English · KJV
H4531

מַסָּה

maççâh /mas-saw'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom נָסָה
Meaninga testing, of men (judicial) or of God (querulous)
KJV usagetemptation, trial.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of maççâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word maççâh, represented by H4531, refers to a testing, of men (judicial) or of God (querulous); temptation, trial. It is derived from the root word H5254 and appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible, highlighting its specific and significant applications.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H4531 is used in two primary contexts. Firstly, it describes the mighty acts of God in delivering Israel from Egypt. These events are called "great temptations," which served as divine proofs of power, seen alongside signs and wonders (Deuteronomy 4:34, Deuteronomy 7:19). Secondly, it is used to describe humanity's testing of God, as when the Israelites hardened their hearts in the "day of temptation in the wilderness" Psalms 95:8. A distinct third usage appears in Job, where it refers to the trial of the innocent when faced with sudden disaster Job 9:23.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of a test or trial:

  • H5254 nâçâh (to test, prove, tempt): As the root verb, this word describes the act of testing. God "assayed" H5254 to take Israel from Egypt, an act described with the noun H4531 Deuteronomy 4:34.
  • H226 ʼôwth (sign, token, miracle): This word is frequently paired with H4531 to describe God's powerful acts in Egypt, which were not only trials but also signals of his divine authority Deuteronomy 29:3.
  • H4159 môwphêth (wonder, miracle, sign): Also appearing alongside H4531, this term emphasizes the miraculous nature of the tests God performed to deliver His people Deuteronomy 7:19.
  • H4808 mᵉrîybâh (provocation, strife): In Psalms 95:8, this word is used in parallel with H4531 to characterize Israel's testing of God as an act of contentious strife.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4531 is significant as it frames the relationship between God and humanity as one involving trials and proofs.

  • Divine Proving: The "great temptations" in Deuteronomy are God's demonstrations of His supreme power and faithfulness. He uses these trials to prove His ability to save His people with a "mighty hand" H2389 and "stretched out arm" H2220 Deuteronomy 7:19.
  • Human Provocation: The "day of temptation" H4531 in the wilderness represents humanity's faithless testing of God's patience and provision. It serves as a warning against hardening the heart H3824 Psalms 95:8.
  • Judicial Suffering: The concept also extends to the suffering of the righteous. In Job, the "trial of the innocent" H5355 is a test of integrity in the face of seemingly unjust calamity Job 9:23.

Summary

In summary, H4531 is a multifaceted term that encompasses more than just a simple test. It can refer to God's mighty acts of power designed to prove His sovereignty, the faithless challenges posed by humanity, and the severe trials endured by the righteous. The word illustrates how the same concept of a "test" can have radically different meanings depending on whether God or man is the one initiating it.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 5 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • מַסֹּת
  • מַסָּה
  • מַסַּת

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5254 נָסָה a primitive root; to test; by implication, to attempt; adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try. H226 אוֹת probably from אוּת (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as aflag, beacon, monument, omen, H4159 מוֹפֵת or מֹפֵת; from יָפָה in the sense of conspicuousness; a miracle; by implication, a token or omen; miracle, sign, wonder( H4808 מְרִיבָה from רִיב; quarrel; provocation, strife. H2389 חָזָק from חָזַק; strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold, violent); harder, hottest, [phrase] impudent, loud, mighty, sore, s H2220 זְרוֹעַ or (shortened) זְרֹעַ; and (feminine) זְרוֹעָה; or זְרֹעָה; from זָרַע; the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Deuteronomy (3 verses); never once in the other 36.

3
Deuteronomy
1
Job
1
Psalms

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.