מַשְׁאָב
𐤌𐤔𐤀𐤁
mashʼâb
H4857 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A container or receptacle, typically a trough or basin, used for extracting and holding water, especially as a place where livestock could drink; sometimes by extension, a site designated for drawing water.
Semantic Range
trough for livestock, basin for drawing water, container for holding water, place for water extraction
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁאַב (shaʾav), meaning 'to draw (water)'. The term מַשְׁאָב is a noun form indicating that which is used in the act of drawing water.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term מַשְׁאָב appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in poetic or descriptive contexts, and refers specifically to the physical implement or location associated with water extraction, such as a water-trough for animals (cf. Genesis 24:20) or a vessel/basin at a well. The word emphasizes the function as a place or tool for drawing and storing water, not simply the act of drawing or the water itself. In ancient Israelite agrarian society, such implements were essential at communal wells or for pastoral life. English translations often render it as 'trough' or 'place of drawing water', but these tend to obscure the association with the act of drawing (shaʾav) and the broader category of water-holding vessels. This term is distinct from other Hebrew words like בְּאֵר (beʾer, 'well') or מַעְיָן (maʿyan, 'spring'), as it refers to the artificial structure or vessel rather than the natural source.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁאַב; a trough for cattle to drink from; place of drawing water.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שאב (š-ʾ-b) — to draw (water), extract
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7579 | שָׁאַב | I will draw water |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4857-01 |
מַשְׁאַבִּ֔ים | masheabim | HNcmpa |
the watering places | water-drawing troughs | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4857-01 |
Judges 5:11 | מַשְׁאַבִּ֔ים | masheabim | HNcmpa |
the watering places | water-drawing troughs |