English · KJV
H4871

מָשָׁה

mâshâh /maw-shaw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto pull out (literally or figuratively)
KJV usagedraw(out).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâshâh — 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 mâshâh, represented by H4871, is a primitive root meaning to pull out or draw(out). Despite its significant role in a key biblical narrative, it is a very rare term, appearing only 3 times across 3 unique verses in the entire Bible. Its meaning is tied to the concept of rescue and extraction, both literally and figuratively.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The primary use of H4871 is found in the origin story of Moses. In Exodus 2:10, Pharaoh's daughter names the child she found, stating, "Because I drew him out of the water." This single, literal act gives the future deliverer of Israel his name, forever associating him with being pulled from a place of peril. The other two occurrences are identical, found in a song of deliverance in both 2 Samuel 22:17 and Psalms 18:16. In these verses, the psalmist declares that God "drew me out of many waters," using the phrase as a powerful metaphor for divine rescue from overwhelming trouble.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which H4871 is used:

  • H4325 mayim (water): This word is present in every occurrence of H4871, representing the literal river in Exodus and a figurative symbol of chaos or distress in the psalms. It is the element from which a person is drawn out Exodus 2:10.
  • H7971 shâlach (to send away, for, or out): In the context of divine rescue, this word describes God's initiating action. He first must "send from above" before He can draw the person out of the waters Psalms 18:16.
  • H3947 lâqach (to take): This word appears alongside H4871 in the psalms of deliverance, creating a sequence of actions: God sends, He takes, and He draws out 2 Samuel 22:17. It emphasizes the active and personal nature of the rescue.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4871 is centered on the theme of divine salvation.

  • Foundational Identity: The word is intrinsically linked to the identity of Moses, whose life is defined by being "drawn out" to become the rescuer of his people. His personal story begins with the very act that will later define his mission Exodus 2:10.
  • Metaphor for Rescue: The literal act of being drawn from water becomes a powerful symbol for God's deliverance. The "many waters" in the psalms represent any overwhelming threat—be it enemies, despair, or chaos—from which only God can pull a person to safety Psalms 18:16.
  • Divine Intervention: The use of H4871 consistently portrays a rescue that comes from a higher power. Whether it is Pharaoh's daughter reaching down or God sending from on high, the one being drawn out is passive and entirely dependent on the deliverer.

Summary

In summary, while extremely rare, H4871 is a critical word for understanding the biblical concept of deliverance. It forms the basis for the name of Moses, Israel's great leader, and provides a lasting metaphor for God's power to rescue His people from life-threatening circumstances. The journey of this word from a literal event to a figurative expression of salvation shows how personal history can become a cornerstone of theological truth.

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 verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • יַמְשֵׁ
  • מְשִׁיתִ

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.

H4325 מַיִם dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase H7971 שָׁלַח a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on t H3947 לָקַח a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, in

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 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus, 2 Samuel, and Psalms (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
Exodus
1
2 Samuel
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.