מַס
mas (H4522)
taskworker
AI Word Study
# Analysis of Hebrew מַס (mas) The Hebrew word *mas* denotes a **taskworker**—an individual bound to perform labor obligations, typically under compulsion or governmental requirement. With 23 biblical occurrences, this term appears with sufficient frequency to warrant attention as a meaningful economic and social category in ancient Israelite society. The designation "taskworker" indicates a specific social position distinguished from general labor or voluntary service. Rather than describing work itself, *mas* identifies a person in a particular status: someone assigned to fulfill labor duties, often as part of taxation or state obligation. This distinction is significant because it reflects hierarchical structures within ancient Near Eastern societies where certain individuals or groups were designated for mandatory service to rulers or institutions. The relatively modest number of occurrences (23 times) suggests that while taskworker status was a recognized social reality, it was not the dominant mode of labor organization described in biblical texts. The word's presence across these texts indicates that compulsory labor systems formed a notable, if not primary, feature of biblical-era societies—relevant to understanding administrative practices, economic structures, and social organization in ancient Israel and neighboring regions.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bows his shoulder to the burden, and becomes a servant doing forced labor.
Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.
It shall be, if it gives you answer of peace and opens to you, then it shall be that all the people who are found therein shall become forced laborers to you, and shall serve you.
They didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this day, and have become servants to do forced labor.
When the children of Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out.
When Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out.
Zebulun didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.
Naphtali didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and of Beth Anath became subject to forced labor.
but the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim. Yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to forced labor.
Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,
Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; for a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor.
This is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised, to build Yahweh’s house, his own house, Millo, Jerusalem’s wall, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, of them Solomon raised a levy of bondservants to this day.
Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
of their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn’t consume, of them Solomon conscripted forced labor to this day.
Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and the children of Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land, and on the islands of the sea.
The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.
“The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor.
How the city sits solitary, that was full of people! She has become as a widow, who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a slave!