מָסַר
𐤌𐤎𐤓
mâçar
H4560 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To deliver over, hand over, entrust, or give up someone or something to the power or custody of another. In reflexive or passive forms, to be delivered over or to be given into another's power. The term is also used metaphorically for betrayal or abandonment, and, rarely, for turning away from an allegiance (cf. apostatize).
Semantic Range
to deliver over, to hand over, to transfer custody, to surrender, to entrust, to betray, to be delivered up, to be handed over (passive or reflexive), to lose possession or control, to give up
Root / Etymology
From the root מסר (מ-ס-ר), which carries the sense 'to hand over, deliver, entrust.' The verb מָסַר stems directly from this root, used in various binyanim (verb stems) primarily in the qal and niphʿal. The core concept is handing over from one's possession or control to that of another.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מָסַר most commonly refers to transfer of custody or responsibility, such as entrusting a person into another's care (e.g., Numbers 21:2, 'I will give (מָסַר) his cities into your hand'). It is frequently used in legal and military contexts for the surrender or transfer of individuals, property, or cities. The reflexive or passive nuance (to be given over) occurs especially in contexts of judgment or defeat (e.g., being given into enemy hands). Its sense can shade into 'betray' in some narratives, though this nuance is context-dependent. In later Hebrew and related Semitic languages, the root continues to signify 'to hand over, transmit, deliver,' including legal transmission (as in the phrase mesorah, tradition). English translations often render it 'deliver,' 'give over,' or 'commit,' but these do not always capture the nuance of loss of control or betrayal inherent to the term in certain contexts. It should be linguistically distinguished from נָתַן (H5414 'give,' general giving), הִסְגִּיר (H5462 'shut up, deliver up,' with stronger legal or custodial nuance), and בָּגַד (H898 'act treacherously, betray,' more explicit treachery). The English term 'apostasy' in the Strong's gloss reflects a rare, context-specific usage where being delivered over is seen as a consequence of turning away, but מָסַר is not the standard technical term for apostasy in Biblical Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to sunder, i.e. (transitively) set apart, or (reflex.) apostatize; commit, deliver.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מסר (m-s-r) — hand over, deliver, entrust, surrender
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4883 | מַשּׂוֹר | the saw |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4560-02 |
וַ/יִּמָּֽסְרוּ֙ | vayimaseru | HC/VNw3mp |
were delivered | they were handed over | 1 |
H4560-01 |
לִ/מְסָר | limesar | HR/Vqc |
to deliver | to hand over | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4560-02 |
Numbers 31:5 | וַ/יִּמָּֽסְרוּ֙ | vayimaseru | HC/VNw3mp |
were delivered | they were handed over |
H4560-01 |
Numbers 31:16 | לִ/מְסָר | limesar | HR/Vqc |
to deliver | to hand over |