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H4871 · Hebrew · Old Testament
מָשָׁה
Mashah
Verb
To Draw Out (of Water)

Definition

The Hebrew verb mashah means to draw out, particularly from water. It occurs only 3 times in the OT, most notably as the etymology of the name Moses (H4872) — 'because I drew him out of the water' (Exodus 2:10). The word beautifully encapsulates Moses' destiny in his very name.

Usage & Theological Significance

The etymology of Moses from mashah is deeply theological. A Hebrew baby drawn from the Nile's waters would become the one who led Israel through the waters of the Red Sea. God's providential naming points to His sovereign plan. The act of drawing out (mashah) prefigures God's great act of drawing His people out of slavery. In Christian typology, Moses prefigures Christ — who draws humanity out of the waters of sin and death into new life.

Key Bible Verses

Exodus 2:10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, 'I drew him out of the water.'
2 Samuel 22:17 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
Psalm 18:16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land.
Isaiah 63:11 Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people — where is he who brought them through the sea?

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External Resources

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