מִסָּה
𐤌𐤎𐤄
miççâh
H4530 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Abundance, profusion; specifically, a large quantity or surplus of goods or resources. In some contexts, refers to tribute or a substantial offering, typically as a form of payment to a superior or ruling authority. The primary sense is a great amount or overflow, sometimes carrying the nuance of what is yielded or presented, especially as tribute or tax.
Semantic Range
abundance, profusion, surplus, tribute (in the sense of an abundant offering), liberal contribution
Root / Etymology
Root is מ-ס-ס (מסס), which has the core meaning 'to melt, dissolve, flow.' The noun מִסָּה (missah) is derived with a mem-prefix, signifying the result or product of melting or flowing—thus, 'that which flows out' or 'abundance/spillage.' The lexeme develops a specialized sense of 'abundance' as what is yielded in quantity, and by extension, what is given up or presented as tribute.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מִסָּה is a comparatively rare term in biblical Hebrew, occurring especially in contexts of tribute or payment associated with subjugation or vassal status. Unlike מַס (mas), which more strictly denotes forced labor or corvée imposed by a state or ruler, מִסָּה emphasizes the abundance or surplus of what is presented, often suggesting voluntary or compulsory tribute in the form of goods. English translations sometimes obscure this nuance by simply rendering the term 'tribute' or 'abundance,' but the original can connote wealth that is owing or flowing out from surplus. Its usage reflects social and political relationships, particularly those that involve periodic surplus extraction, such as imperial taxation or payments made by vassal states. The meaning remains consistent across Israelite history but is infrequent enough to lack significant temporal development.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָסַס (in the sense of flowing); abundance, i.e. (adverbially) liberally; tribute.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מסס (m-s-s) — to melt, dissolve, flow
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4522 | מַס | the corvée levy |
| H4523 | מָס | for corvée-levy |
| H4549 | מָסַס | they caused to melt |
| H8557 | תֶּמֶס | melting dissolution |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4530-01 |
מִסַּ֛ת | misat | HNcfsc |
with a tribute | overflow of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4530-01 |
Deuteronomy 16:10 | מִסַּ֛ת | misat | HNcfsc |
with a tribute | overflow of |