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Mash

biblical_proper_name theological_term standard

Mash is a biblical proper name appearing in the Old Testament genealogies, where it is listed among the sons of Aram.

At a Glance

A biblical proper name in the Table of Nations, listed among the sons of Aram.

Key Points

Description

Mash is a biblical proper name that appears in the Table of Nations and the parallel genealogy in 1 Chronicles. In Genesis 10:23 and 1 Chronicles 1:17 it is listed among the descendants of Aram. Scripture does not provide additional narrative, geographic, or theological detail about Mash, so the safest treatment is as a brief genealogical entry. It is not a theological concept, doctrine, or moral category, but a name preserved within the Bible's record of peoples and family lines.

Biblical Context

Mash appears in the genealogical lists associated with Aram in Genesis 10 and 1 Chronicles 1. These lists trace the spread of nations and families after the flood and help frame the Bible's account of human history.

Historical Context

Outside the two genealogical notices, Scripture provides no historical narrative about Mash. As with several names in the Table of Nations, the figure is significant mainly for its place in the biblical record of ancient peoples.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient Jewish readers would have encountered names like Mash as part of the Bible's larger concern with ancestry, tribal identity, and the origins of nations. The text itself does not explain the name beyond its place in the genealogy.

Primary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew proper name, transliterated Mash; the precise etymology is uncertain from the biblical data alone.

Theological Significance

Mash has little direct theological content, but it contributes to the Bible's broader witness that God governs the history of peoples and nations, even in brief genealogical notices.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper name, Mash has historical rather than conceptual meaning. Its importance lies in identification and continuity within the biblical record, not in abstract doctrine.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not build doctrine or detailed historical speculation on a name that Scripture mentions only briefly. The biblical text does not identify Mash beyond its genealogical setting.

Major Views

There is little interpretive debate because the name appears only in two parallel genealogical texts. Any further identification is necessarily tentative and should remain modest.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Mash should not be treated as a theological term or used to support doctrinal conclusions. Its role is genealogical and historical only.

Practical Significance

Mash reminds readers that Scripture preserves even obscure names within God's redemptive-historical record. The Bible's genealogies are part of its testimony to real people, real nations, and real history.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Mash

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