משאב

Where it comes from

Biblical hapax legomenon derived from שָׁאַב (sha'áv, “to draw water”) and not attested in Mishnaic Hebrew. The original meaning of this word is not conclusive, however two interpretations are possible depending on whether it is to be understood in a passive or active sense. In the former, which is favored by some modern scholars such as Gesenius or Klein and the Vulgata, it refers to watering troughs for cattle, as water was drawn into them (passive sense). The other case interprets the word to refer to something which draws water like a well (active sense) or where water is drawn by someone, and seems to have been the understanding of later Rabbinic commentators. Given that it only occurs inside a poetic and archaic section of the Tanach, it may be reasonable to assume it to have been a more imaginative term for wells and springs or perhaps a neologism to characterize them based on their purpose.

Curiously, all of the extant Greek translation of this passage understand this word to be a pi'el participle in the form of מְשָׁאְבִים (m'sha'evím, “drawers of water”), which could suggest that the Tiberian vocalization might be erroneous.

There's furthermore a lack of unity among the translators as to how to translate this participle, with some manuscripts of the Septuagint rendering it in the most obvious and direct way as ὑδρευόμενοι (hudreuómenoi, “lit. drawers of water”), but other ones deviate by preferring εὐφραινόμενοι (euphrainómenoi, literally “rejoicing”) and Symmachos following suit with συμπίνοντες (sumpínontes, literally “holding a banquet, celebrating”). Aquilas again takes another approach and sees it as καταλέγοντες (katalégontes, literally “telling, narrating”).

The modern meaning as "resource" has its origin in the latter view; just as a well is used for the purpose of drawing water, so are resources used to achieve a certain objective or goal.