מְשִׁסָּה
𐤌𐤔𐤎𐤄
mᵉshiççâh
H4933 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Movable goods or property taken by force from an enemy in battle or by raiders; possessions or valuables seized in war or conflict as a result of successful military action. Used broadly for material goods captured or appropriated, especially in the context of warfare or violent conflict.
Semantic Range
plunder taken in war, booty, spoils of battle, goods seized by force, possessions appropriated in violent conflict
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁסַס (sh-s-s), meaning 'to plunder' or 'to spoil.' The word מְשִׁסָּה is a feminine noun derived from this root, denoting that which is taken by plundering—i.e., spoil or booty. The core meaning of the root focuses on forcible taking, seizing, or stripping of goods.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the biblical text, מְשִׁסָּה typically refers to property or goods seized during military conflict, emphasizing the outcome of plundering rather than the act itself. Usage is generally concrete, denoting tangible, valuable objects (e.g., livestock, resources, household goods), distinguishing it from words like שָׁלָל (shalal), which can have a similar meaning but is used more generally for any type of spoil or prey. The term is found primarily in texts recounting battles or raids, and its connotation is purely material, with no explicit spiritual or abstract application attested in the Hebrew Bible. Later translations sometimes use the word 'booty' or 'spoil,' but these may not always convey the full material scope captured by מְשִׁסָּה. In ancient Israelite society, the division and sharing of מְשִׁסָּה after battle reflected both custom and legal practice, as recorded in narratives and legal texts. No evidence suggests an extension of the term to mean non-material spoils before the post-biblical period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁסַס; plunder; booty, spoil.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁסס (sh-s-s) — to plunder, strip, seize forcibly
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4933-01 |
לִ/מְשִׁסָּ֧ה | limeshisah | HR/Ncfsa |
for a spoil | for plundered goods | 3 |
H4933-02 |
לִ/מְשִׁסּ֖וֹת | limeshisot | HR/Ncfpa |
for plundering | for plundered goods | 1 |
H4933-04 |
וְ/לִ/מְשִׁסָּ֖ה | velimeshisah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and-for-spoil | and for plundered spoil | 1 |
H4933-03 |
מְשִׁסָּ֖ה | meshisah | HNcfsa |
a spoil | plundered goods | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4933-04 |
2 Kings 21:14 | וְ/לִ/מְשִׁסָּ֖ה | velimeshisah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and-for-spoil | and for plundered spoil |
H4933-03 |
Isaiah 42:22 | מְשִׁסָּ֖ה | meshisah | HNcfsa |
a spoil | plundered goods |
H4933-01 |
Isaiah 42:24 | לִ/מְשִׁסָּ֧ה | limeshisah | HR/Ncfsa |
to-spoil | for plundered goods |
H4933-01 |
Jeremiah 30:16 | לִ/מְשִׁסָּ֔ה | limeshisah | HR/Ncfsa |
for a spoil | for plundered goods |
H4933-02 |
Habakkuk 2:7 | לִ/מְשִׁסּ֖וֹת | limeshisot | HR/Ncfpa |
for plundering | for plundered goods |
H4933-01 |
Zephaniah 1:13 | לִ/מְשִׁסָּ֔ה | limeshisah | HR/Ncfsa |
for plundering | for plundered goods |