Massah, a place in the wilderness where the Israelites tested the Lord by demanding water (Exodus 17:7; Deu.6.16; 9:22; 33:8; Psalm 95:8).
Also known as temptation
Massah was a location in the wilderness where the Israelites quarreled with Moses and tested the Lord by demanding water (Exodus 17:7). The name Massah means "testing" or "temptation." At this place, the people grumbled against Moses, questioning whether the Lord was among them or not. Moses, following God's instructions, struck the rock at Horeb, and water came out for the people to drink (Exodus 17:5-6). The incident at Massah is later recalled as an example of Israel's rebellion and lack of faith (Deu.6.16; 9:22; 33:8; Psalm 95:8), serving as a warning for future generations not to test the Lord.
Approximate location: 28.731, 33.842 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
Trial, temptation, a name given to the place where the Israelites, by their murmuring for want of water, provoked Jehovah to anger against them. It is also called Meribah (Ex. 17:7; Deut. 6:16; Ps. 95:8, 9; Heb. 3:8).
(temptation), a name given to the spot, also called Meribah, where the Israelites tempted Jehovah. (Exodus 16:7; Psalms 95:8,9; Hebrews 3:8)
MAS'SAH (temptation), a name given to the place, also called Meribah, where the Israelites tempted Jehovah. Ex 17:7; Ps 95:8-9; Heb 3:8. MAS'TER is in our translation often the rendering of a Greek word meaning "teacher," Luke 6:40; John 3:10; hence its frequent application to our Lord. Matt 22:16, Jud 6:24, Eze 23:36, etc.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
5 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H4532
He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.
You continued to provoke the LORD at Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah.
Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.
do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness,
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.