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מַסֶּכֶת

𐤌𐤎𐤊𐤕

maççeketh

H4545 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נסך to pour out, to spread out, to make a libation

Definition

An item or product made by weaving, particularly a woven fabric, textile, or piece of material produced on a loom; in certain contexts, refers to the woven material used for sacred purposes, such as the coverings or curtains in the tabernacle. The term emphasizes the finished, spread-out result of the weaving process, rather than the individual threads or components.

Semantic Range

woven fabric, textile, curtain, covering, web, cloth product produced on a loom

Root / Etymology

From the root נסך (n-s-k), which primarily means 'to pour out' or 'to spread out.' The noun מַסֶּכֶת develops from the sense of 'spreading out,' referring to something that has been 'spread' or 'extended'—specifically, a woven fabric or textile that has been stretched out on the loom. The form is a feminine noun drawn from the root by emphasizing the outcome of the spreading/weaving action, i.e., the finished textile.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מַסֶּכֶת most often appears in priestly or ritual contexts, particularly in descriptions of the tabernacle's construction (Exodus 26–36), where it refers to woven items such as curtains, veils, or other cloths made for sacred service. The word can also refer more broadly to any woven textile product, but is not as generic as other terms like בֶּגֶד (beged, 'garment, cloth') or שֵׂמְלָה (semelah, 'outer garment'). The term denotes the product of weaving, with emphasis on its spread-out, expanse-like quality. Standard English translations often use 'woven fabric,' 'covering,' 'web,' or 'curtain,' each capturing a facet of the Hebrew term. Later Hebrew and Jewish tradition may further specify its use, but in the biblical context, it is primarily connected to cultic items or skilled craftsmanship involving weaving. The meaning remains relatively stable across biblical periods, always designating woven and spread-out textile products, most especially in ritual contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נָסַךְ in the sense of spreading out; something expanded, i.e. the warp in aloom (as stretched out to receive the woof); web.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נסך (n-s-k) — to pour out, to spread out, to cast

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4537 מָסַךְ cast-metal image
H4541 מַסֵּכָה the cast-metal image
H5257 נְסִיךְ their installed prince
H5258 נָסַךְ I will pour out
H5259 נָסַךְ the interwoven one

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4545-01 הַ/מַּסָּֽכֶת hamasakhet HTd/Ncfsa the web the spread-out textile 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4545-01 Judges 16:13 הַ/מַּסָּֽכֶת hamasakhet HTd/Ncfsa the web the spread-out textile
H4545-01 Judges 16:14 הַ/מַּסָּֽכֶת hamasakhet HTd/Ncfsa the web the spread-out textile
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