just as missah was given “in proportion to the blessing,” so God later pours out the Spirit “without measure” (John 3:34). Believers respond with generous sharing (Acts 2:44-45), reenacting the principle embodied in missah.

Related Concepts in Scripture

• Freewill offerings: Exodus 35:29; Psalm 54:6.
• Proportional generosity: Proverbs 3:9-10; Luke 21:1-4.
• Celebration with the needy: Nehemiah 8:10; Galatians 2:10.

Practical Application

1. Keep a gratitude ledger, noting blessings and attaching gifts to them.
2. Schedule periodic “joy offerings” at church festivals or anniversaries.
3. Include marginalized believers in every celebration.
4. Teach children to connect income with generosity, mirroring Israel’s harvest practice.
5. View giving as worship, not loss—“for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

מִסַּ֛ת מסת mis·saṯ misSat missaṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts