מַשָּׂא (H4853) — Hebrew Lexicon

מַשָּׂא

𐤌𐤔𐤀

massâʼ

H4853 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primarily, a burden or load, both literal and figurative. In prophetic and poetic contexts, it also denotes an utterance with particular weight—a pronounced oracle, message, or proclamation often of judgment or solemn importance. Can indicate a physical burden (item carried) or metaphorically a heavy responsibility or fate. In later periods and prophetic literature, it commonly designates a prophetic pronouncement, especially of impending calamity or judgment.

Semantic Range

physical burden, load; tribute or imposed levy; duty or responsibility; oracle, prophetic message (especially of judgment); song or musical utterance; figurative mental or emotional burden

Root / Etymology

From the root נָשָׂא (נ-ש-א), meaning 'to lift, carry, bear.' The noun מַשָּׂא directly derives from this root and denotes that which is lifted or carried, i.e., a load or burden. Over time, the semantic range expanded to include metaphorical burdens (responsibilities, destinies) and, especially in prophetic contexts, a 'burden' in the sense of a weighty message or oracle.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early texts, מַשָּׂא primarily refers to a physical burden, emphasizing what is physically carried or borne (Numbers 4:19, 27: responsibility for transporting sacred objects). With the rise of literary prophecy (8th–6th centuries BCE), the word develops a specialized meaning: an authoritative pronouncement or oracle, often introduced with the phrase 'מַשָּׂא דְּבַר־יְהוָה' (the burden/utterance of YHWH) (Isaiah 13:1, Nahum 1:1). In these contexts, it frames the prophetic message as weighty—both to the speaker and audience—frequently with an emphasis on impending judgment or doom, though not exclusively negative. Some poetic and liturgical texts use מַשָּׂא for a song or musical performance (cf. 1 Chronicles 15:22), but this meaning is secondary, perhaps derived from the idea of 'bearing' a song or declaration aloud. Translations render מַשָּׂא variously as 'burden,' 'oracle,' 'pronouncement,' or, rarely, 'song.' English 'burden' is sometimes misleading, especially in prophetic passages where 'oracle' better reflects the sense, but the underlying metaphor—of a message so weighty it is a 'burden'—remains central. The word contrasts with נְבוּאָה (nevuʼah, 'prophecy'), which does not carry the connotation of weight or doom. In post-exilic texts and early Jewish Greek translations, equivalent terms develop, sometimes rendering it simply as 'prophecy' or 'message.' The meaning of tribute or imposed levy also appears (Zechariah 12:1), but is less common. Overall, מַשָּׂא illustrates the figurative depth and evolving literary use of ancient Hebrew.

Translation Consistency

primary "burden" 63 occurrences

Most common and natural English equivalent in the P2 data and in standard translations. "Burden" covers the primary literal sense (load, levy, duty) and the dominant prophetic sense (a weighty oracle or pronouncement—e.g., “the burden of …”), so it preserves the typical usage and feels natural in both physical and figurative contexts.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"charge of the singing" (1x) "singing" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נָשָׂא; a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly adoom, especially singing; mental, desire; burden, carry away, prophecy, [idiom] they set, song, tribute.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נשא (n-ś-ʾ) — to lift, to carry, to bear

Root נשא to lift, to carry, to bear

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4854	מַשָּׂא	burden of
H4856	מַשֹּׂא	and lifting-up-of
H4858	מַשָּׂאָה	rising mass
H4859	מַשָּׁאָה	loans
H4864	מַשְׂאֵת	raised portion
H4984	מִתְנַשֵּׂא	the one exalting himself
H5375	נָשָׂא	I lift
H5376	נְשָׂא	self-exalting one
H5377	נָשָׁא	you led astray
H5379	נִשֵּׂאת	the lifted-up gift
H5385	נְשׂוּאָה	your carried-loads
H5387	נָשִׂיא	the exalted leader
H7613	שְׂאֵת	in the raised swelling

