ma.sas describes melting, especially hearts losing resolve, and also material things or strength wasting away.

The verb commonly describes a heart losing firmness in fear or distress; it also depicts material things melting or coming apart, and can portray strength or vitality wasting away.

1. Hearts losing courage or firmness · dominant

   In Deuteronomy 1:28, the Hiphil perfect describes the brothers' report affecting “our heart,” while Niphal forms in Joshua 2:11, Joshua 5:1, and Isaiah 13:7 describe hearts melting in response to what is heard or faced. In Joshua 7:5, the people's heart melts and becomes like water after defeat.

   Deuteronomy 1:28Deuteronomy 20:8Joshua 2:11Joshua 5:1Joshua 7:5Isaiah 13:7
2. Material melting or dissolution · common

   The Niphal perfect in Exodus 16:21 concerns what happens when the sun grows hot; the APB renders the clause “it melted.” In Judges 15:14, Samson's bonds melt from his hands, while mountains melt in Isaiah 34:3, Micah 1:4, and Psalm 97:5.

   Exodus 16:21Judges 15:14Isaiah 34:3Micah 1:4Psalm 97:5
3. Wasting away or losing strength · occasional

   Isaiah 10:18 places the Qal infinitive construct in a comparison of melting and wasting away as glory is consumed. In Psalm 112:10 the wicked person “melts away,” and Psalm 22:15 describes the speaker's strength as withered; these clauses show a portrayal of collapse or depletion rather than a physical object liquefying.

   Isaiah 10:18Psalm 112:10Psalm 22:15

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB often uses “melted” or “melts,” especially for hearts, mountains, and the manna; it also uses “melts away,” “wastes away,” and “withered” in contexts of depletion. These renderings confirm the clauses' overall portrayal rather than assigning each English expression precisely to the Hebrew form.