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מָאַס

𐤌𐤀𐤎

mâʼaç

H3988 verb

SILEX Entry

Root מאס to reject, to refuse, to despise

Definition

To reject or refuse, especially with a sense of strong disapproval or aversion. The verb typically denotes willful rejection or repudiation (of a person, thing, command, or relationship), often with an emotional overtone of disdain, contempt, or loathing. In some contexts, it can signify being rejected or disregarded by others, or the state of becoming despised and thus marginalized.

Semantic Range

to reject, to refuse, to spurn, to treat with contempt, to disregard, to cast off, to find loathsome, to marginalize, to be rejected or despised (passive sense)

Root / Etymology

The root מָאַס (מ-א-ס) primarily conveys the idea of rejecting or spurning, indicating a deliberate decision to refuse something or someone as unworthy or unacceptable. Although the root is most commonly attested in Piʿel and Qal stems, its core sense of 'reject' persists regardless of form. There is no clear evidence for a cognate root in related Semitic languages that would shift the meaning significantly. The sense of 'fading' or 'melting away' in some translations likely arises from idiomatic uses and does not reflect a fundamental root meaning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מָאַס is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to describe both human and divine actions of rejection. When applied to persons, it often captures the act of refusing someone as king, prophet, or ally (e.g., Saul, Israel, or individuals). It is also frequently used of the Israelites or their offerings 'being rejected' by YHWH due to disobedience or ritual failure. Conversely, it can refer to people rejecting YHWH, his covenant, or his instructions. In post-exilic and later biblical contexts, the word retains the strong sense of deliberate repudiation but is sometimes softened to communicate less personal forms of dismissal. Standard English translations (despise, reject, refuse) do not always capture the emotional intensity or relational breach implied by the word. מָאַס contrasts with words like בָּחַר ('to choose, prefer'), emphasizing not just non-selection but the active refusal of what has been offered or previously in relationship. The verb is especially important in texts dealing with covenant faithfulness and kingship, where the stakes of rejection are sociopolitical and theological, but its underlying sense remains anchored in willful, often emotionally charged, refusal.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear; abhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain, (become) loathe(some), melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, [idiom] utterly, vile person.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מאס (m-ʾ-s) — reject, refuse, despise

Word Forms

35 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3988-08 מָאָ֔סוּ maasu HVqp3cp they rejected they rejected 12
H3988-03 מָאַס֙ maas HVqp3ms has rejected he rejected 5
H3988-01 אֶמְאַ֨ס emeas HVqi1cs I despise I will reject 5
H3988-05 מָאַ֨סְתָּ֙ maaseta HVqp2ms you have rejected you spurned 4
H3988-30 וַ/יִּמְאֲס֣וּ vayimeasu HC/Vqw3mp And they rejected and they rejected 3
H3988-22 תִּמְאָ֑ס timeas HVqj2ms despise may you reject 3
H3988-27 וַ/יִּמְאַ֨ס vayimeas HC/Vqw3ms and-he-rejected and he rejected 3
H3988-33 יִמְאָֽס yimeas HVqi3ms despises he rejects 3
H3988-13 מְאַסְתֶּ֤ם measetem HVqp2mp you have despised you rejected 3
H3988-07 מָאַ֖סְתִּי maaseti HVqp1cs I disdained I rejected 3

Occurrences in Scripture

76 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3988-23 Leviticus 26:15 תִּמְאָ֔סוּ timeasu HVqi2mp you despise you spurn
H3988-08 Leviticus 26:43 מָאָ֔סוּ maasu HVqp3cp they-rejected they rejected
H3988-16 Leviticus 26:44 מְאַסְתִּ֤י/ם measetim HVqp1cs/Sp3mp I will reject them I rejected them
H3988-13 Numbers 11:20 מְאַסְתֶּ֤ם measetem HVqp2mp you have despised you rejected
H3988-13 Numbers 14:31 מְאַסְתֶּ֖ם measetem HVqp2mp you have rejected you rejected
H3988-06 Judges 9:38 מָאַ֣סְתָּה maasetah HVqp2ms you despised you rejected
H3988-08 1 Samuel 8:7 מָאָ֔סוּ maasu HVqp3cp they have rejected they rejected
H3988-08 1 Samuel 8:7 מָאֲס֖וּ maasu-2 HVqp3cp they have rejected they rejected
H3988-13 1 Samuel 10:19 מְאַסְתֶּ֣ם measetem HVqp2mp you-have-rejected you rejected
H3988-05 1 Samuel 15:23 מָאַ֨סְתָּ֙ maaseta HVqp2ms you have rejected you spurned
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