מֵשָׁא
𐤌𐤔𐤀
Mesha
H4852 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Mêshâʼ is a proper noun referring to a place name, generally identified as a locale connected geographically or ethnically with the descendants of Joktan in southern Arabia. Its primary lexical reference is as a toponym, not as a common noun or adjective.
Semantic Range
Mesha (place name in southern Arabia); boundary region; geographical toponym
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The name מֵשָׁא (Mêshâʼ) is described as of foreign (non-Hebrew) derivation and is not rooted in standard Hebrew etymologies. Its linguistic origin may lie within South Arabian or related Semitic languages, but no firm derivation is established in biblical sources.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מֵשָׁא appears in Genesis 10:30, within the Table of Nations, as describing a boundary of the territory settled by descendants of Joktan, a line associated with South Arabian regions. The identification of Mesha in this context points to an area eastward or southeastward of Palestine, potentially in southwestern Arabia. The meaning of the place name itself is unclear and is not directly related to other Hebrew roots. The association with Arabia in some English translations reflects geographic assumptions based on historical geography, but the precise identification remains uncertain. Standard English translations (e.g., 'Mesha') simply transliterate the term, reflecting the absence of further lexical meaning. This term is distinct from similar-sounding roots within Hebrew (e.g., מָשָׁא, 'burden'), which have different etymologies and semantic fields. It should not be confused with similar personal names or titles elsewhere in the Tanakh. The place name appears only in genealogical or territorial lists, and there is no evidence that it shifted in meaning over time or acquired religious or political connotations in later periods. Later rabbinic and translation traditions sometimes attempt to correlate Mesha with specific locations, but these are speculative.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of foreign derivation; Mesha, a place in Arabia; Mesha.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
uncertain (unknown) — proper name, place name, geographical toponym
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
| H1114 | בִּלְשָׁן | Bilshan |
| H1150 | בִּנְעָא | Bin'a |
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | and then |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4852-01 |
מִ/מֵּשָׁ֑א | mimesha | HR/Np |
from Mesha | from Mesha | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4852-01 |
Genesis 10:30 | מִ/מֵּשָׁ֑א | mimesha | HR/Np |
from Mesha | from Mesha |