The Hebrew word mashshâʼ, represented by H4855, refers to a loan or, by implication, the interest on a debt. Derived from the root נָשָׁה (nashah), its meaning is focused on the concepts of exaction and usury. It appears 2 times in 2 unique verses, both occurring within the same chapter of the Bible.
Both uses of mashshâʼ are found in the book of Nehemiah, where Nehemiah confronts the nobles and rulers of Israel for their unjust financial practices. He rebukes them, saying, “Ye exact usury, every one of his brother” Nehemiah 5:7. The term is used to identify the specific sin of charging interest to fellow Israelites, which was causing hardship. Nehemiah then includes himself and his servants in the call for reform, pleading, “let us leave off this usury” Nehemiah 5:10, making it central to his efforts to end the exaction of usury from their brethren.
The theological significance of mashshâʼ is tied directly to principles of covenant community and brotherly dealing.
- Covenantal Responsibility: The condemnation of usury is not merely a financial regulation but a moral command rooted in the relationship between covenant “brethren” H251. It forbids the exploitation of one Israelite by another Nehemiah 5:7.
- Righteous Leadership: Nehemiah's confrontation demonstrates that godly leaders are responsible for defending the poor and correcting economic injustice. He rebuked H7378 the powerful for their practices, setting a standard for just rule.
- Repentance in Action: The call to leave off H5800 this usury shows that repentance requires a tangible change in behavior. It was not enough to acknowledge the wrong; the oppressive action itself had to cease Nehemiah 5:10.
In summary, mashshâʼ is a highly specific term for usury or exaction. Though used only twice, its appearance in Nehemiah 5 is pivotal. It encapsulates the injustice of profiting from the hardship of a fellow community member, a practice Nehemiah condemned as part of his restoration of the covenant community in Jerusalem. The word illustrates the biblical principle that financial dealings must be governed by justice and kinship, not exploitation.
