Mash
LocationsGeographical Setting
Mash is a geographical entity listed in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, traditionally identified with the region of Meshech or Mount Masius in northern Mesopotamia.
What is the meaning of Mash in the Bible?
Mash appears in Genesis 10:23 as a son of Aram within the Table of Nations, representing a Japhetic lineage. Scholarly analysis suggests the name likely derives from Meshech or refers to Mount Masius, a landmark on the northern frontier of Mesopotamia near the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Mash as a geographical reference rather than solely an individual clarifies the ancient Israelite worldview regarding the distribution of nations and helps readers visualize the northern boundaries of the known world described in the biblical text.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Mash in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Mash clarify?
Related Topics
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.