4550. massa
Lexical Summary
massa: Testing, trial, temptation

Original Word: מַסַּע
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: macca`
Pronunciation: mas-saw'
Phonetic Spelling: (mas-sah')
KJV: journey(-ing)
NASB: journeys, set, journey, order of march, stages
Word Origin: [from H5265 (נָסַע - journeyed)]

1. a departure (from striking the tents), i.e. march (not necessarily a single day's travel)
2. (by implication) a station (or point of departure)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
journeying

From naca'; a departure (from striking the tents), i.e. March (not necessarily a single day's travel); by implication, a station (or point of departure) -- journey(-ing).

see HEBREW naca'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from nasa
Definition
a pulling up, breaking (camp), setting out, a journey
NASB Translation
journey (1), journeys (7), order of march (1), set (2), stages (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מַסַּע noun [masculine] pulling up, breaking camp, setting out, journey; — absolute ׳מ Numbers 10:2; Deuteronomy 10:11; plural construct מַסְעֵי Numbers 10:28; Numbers 33:1; suffix מַסָּעָיו Genesis 13:3, מַסְעֵיהֶם Exodus 17:1 6t.; —

1. a. pulling up, breaking camp (with accusative מַחֲנֶה; Ges§ 45e, 115d) Numbers 10:2.

b. setting out Numbers 10:6, compare Numbers 10:23.

2 station, stage, journey (by stages), ׳וַיֵּלֶךְ לְמ Genesis 13:3 and he went by (according to) his journeyings (compare הלך, p. 231 a above); לְמַסְעֵיהֶם Exodus 17:1; compare Exodus 40:36,38; Numbers 10:12 (all P; all with נָסַע), Numbers 33:1,2("" מוֺצָאֵיהֶם), Numbers 33:2 ("" id.); קוּם לֵךְ לְמַסַּע Deuteronomy 10:11 for journeying (see Dr).

Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Term

מַסַּע denotes the act or stage of “setting out,” a movement from one place to another, usually within a larger pilgrimage. In Scripture it rarely stands alone; it is typically linked to the people of God, the presence of God, and the promises of God. The word therefore embodies more than travel; it is a lived testimony of covenant faithfulness in motion.

Distribution in Scripture

The term appears twelve times, clustered in key historical moments: once in Genesis, twice in Exodus, eight times in Numbers, and once in Deuteronomy. Each setting contributes a distinct layer to the theology of pilgrimage.

1. Genesis 13:3
2. Exodus 17:1; 40:36; 40:38
3. Numbers 10:2; 10:6; 10:12; 10:28; 33:1; 33:2 (twice)
4. Deuteronomy 10:11

Journey Motif in Genesis

Genesis 13:3 introduces מַסַּע in the life of Abram: “And he went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had formerly been”. The patriarch’s “journeys” are bound up with the altar he builds and the promise he believes. From the outset, מַסַּע is intertwined with worship and trust rather than mere relocation.

Centrality in the Exodus Narrative

Exodus frames Israel’s redemption as a succession of מַסַּע:
Exodus 17:1 links each stage to direct divine command—even when the next camp lacks water.
Exodus 40:36–38 situates מַסַּע beneath the cloud of glory: “Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on all their journeys” (40:36). Departure is regulated by revelation; mobility becomes obedience.

Role in Wilderness Organization

Numbers 10 underscores order: silver trumpets signal each מַסַּע (10:2, 10:6). The Levites break camp, tribes marshal in fixed sequence, and the text repeats, “As they set out…” (10:28). Here, מַסַּע reveals God as the strategist of His people, assigning each clan a position and responsibility.

Summative Rehearsal in Numbers 33

Numbers 33:1–2 revisits every stage: “At the LORD’s command Moses recorded the stages of their journey” (33:2). Recording each מַסַּע serves liturgical memory; Israel recounts faithfulness before entering Canaan. The list is not mere geography but a litany of grace, discipline, and provision.

Instruction for Covenant Renewal in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 10:11 projects the journey forward: “Go,” said the LORD, “and set out at the head of the people…”. Even after Sinai’s golden-calf breach, God renews mission. מַסַּע becomes a symbol of restored fellowship and renewed mandate.

Theological Reflections

1. Guidance: Every occurrence ties movement to divine initiative—cloud, command, or word.
2. Dependence: Israel never moves at self-will; scarcity (Exodus 17:1) and abundance (Deuteronomy 10:11) alike require trust.
3. Memory: The written catalog of stages signals that God’s past leadings anchor present faith.
4. Pilgrimage Typology: מַסַּע foreshadows the believer’s sojourn (Hebrews 11:13); life is lived “in tents,” awaiting the city with foundations.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Spiritual Formation: Congregations can rehearse their own “stages” to recognize divine providence.
• Leadership: Like Moses, leaders move only at God’s cue, neither outpacing nor lagging behind the cloud.
• Worship Planning: Trumpet calls (Numbers 10) suggest that corporate rhythms—call to worship, benediction—signal movement in God’s presence.
• Pastoral Care: Wilderness stages teach that seasons of drought may still be divinely directed.

