The Hebrew word mashsheh, represented by H4874, refers to a debt. It appears 1 time across 1 unique verse in the Bible. Derived from the root word for lending, H5383, it is used within a specific legal phrase to identify a creditor.
The sole appearance of H4874 is in Deuteronomy 15:2, within the laws concerning the year of release. The verse outlines the required practice for every creditor to release the debt owed by a neighbour or brother. Here, the term is part of a compound phrase, H1167{H4874} H3027, which together signifies "Every creditor". This act of financial forgiveness is not optional but a commandment, as the verse concludes that this period "is called the LORD'S release" Deuteronomy 15:2.
Several related words illuminate the concept of debt and its release:
- H5383 nâshâh (to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest): This is the root verb from which H4874 is derived, establishing the core idea of a loan. It is used to describe a creditor who has come to take a widow's sons as bondmen 2 Kings 4:1.
- H1167 baʻal (a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner): This word denotes ownership or mastery and is used directly with H4874 to define the creditor as the owner of the debt Deuteronomy 15:2.
- H5065 nâgas (to drive... exact(-or), oppress(-or)): This describes the action a creditor is forbidden from taking during the year of release. The law states the creditor "shall not exact it of his neighbour" Deuteronomy 15:2, linking debt collection with potential oppression.
- H8059 shᵉmiṭṭâh (remission (of debt) or suspension of labor); release): This term defines the entire event in which H4874 is mentioned. The law concerns the "manner of the release" Deuteronomy 15:2, providing the direct context for the cancellation of debts.
The theological weight of H4874 is tied directly to the principles of social justice and divine authority in the Law.
- Divine Command over Commerce: The use of H4874 within the law of release shows that financial dealings are under God's jurisdiction. The cancellation of the debt is mandated because it is "the LORD'S release" Deuteronomy 15:2.
- Protection of the Community: The law prevents the cycle of debt from permanently impoverishing members of the community, specifically a "neighbour" H7453 or a "brother" H251, reinforcing the importance of kinship and mutual support.
- Sabbath Principle Extended: The concept of the shmittah H8059, where debts H4874 are released, extends the Sabbath idea of rest to the economic sphere, preventing relentless extraction (nagas, H5065) and reminding the people that ultimate ownership belongs to the LORD H3068.
In summary, H4874 mashsheh is a highly specific term for "debt" that appears only once to define the role of a "creditor" within the law of the Sabbatical release. Its significance lies not in its frequency, but in its context: it anchors a key command about economic justice, forgiveness, and the recognition of the LORD's ultimate authority over all aspects of life, including financial obligations between brothers.
TRV