Massah
LocationsGeographical Setting
Massah is a wilderness site identified in the Hebrew Bible as the location where the Israelites demanded water from Moses.
What is the meaning of Massah in the Bible?
Massah is a biblical location in the Sinai Peninsula associated with the Israelites' complaint regarding water scarcity during their exodus from Egypt. The name derives from the Hebrew root meaning 'trial' or 'testing'.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Massah clarifies the narrative tension between the Israelite community's demands and Moses' leadership, highlighting the recurring theme of divine testing within the wilderness journey accounts.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Massah in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Massah clarify?
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.