וּ/מַטֵּ֥ה
𐤅/𐤌𐤈𐤄
umateh
and staff
or (feminine) מַטָּה; from נָטָה; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread); rod, staff, tribe.
Numbers 17:21 · Word #21
Lexicon H4294
| Lemma | מַטֶּה |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤌𐤈𐤄 |
| Transliteration | maṭṭeh |
| Strong's | H4294 |
| In-context | and staff |
Morphology HC/Ncmsc
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | c — Construct — The noun is bound to the following word |
SIBI-P1 H4294-18
and rod-of
| Root | נטה (n-ṭ-h) |
| Core Meanings | to stretch out, extend, spread, incline, bend |
| Semantic Range | rod, staff, branch, tribal branch (tribe), scepter, instrument of chastening, symbol of authority, support of life |
| Conceptual Significance | מַטֶּה functions both as a literal staff or rod and as a metaphor for tribal identity—an extended branch of a family line. It symbolizes authority (scepter), discipline (rod), guidance (shepherd’s staff), and the structural organization of Israel into tribes, each an extension of a patriarchal line. |
| Morphological Notes | Conjunction וּ prefixed to a masculine singular noun in the construct state (מַטֶּה) from the root נטה. Construct form indicates possession or close association with a following noun. |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun מַטֶּה derives from the root נטה (“to stretch out, extend”), referring to something extended such as a rod or staff. The form is masculine singular construct (Ncmsc) with a prefixed conjunction וּ (“and”), so "and rod-of" preserves both the construct relationship (“of”) and the singular masculine form while retaining the concrete sense of something extended. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root נטה (to stretch out, extend, spread, incline, bend)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H328-01 |
at | I have stretched out |
H5186-02 |
ateh | I will stretch out |
H4294-01 |
bamateh | in the staff |
Word Usage (252 occurrences of H4294)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 38:18 | וּ/מַטְּ/ךָ֖ | umatekha | and your staff |
| Genesis 38:25 | וְ/הַ/מַּטֶּ֖ה | vehamateh | and the staff |
| Exodus 4:2 | מַטֶּֽה | mateh | a staff |