Related Old and New Testament Themes

• Ark Procession (Joshua 3), echoing orderly מַסַּע.
• Davidic Pilgrimage Psalms (Psalm 84:5: “Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage”).
• The Way (Acts 9:2), the earliest term for Christianity, mirrors the journey motif.
Revelation 14:4 portrays the redeemed “following the Lamb wherever He goes,” the ultimate and eternal מַסַּע.

מַסַּע therefore threads through Scripture as a tangible reminder that God’s people are a travelling people—guided, protected, and defined by the God who moves among them and leads them home.

Forms and Transliterations
וּלְמַסַּ֖ע ולמסע לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃ לְמַסַּ֖ע לְמַסָּעָ֔יו למסע למסעיהם למסעיהם׃ למסעיו מַסְעֵ֣י מַסְעֵ֥י מַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם מַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃ מסעי מסעיהם מסעיהם׃ lə·mas·‘ê·hem lə·mas·sa‘ lə·mas·sā·‘āw ləmas‘êhem lemaseiHem lemasSa ləmassa‘ ləmassā‘āw lemassaAv mas‘ê mas‘êhem mas·‘ê mas·‘ê·hem masEi maseiHem ū·lə·mas·sa‘ ulemasSa ūləmassa‘
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 13:3
HEB: וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְמַסָּעָ֔יו מִנֶּ֖גֶב וְעַד־
NAS: He went on his journeys from the Negev
KJV: And he went on his journeys from the south
INT: went his journeys the Negev far

Exodus 17:1
HEB: מִמִּדְבַּר־ סִ֛ין לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־ פִּ֣י
NAS: journeyed by stages from the wilderness
KJV: of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment
INT: the wilderness of Sin stages according to the command

Exodus 40:36
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּכֹ֖ל מַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃
NAS: Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud
KJV: went onward in all their journeys:
INT: of Israel all their journeys

Exodus 40:38
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּכָל־ מַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃
NAS: For throughout all their journeys, the cloud
KJV: of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
INT: of Israel of all their journeys

Numbers 10:2
HEB: לְמִקְרָ֣א הָֽעֵדָ֔ה וּלְמַסַּ֖ע אֶת־ הַֽמַּחֲנֽוֹת׃
NAS: and for having the camps set out.
KJV: of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
INT: summoning the congregation set the camps

Numbers 10:6
HEB: תְּרוּעָ֥ה יִתְקְע֖וּ לְמַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃
NAS: is to be blown for them to set out.
KJV: an alarm for their journeys.
INT: an alarm is to be blown to set

Numbers 10:12
HEB: בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר סִינָ֑י
NAS: set out on their journeys from the wilderness
KJV: took their journeys out of the wilderness
INT: and the sons of Israel their journeys the wilderness of Sinai

Numbers 10:28
HEB: אֵ֛לֶּה מַסְעֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
NAS: This was the order of march of the sons
KJV: Thus [were] the journeyings of the children
INT: This was the order of the sons of Israel

Numbers 33:1
HEB: אֵ֜לֶּה מַסְעֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
NAS: These are the journeys of the sons
KJV: These [are] the journeys of the children
INT: These are the journeys of the sons of Israel

Numbers 33:2
HEB: אֶת־ מוֹצָאֵיהֶ֛ם לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־ פִּ֣י
NAS: places according to their journeys by the command
KJV: their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment
INT: Moses their starting to their journeys by the command

Numbers 33:2
HEB: יְהוָ֑ה וְאֵ֥לֶּה מַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם לְמוֹצָאֵיהֶֽם׃
NAS: and these are their journeys according to their starting places.
KJV: of the LORD: and these [are] their journeys according to their goings out.
INT: of the LORD and these are their journeys places

Deuteronomy 10:11
HEB: ק֛וּם לֵ֥ךְ לְמַסַּ֖ע לִפְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם
NAS: proceed on your journey ahead
KJV: take [thy] journey before
INT: Arise proceed your journey ahead of the people

12 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4550
12 Occurrences


lə·mas·‘ê·hem — 4 Occ.
lə·mas·sa‘ — 1 Occ.
lə·mas·sā·‘āw — 1 Occ.
mas·‘ê — 2 Occ.
mas·‘ê·hem — 3 Occ.
ū·lə·mas·sa‘ — 1 Occ.

4549
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