The Hebrew word masrêth, represented by H4958, refers to a pan. According to its base definition, it appears to come from an unused root that means to perforate or hollow out. This term is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time across 1 unique verse in the Bible.
The sole biblical appearance of H4958 is in the tragic narrative of Tamar and Amnon in 2 Samuel 13:9. In this context, Tamar uses a pan to prepare food for her half-brother. The verse states that "she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat." Here, the word denotes a specific, physical cooking or serving vessel used within a domestic setting, central to the scene's action.
The single verse where masrêth appears connects it to several key action words that define its function in the narrative:
- H3947 lâqach (to take): This verb initiates the action in the verse, as Tamar "took" the pan to serve from it. This simple act of taking the vessel is the pivot point of the scene 2 Samuel 13:9.
- H3332 yâtsaq (to pour out): This word describes the primary function of the pan in the passage. After taking the pan, Tamar "poured" its contents out, an action directly linked to the vessel itself 2 Samuel 13:9.
- H398 ʼâkal (to eat): The purpose of preparing food in the pan was for consumption. This is highlighted by Amnon's refusal "to eat," which signals his ulterior motives and rejects the hospitality the pan was used to offer 2 Samuel 13:9.
While H4958 itself has no direct theological weight due to its limited use, the verbs associated with its function in 2 Samuel 13:9 carry significant meaning elsewhere in Scripture.
- The Act of Pouring: The associated verb yâtsaq H3332 is used metaphorically for divine blessing and anointing. God promises to "pour" out His spirit Isaiah 44:3, and oil is "poured" upon the heads of those consecrated for leadership, such as kings and priests (1 Samuel 10:1, Leviticus 21:10).
- The Act of Taking: The verb lâqach H3947 is frequently used to describe God's sovereign actions. The LORD "hath taken away" Job 1:21, and He is the one who can "take" a nation for Himself from the midst of another Deuteronomy 4:34.
- The Act of Eating: The refusal to ʼâkal H398 in the pan's context contrasts sharply with the positive spiritual imagery of eating elsewhere. Scripture speaks of the joy of eating God's words Jeremiah 15:16 and the promise that the righteous "shall eat the fruit of their doings" Isaiah 3:10.
In summary, H4958 is a simple, functional word for a pan. Its importance is tied exclusively to its role in the narrative of 2 Samuel 13:9. The object itself is mundane, but its significance is illuminated by the associated actions of taking, pouring, and eating. These verbs are used in far broader and more profound ways throughout the Bible, connecting the simple domestic tool to larger themes of divine anointing, sovereign action, and spiritual nourishment.
TRV