from נָשָׁה; a loan; by implication, interest on adebt; exaction, usury.
Transliteration:mashshâʼ
Pronunciation:mash-shaw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H4855 (מַשָּׁא - mashshâʼ) is derived from the verbal root נָשָׁה (nashah) `{{H5383}}`. This root carries a dual semantic range, meaning both "to lend" and "to exact" or "to defraud." Consequently, mashshâʼ can denote "a loan" or "a debt." However, its specific usage in the biblical text strongly emphasizes the latter, more negative aspect: "interest on a debt," "usury," or "exaction." This suggests that while a loan itself is not inherently negative, the *manner* of its exaction or the *demand* for oppressive interest transforms the transaction into an act of injustice. The word thus encapsulates the concept of a financial burden, often one that is unfairly imposed or excessively demanded.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term mashshâʼ `{{H4855}}` appears exclusively in the book of Nehemiah, specifically in chapter 5, where it is central to the account of social and economic injustice among the returned exiles.
* In [[Nehemiah 5:7]], Nehemiah confronts the nobles and officials, declaring, "You are exacting usury, each from his brother!" Here, mashshâʼ clearly refers to the practice of charging interest, which was prohibited among Israelites according to Mosaic Law (e.g., [[Exodus 22:25]], [[Leviticus 25:36-37]], [[Deuteronomy 23:19-20]]). The phrase highlights the exploitative nature of the practice, preying on the financial vulnerability of fellow countrymen.
* The condemnation continues in [[Nehemiah 5:10]], where Nehemiah, acknowledging his own lending activities, states, "I also, with my brothers and my servants, are lending them money and grain. Please let us abandon this usury." This verse underscores that the issue was not lending per se, but the *usurious* nature of the mashshâʼ—the oppressive interest or terms attached to the loans. Nehemiah's personal example serves as a powerful call for ethical conduct.
* Finally, in [[Nehemiah 5:11]], Nehemiah demands restitution: "Please restore to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, and the hundredth part of money, grain, wine, and oil that you are exacting from them as usury." This verse specifies the extent of the mashshâʼ, indicating a regular "hundredth part" (likely a monthly interest rate, amounting to 12% annually) that was being exacted, leading to the loss of ancestral lands and homes—a direct violation of the covenant ideal of land retention.
The consistent usage in Nehemiah 5 reveals mashshâʼ as a term for an oppressive economic practice that violated both the spirit and letter of the Mosaic Law, leading to severe social stratification and hardship within the post-exilic community.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of mashshâʼ `{{H4855}}` is enriched by its relationship to several other Hebrew terms and broader biblical concepts:
* **נָשָׁה (nashah) `{{H5383}}`**: As the root verb, nashah captures the action of "lending" but also the more forceful "exacting" or "defrauding." Mashshâʼ is the noun form that embodies this latter, negative implication, referring to the oppressive demand or the usurious loan itself.
* **נֶשֶׁךְ (neshekh) `{{H5392}}`**: This is a more common and direct term for "interest" or "usury." It often appears in legal contexts prohibiting the taking of interest from fellow Israelites (e.g., [[Exodus 22:25]], [[Leviticus 25:36]], [[Deuteronomy 23:19]]). While neshekh refers to the interest itself, mashshâʼ in Nehemiah refers to the *act* of exacting such interest or the *loan* that includes it, highlighting the oppressive nature of the transaction. The two terms are conceptually intertwined in the biblical condemnation of exploitative lending.
* **תַּרְבִּית (tarbith) `{{H8636}}`**: Another term for "increase" or "interest," also prohibited in contexts of lending to the poor (e.g., [[Leviticus 25:37]]). Like neshekh, it refers to the gain itself, while mashshâʼ focuses on the oppressive demand.
* **מִלְוֶה (milveh) `{{H4455}}`**: This term denotes a "loan" in a more neutral sense, without the inherent negative connotation of mashshâʼ.
* **Social Justice and Compassion**: The biblical condemnation of mashshâʼ and neshekh is deeply rooted in the broader Mosaic legal framework that prioritizes social justice, the protection of the poor and vulnerable, and the maintenance of a compassionate, communal society within the covenant. The laws aimed to prevent economic disparity from destroying the fabric of the Israelite community, emphasizing mutual support over exploitation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of mashshâʼ `{{H4855}}` lies in its illumination of God's character and His ethical demands upon His people. The condemnation of mashshâʼ in Nehemiah, consistent with the broader Mosaic Law, reveals several key theological truths:
1. **God's Concern for Justice and the Poor**: The prohibition against usury and the strong rebuke against its practice demonstrate God's profound concern for the economic well-being of the vulnerable. Exploitative lending practices, which lead to debt-slavery and loss of livelihood, are an affront to divine justice. God champions the cause of the oppressed and calls His people to reflect His own righteousness in their economic dealings.
2. **Covenantal Solidarity**: Within the covenant community, economic relationships were meant to be characterized by mutual support and compassion, not exploitation. Mashshâʼ represents a breakdown of this covenantal solidarity, where self-interest overrides the welfare of one's "brother." It underscores that God's law extends beyond ritual to encompass the ethical foundations of social and economic life.
3. **The Nature of Righteousness**: True righteousness, as revealed in Scripture, is not merely adherence to ritual but also includes ethical conduct in daily life, especially concerning the treatment of one's neighbor. The practice of mashshâʼ is presented as a sin, demonstrating that economic exploitation is a moral failing in God's eyes, requiring repentance and restitution.
4. **Redemption and Restoration**: Nehemiah's demand for the restoration of land and property lost due to mashshâʼ highlights God's desire for not just the cessation of sin, but also for active steps towards restoration and the reversal of injustice. This reflects a divine pattern of redemption that seeks to heal broken relationships and restore what was lost.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H4855 (מַשָּׁא - mashshâʼ) primarily denotes a "loan" or "debt," but its biblical usage, particularly in Nehemiah 5, strongly emphasizes the negative connotation of "usury" or "exaction of interest." It refers to an oppressive economic practice where creditors exploited their fellow Israelites by demanding excessive or prohibited interest on loans. This practice led to severe social injustice, including debt-slavery and the loss of ancestral lands, directly violating the spirit and letter of the Mosaic Law. Theologically, mashshâʼ serves as a powerful biblical indictment of economic exploitation, underscoring God's unwavering commitment to social justice, His profound concern for the poor and vulnerable, and His call for His covenant people to live with integrity, compassion, and communal solidarity in all their dealings. The condemnation of mashshâʼ highlights that true righteousness extends to economic ethics and that God demands both the cessation of injustice and active steps toward restitution.
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