מַסָּה

From the study of Deuteronomy 7:19

Range of meaning

A test, trial or proving: a situation that tries something out and shows what it really is. It comes from the verb nissâ, 'to test, try, put to the proof, venture.' As a common noun it appears only in Deuteronomy's exodus formula (4:34; 7:19; 29:3 [Eng. 29:2]). The same spelling is used as a place name, Massah, 'Testing' (Exod 17:7; Deut 6:16; 9:22; 33:8), where Israel 'tested' Yahweh.

Against the English

BSB, WEB, YLT, ESV and NASB say 'trials.' KJV says 'temptations,' which in 1611 meant 'testings' but now suggests being lured into sin. NLT and similar paraphrases turn the word into something like terrors or plagues, which keeps the reference but loses the idea of testing and proving.

How it drifted

English 'temptation' originally meant a trial or test (Latin temptare, 'to try, probe'). Over the following centuries the word narrowed, mainly through its religious use, to an inner pull toward wrongdoing. The KJV wording has stayed the same while the meaning of the English word moved away from it.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deut 4:34 sets the noun beside the verb from the same root: 'has any god ventured (nissâ) to go and take a nation for himself… by trials (massōt), by signs, by wonders…' The point is that Yahweh 'tried' something no god had ever tried, and the deeds themselves were proofs. The Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation) renders it with peirasmoi ('trials, testings'), and the Vulgate (the Latin translation) with tentationes. Both had the 'test' sense in their own time. HALOT and BDB give 'test, trial,' and both connect it with the plagues in these Deuteronomy passages.

From the study of Job 9:23

Range of meaning

Two separate nouns look alike. (1) massâ from nāsâ, 'to test': 'testing, trial', as at the place called Massah, where Israel tested God (Exod 17:7), and the 'trials' God brought on Egypt (Deut 4:34; 7:19; 29:3). (2) massâ from māsas, 'to melt, dissolve', a verb used for hearts melting in fear (Deut 20:8; Josh 2:11): 'melting, despair'. BDB and HALOT list Job 9:23 under the second, as its only occurrence in that sense.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have 'trial'. BSB, NIV and NASB have 'despair'. ESV has 'calamity', which is closer to the general sense of 'plight'.

How it drifted

Strong's concordance files every occurrence under 'testing', and the KJV tradition followed the more familiar word. Modern lexicons separated the 'melting' noun out because 'trial' fits poorly beside a sudden killing. The innocent are not being examined. They are dying in terror.

Used elsewhere in the period

The verb māsas, 'melt', is common for courage dissolving (Isa 13:7; Ezek 21:12; Ps 22:14, 'my heart is like wax; it is melted'). The 'testing' noun is common in Deuteronomy. The supplied data marks this occurrence as H4531A 'despair', which agrees with BDB/HALOT.