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Hebrew noun (masculine) · H4853

מַשָּׂא

massamas-saw'

burden; oracle

66 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Concordance spelling: massâʼ

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H4853is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 20 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 33
    spellings
  • 2
    meanings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H4853

a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly adoom, especially singing; mental, desire

The King James renders it: burden, carry away, prophecy, [idiom] they set, song, tribute.

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

massa is rendered "burden; oracle". It stands 66 times in the Hebrew text, across twenty books.

  • Fourteen of the uses stand in Isaiah, more than in any other book.
  • The lexicon lists two meanings for it, beginning with "burden".
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Exodus 23:5If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.
  • The Greek text spells it thirty-three different ways.

The first use

If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.

Exodus 23:5מַשָּׂא֔וֹ

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

What the word means

The word carries two meanings: burden, and oracle.

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

The English STEP Bible gives each use, word by word, and how many times.
burdenStrong's entry ATagged aslisted under the tableWhereExodus 23:5If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there…
oracleStrong's entry BTagged aslisted under the tableWherein the ledger below

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • oracle of13
  • burden of7
  • a burden6
  • the oracle6
  • carrying their4
  • a load3
  • into a burden3
  • burden his2
  • carrying2
  • load of2
  • the burden2
  • an oracle1

and 15 more, 66 uses in all

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

מַשָּׁאmashshainterestUses3
מַשָּׁאָהmashshaahloanUses2
מַשָּׂאָהmassaahsmokeUses1
מַשָּׁאוֹןmashshaonguileUses1

Other numbers on this spelling

Strong gave these words the same spelling and different numbers, so the site counts and defines them apart.

The words it stands beside

All 66, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

33 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • מַשָּׂ֖א17
  • מַשָּׂ֥א5
  • מַשָּׂ֣א4
  • מַשָּׂ֑א3
  • הַמַּשָּׂ֖א2
  • הַמַּשָּׂ֣א2
  • לְמַשָּֽׂא׃2
  • מַשָּׂ֔א2
  • מַשָּׂ֤א2
  • מַשָּׂ֗א2
  • מַשָּׂאָ֔ם2
  • מַשָּׂאָֽם׃2

and 21 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)23HNcmsc
  • noun · masculine singular14HNcmsa
  • the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular9HTd/Ncmsa
  • preposition + noun · masculine singular5HR/Ncmsa
  • noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine plural4HNcmsc/Sp3mp
  • noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular3HNcmsc/Sp3ms
  • preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)2HR/Ncmsc
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)1HC/Ncmsc
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine plural1HC/Ncmsc/Sp2mp
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singular1HC/R/Ncmsa
  • noun · masculine or feminine singular1HNcbsa
  • noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)1HNcfpc

Exodus

one use
  • If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.

    Exodus 23:5

    • מַשָּׂא֔וֹmasaonoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: load its

Numbers

eleven uses
  • When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.

    Numbers 4:15

    • מַשָּׂ֥אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: burden of
  • In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry.

    Numbers 4:19

    • מַשָּׂאֽוֹ׃masaonoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: burden his
  • This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport:

    Numbers 4:24

    • וּלְמַשָּֽׂא׃ulemasa'conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: and for carrying
  • All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry.

    Numbers 4:27

    • מַשָּׂאָ֔םmasaamnoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: carrying their
    • מַשָּׂאָֽם׃masaamnoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: carrying their
  • This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases,

    Numbers 4:31

    • מַשָּׂאָ֔םmasaamnoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: carrying their
  • and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry.

    Numbers 4:32

    • מַשָּׂאָֽם׃masaamnoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: carrying their
  • from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting.

    Numbers 4:47

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: carrying
  • At the LORD’s command they were numbered through Moses and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

    Numbers 4:49

    • מַשָּׂא֑וֹmasaonoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: burden his
  • So Moses asked the LORD, “Why have You brought this trouble on Your servant? Why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid upon me the burden of all these people?

    Numbers 11:11

    • מַשָּׂ֛אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: burden of
  • And I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put that Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.

    Numbers 11:17

    • בְּמַשָּׂ֣אbemasa'preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in burden of

Deuteronomy

one use
  • But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes all by myself?

    Deuteronomy 1:12

    • וּמַֽשַּׂאֲכֶ֖םumasaakhemconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine pluraltagged: and burden your

2 Samuel

two uses
  • David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.

    2 Samuel 15:33

    • לְמַשָּֽׂא׃lemasa'preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: into a burden
  • I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

    2 Samuel 19:35

    • לְמַשָּׂ֔אlemasa'preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: into a burden

2 Kings

three uses
  • “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry. For your servant will never again make a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the LORD.

    2 Kings 5:17

    • מַשָּׂ֥אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: load of
  • So Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift of forty camel loads of every good thing from Damascus. And he went in and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

    2 Kings 8:9

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: load of
  • And Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Pick him up and throw him into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember that when you and I were riding together behind his father Ahab, the LORD lifted up this burden against him:

    2 Kings 9:25

    • הַמַּשָּׂ֖אhamasa'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the oracle

1 Chronicles

three uses
  • Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.

    1 Chronicles 15:22

    • בְּמַשָּׂ֑אbemasa'preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: in a lifting up
    • בַּמַּשָּׂ֔אbamasa'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the lifting up
  • Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.

    1 Chronicles 15:27

    • הַמַּשָּׂ֖אhamasa'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lifting up

2 Chronicles

four uses
  • Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.

