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Hebrew Word of the Day

מַסֵּכָה

Meaning: mask, disguise, idol

Translit: ma•se•cah

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‘Ma•se•cha’ in modern Hebrew means only a mask or disguise. You can tell the sound similarity between the Hebrew and the English words. In biblical Hebrew, this word means an idol. Interestingly, most Bibles translate it as molten gods. More interesting is the fact that all of these idols are mostly no more than calfs. To be more precise, young male calfs. ‘Ma•se•cha,’ as a mask, was and is still being used very commonly in the spiritual rituals of many religions. You may find them around the globe, including in North and South America. The Latin word is almost identical to that of the Hebrew: ‘masca.’ The most ancient idol/mask was found in Hebron, Israel, and is assumed to be from 7000 BC. If you ever visit Israel Museum in Jerusalem, you can see it exhibited there.

‘Ma•se•cha’ probably comes from the Hebrew root: ‘m.s.ch’, which means ‘to hide’ or ‘a screen.’ The word appears only in the Old Testament. For example,

“They have turned aside quickly from the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt'”

Exodus 32:8

The modern word used for either theater, movie, or computer screens is ‘ma•sach,’ which is also a derivative from ‘ma•se•cha.’

‘Ma•se•cha’ in modern Hebrew means only a mask or disguise. You can tell the sound similarity between the Hebrew and the English words. In biblical Hebrew, this word means an idol. Interestingly, most Bibles translate it as molten gods. More interesting is the fact that all of these idols are mostly no more than calfs. To be more precise, young male calfs. ‘Ma•se•cha,’ as a mask, was and is still being used very commonly in the spiritual rituals of many religions. You may find them around the globe, including in North and South America. The Latin word is almost identical to that of the Hebrew: ‘masca.’ The most ancient idol/mask was found in Hebron, Israel, and is assumed to be from 7000 BC. If you ever visit Israel Museum in Jerusalem, you can see it exhibited there.

‘Ma•se•cha’ probably comes from the Hebrew root: ‘m.s.ch’, which means ‘to hide’ or ‘a screen.’ The word appears only in the Old Testament. For example,

“They have turned aside quickly from the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt'”

Exodus 32:8

The modern word used for either theater, movie, or computer screens is ‘ma•sach,’ which is also a derivative from ‘ma•se•cha.’