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H4853-06`	מַשָּׂ֥א	masa	`HNcmsc`	burden	burden of	burden of	38
`H4853-03`	הַ/מַּשָּׂ֖א	hamasa	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the burden	the burden	the burden	9
`H4853-07`	מַשָּׂאָ֔/ם	masaam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their burdens	their burden	their burden	4
`H4853-08`	מַשָּׂא֔/וֹ	masao	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his burden	his burden	his burden	3
`H4853-05`	לְ/מַשָּֽׂא	lemasa	`HR/Ncmsa`	a burden	for a burden	for a burden	3
`H4853-02`	בְּ/מַשָּׂ֣א	bemasa	`HR/Ncmsc`	in-burden	in a burden of	in charge of the singing	2
`H4853-09`	מִ/מַּשָּׂ֖א	mimasa	`HR/Ncmsc`	because of the burden	from burden-of	from the burden of	1
`H4853-10`	וּ/לְ/מַשָּֽׂא	ulemasa	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and for burden	and for a burden	and for a burden	1
`H4853-01`	בַּ/מַּשָּׂ֔א	bamasa	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in singing	in the burden	in the singing	1
`H4853-11`	וּ/מַשָּׂ֥א	umasa	`HC/Ncmsc`	and the burden	and burden-of	and burden	1
`H4853-12`	וּ/מַֽשַּׂאֲ/כֶ֖ם	umasaakhem	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp2mp`	and your burden	and your burden	and your burden	1
`H4853-04`	כְּ/מַשָּׂ֥א	kemasa	`HR/Ncmsa`	like a burden	like a burden	like a burden	1

Occurrences in Scripture

65 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H4853-08`	Exodus 23:5	מַשָּׂא֔/וֹ	masao	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	its burden	his burden	his burden
`H4853-06`	Numbers 4:15	מַשָּׂ֥א	masa	`HNcmsc`	burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-08`	Numbers 4:19	מַשָּׂאֽ/וֹ	masao	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his burden	his burden	his burden
`H4853-10`	Numbers 4:24	וּ/לְ/מַשָּֽׂא	ulemasa	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and for burden	and for a burden	and for a burden
`H4853-07`	Numbers 4:27	מַשָּׂאָ֔/ם	masaam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their burdens	their burden	their burden
`H4853-07`	Numbers 4:27	מַשָּׂאָֽ/ם	masaam-2	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their burdens	their burden	their burden
`H4853-07`	Numbers 4:31	מַשָּׂאָ֔/ם	masaam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	of their burden	their burden	their burden
`H4853-07`	Numbers 4:32	מַשָּׂאָֽ/ם	masaam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their-burden	their burden	their burden
`H4853-06`	Numbers 4:47	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsa`	burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-08`	Numbers 4:49	מַשָּׂא֑/וֹ	masao	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his burden	his burden	his burden
`H4853-06`	Numbers 11:11	מַשָּׂ֛א	masa	`HNcmsc`	burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-02`	Numbers 11:17	בְּ/מַשָּׂ֣א	bemasa	`HR/Ncmsc`	in-burden	in a burden of	in the burden of
`H4853-12`	Deuteronomy 1:12	וּ/מַֽשַּׂאֲ/כֶ֖ם	umasaakhem	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp2mp`	and your burden	and your burden	and your burden
`H4853-05`	2 Samuel 15:33	לְ/מַשָּֽׂא	lemasa	`HR/Ncmsa`	a burden	for a burden	for a burden
`H4853-05`	2 Samuel 19:36	לְ/מַשָּׂ֔א	lemasa	`HR/Ncmsa`	a burden	for a burden	for a burden
`H4853-06`	2 Kings 5:17	מַשָּׂ֥א	masa	`HNcmsc`	load	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	2 Kings 8:9	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-03`	2 Kings 9:25	הַ/מַּשָּׂ֖א	hamasa	`HTd/Ncmsa`	burden	the burden	the burden
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 13:1	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	The burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-03`	Isaiah 14:28	הַ/מַּשָּׂ֥א	hamasa	`HTd/Ncmsa`	this oracle	the burden	the burden
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 15:1	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	The burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 17:1	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	The oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 19:1	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	The burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 21:1	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	The burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 21:11	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	The burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 21:13	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsa`	The oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 22:1	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	The oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-03`	Isaiah 22:25	הַ/מַּשָּׂ֣א	hamasa	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the-burden	the burden	the burden
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 23:1	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	The oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 30:6	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 46:1	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsa`	burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Isaiah 46:2	מַשָּׂ֑א	masa	`HNcmsa`	the burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Jeremiah 17:21	מַשָּׂא֙	masa	`HNcmsa`	a burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Jeremiah 17:22	מַשָּׂ֤א	masa	`HNcmsa`	a burden	burden of	a burden
`H4853-06`	Jeremiah 17:24	מַשָּׂ֗א	masa	`HNcmsa`	burden	burden of	burden
`H4853-06`	Jeremiah 17:27	מַשָּׂ֗א	masa	`HNcmsa`	a burden	burden of	a burden
`H4853-06`	Jeremiah 23:33	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	burden	burden of	burden
`H4853-06`	Jeremiah 23:33	מַשָּׂ֔א	masa-2	`HNcmsa`	burden	burden of	burden
`H4853-06`	Jeremiah 23:34	מַשָּׂ֣א	masa	`HNcmsc`	burden	burden of	burden of
`H4853-11`	Jeremiah 23:36	וּ/מַשָּׂ֥א	umasa	`HC/Ncmsc`	and the burden	and burden-of	and burden
`H4853-03`	Jeremiah 23:36	הַ/מַּשָּׂ֗א	hamasa	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the burden	the burden	the burden
`H4853-06`	Jeremiah 23:38	מַשָּׂ֣א	masa	`HNcmsc`	oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Jeremiah 23:38	מַשָּׂ֣א	masa-2	`HNcmsc`	oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Jeremiah 23:38	מַשָּׂ֥א	masa-3	`HNcmsc`	oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-03`	Ezekiel 12:10	הַ/מַּשָּׂ֤א	hamasa	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the burden	the burden	the burden
`H4853-06`	Ezekiel 24:25	מַשָּׂ֣א	masa	`HNcmsc`	lifting up	burden of	burden of
`H4853-09`	Hosea 8:10	מִ/מַּשָּׂ֖א	mimasa	`HR/Ncmsc`	because of the burden	from burden-of	from the burden of
`H4853-06`	Nahum 1:1	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsc`	The oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-03`	Habakkuk 1:1	הַ/מַּשָׂא֙	hamasa	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the oracle	the burden	the burden
`H4853-06`	Zechariah 9:1	מַשָּׂ֤א	masa	`HNcmsc`	The oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Zechariah 12:1	מַשָּׂ֥א	masa	`HNcmsa`	oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	Malachi 1:1	מַשָּׂ֥א	masa	`HNcmsa`	oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-04`	Psalms 38:5	כְּ/מַשָּׂ֥א	kemasa	`HR/Ncmsa`	like a burden	like a burden	like a burden
`H4853-03`	Proverbs 30:1	הַ/מַּ֫שָּׂ֥א	hamasa	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the oracle	the burden	the burden
`H4853-06`	Proverbs 31:1	מַ֝שָּׂ֗א	masa	`HNcmsa`	the oracle	burden of	burden of
`H4853-05`	Job 7:20	לְ/מַשָּֽׂא	lemasa	`HR/Ncmsa`	a burden	for a burden	for a burden
`H4853-06`	Nehemiah 13:15	מַשָּׂ֔א	masa	`HNcmsa`	manner of burdens	burden of	kinds of burdens
`H4853-06`	Nehemiah 13:19	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsa`	burden	burden of	burden
`H4853-02`	1 Chronicles 15:22	בְּ/מַשָּׂ֑א	bemasa	`HR/Ncmsa`	in charge of the singing	in a burden of	in charge of the singing
`H4853-01`	1 Chronicles 15:22	בַּ/מַּשָּׂ֔א	bamasa	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in singing	in the burden	in the singing
`H4853-03`	1 Chronicles 15:27	הַ/מַּשָּׂ֖א	hamasa	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the song	the burden	the burden
`H4853-06`	2 Chronicles 17:11	מַשָּׂ֑א	masa	`HNcmsa`	as-tribute	burden of	burden of
`H4853-06`	2 Chronicles 20:25	מַשָּׂ֑א	masa	`HNcmsa`	carrying	burden of	burden of
`H4853-03`	2 Chronicles 24:27	הַ/מַּשָּׂ֣א	hamasa	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the burden	the burden	the burden
`H4853-06`	2 Chronicles 35:3	מַשָּׂ֖א	masa	`HNcmsa`	burden	burden of	burden

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