    2 Chronicles 17:11

    • מַשָּׂ֑אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: a load
  • Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables—more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.

    2 Chronicles 20:25

    • מַשָּׂ֑אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: carrying
  • The accounts of the sons of Joash, as well as the many pronouncements about him and about the restoration of the house of God, are indeed written in the Treatise of the Book of the Kings. And his son Amaziah reigned in his place.

    2 Chronicles 24:27

    • הַמַּשָּׂ֣אhamasa'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the oracle
  • To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.

    2 Chronicles 35:3

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: a burden

Nehemiah

two uses
  • In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.

    Nehemiah 13:15

    • מַשָּׂ֔אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: load
  • When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.

    Nehemiah 13:19

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: a load

Job

one use
  • If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?

    Job 7:20

    • לְמַשָּֽׂא׃lemasa'preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: into a burden

Psalms

one use
  • For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.

    Psalms 38:4

    • כְּמַשָּׂ֥אkemasa'preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a burden

Proverbs

two uses
  • These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, and worn out.

    Proverbs 30:1

    • הַמַּ֫שָּׂ֥אhamasa'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the oracle
  • These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

    Proverbs 31:1

    • מַ֝שָּׂ֗אmasa'noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: an oracle

Isaiah

fourteen uses
  • This is the burden against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz received:

    Isaiah 13:1

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of
  • In the year that King Ahaz died, this burden was received:

    Isaiah 14:28

    • הַמַּשָּׂ֥אhamasa'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the oracle
  • This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!

    Isaiah 15:1

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of
  • This is the burden against Damascus: “Behold, Damascus is no longer a city; it has become a heap of ruins.

    Isaiah 17:1

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of
  • This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them.

    Isaiah 19:1

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of
  • This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.

    Isaiah 21:1

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of
  • This is the burden against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”

    Isaiah 21:11

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of
  • This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.

    Isaiah 21:13

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: oracle
  • This is the burden against the Valley of Vision: What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the rooftops,

    Isaiah 22:1

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of
  • In that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, the peg driven into a firm place will give way; it will be sheared off and fall, and the load upon it will be cut down.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.

    Isaiah 22:25

    • הַמַּשָּׂ֣אhamasa'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the burden
  • This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.

    Isaiah 23:1

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of
  • This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them.

    Isaiah 30:6

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of
  • Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.

    Isaiah 46:1

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: a load
  • The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.

    Isaiah 46:2

    • מַשָּׂ֑אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: a burden

Jeremiah

twelve uses
  • This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.

    Jeremiah 17:21

    • מַשָּׂא֙masa'noun · masculine singulartagged: a burden
  • You must not carry a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath day, but you must keep the Sabbath day holy, just as I commanded your forefathers.

    Jeremiah 17:22

    • מַשָּׂ֤אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: a burden
  • If, however, you listen carefully to Me, says the LORD, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and keep the Sabbath day holy, and do no work on it,

    Jeremiah 17:24

    • מַשָּׂ֗אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: a burden
  • But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’”

    Jeremiah 17:27

    • מַשָּׂ֗אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: a burden
  • “Now when this people or a prophet or priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the LORD?’ you are to say to them, ‘What burden? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.’

    Jeremiah 23:33

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: burden of
    • מַשָּׂ֔אmasa'noun · masculine singulartagged: burden
  • As for the prophet or priest or anyone who claims, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ I will punish that man and his household.

    Jeremiah 23:34

    • מַשָּׂ֣אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: burden of
  • But refer no more to the burden of the LORD, for each man’s word becomes the burden, so that you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God.

    Jeremiah 23:36

    • וּמַשָּׂ֥אumasa'conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and burden of
    • הַמַּשָּׂ֗אhamasa'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the burden
  • But if you claim, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ then this is what the LORD says: Because you have said, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ and I specifically told you not to make this claim,

    Jeremiah 23:38

    • מַשָּׂ֣אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: burden of
    • מַשָּׂ֣אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: burden of
    • מַשָּׂ֥אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: burden of

Lamentations

one use
  • The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.

    Lamentations 2:14

    • מַשְׂא֥וֹתmasotnoun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracles of

Ezekiel

two uses
  • Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are there.’

    Ezekiel 12:10

    • הַמַּשָּׂ֤אhamasa'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the oracle
  • And you, son of man, know that on the day I take away their stronghold, their pride and joy—the desire of their eyes which uplifted their souls—and their sons and daughters as well,

    Ezekiel 24:25

    • מַשָּׂ֣אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: uplifting of

Hosea

one use
  • Though they hire allies among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to diminish under the oppression of the king of princes.

    Hosea 8:10

    • מִמַּשָּׂ֖אmimasa'preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: from burden of

Nahum

one use
  • This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

    Nahum 1:1

    • מַשָּׂ֖אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of

Habakkuk

one use
  • This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision:

    Habakkuk 1:1

    • הַמַּשָּׂא֙hamasa'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the oracle

Zechariah

two uses
  • This is the burden of the word of the LORD against the land of Hadrach and Damascus its resting place—for the eyes of men and of all the tribes of Israel are upon the LORD—

    Zechariah 9:1

    • מַשָּׂ֤אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of
  • This is the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him:

    Zechariah 12:1

    • מַשָּׂ֥אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of

Malachi

one use
  • This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi:

    Malachi 1:1

    • מַשָּׂ֥אmasa'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: oracle of

The letters

Where it leads

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →