ma.shash denotes feeling or probing by touch, including searching through objects or groping when sight fails.

The verb most often describes tactile examination or searching: Isaac feels Jacob, and Laban searches through a tent and goods. It also depicts groping when darkness prevents sight, while Exodus 10:21 applies it to darkness that may be experienced by touch.

1. Examine or search by touch · dominant

   In Genesis 27:12 and Genesis 27:22, the Qal forms concern Isaac feeling Jacob in order to assess him. In Genesis 31:34 and Genesis 31:37, Piel forms occur as Laban searches through the tent and Jacob's goods; the APB renders these clauses "felt through all the tent" and "felt through all my goods."

   Genesis 27:12Genesis 27:22Genesis 31:34Genesis 31:37
2. Grope when darkness obstructs sight · common

   Deuteronomy 28:29 places two forms in the comparison of groping at midday as a blind person gropes in darkness. Job 5:14 and Job 12:25 likewise place Piel imperfect plurals amid darkness and lack of light; the APB renders "feel at midday" and "grope in darkness without light."

   Deuteronomy 28:29Job 5:14Job 12:25
3. Darkness experienced as tangible · rare

   In Exodus 10:21, the Hiphil imperfect occurs in the command concerning darkness over Egypt; the APB renders the resulting clause "and darkness may be felt."

   Exodus 10:21

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB varies between "feel," "felt through," "grope," and "darkness may be felt" across these clauses. Because it translates whole verses rather than aligning individual words, these renderings show the contexts rather than fixed English equivalents.