מַטֵּ֣ה
𐤌𐤈𐤄
maṭṭeh
the tribe
A staff, rod, or branch, typically of wood, often used as a physical implement for support, authority, correction, or symbolic representation. By metonymy, it also designates a division or subdivision of the Israelite tribes, i.e., a clan or tribal group (particularly in census and land allocation contexts).
mat-taw' "a branch" (Akan Twi)Numbers 2:5 · Word #3
Lexicon H4294
| Lemma | מַטֶּה |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤌𐤈𐤄 |
| Transliteration | maṭṭeh |
| Strong's | H4294 |
| Definition | A staff, rod, or branch, typically of wood, often used as a physical implement for support, authority, correction, or symbolic representation. By metonymy, it also designates a division or subdivision of the Israelite tribes, i.e., a clan or tribal group (particularly in census and land allocation contexts). |
Morphology HNcmsc
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 |
Common Translation
| Phrase | the tribe |
SIBI-P1 Translation H4294-09
staff-branch
| Morphological Notes | Noun, masculine singular, absolute state. |
| Rendering Rationale | This rendering reflects the core idea of something stretched out or extended from the root נטה. "Staff" preserves the primary physical sense, while "branch" captures the extended, lineage-based development inherent in the noun’s semantic range; the singular masculine absolute form is reflected in the singular English noun. |
View full lexicon entry for H4294 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
tribe
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | Here, the metonymic sense is intended—the group or tribe, not a literal staff or branch. The context is describing the tribe's arrangement, so 'tribe' is both more accurate and contextually required. |
Bantu Hebrew
מַטֵּ֣ה (maṭṭeh) — A staff, rod, or branch, typically of wood, often used as a physical implement for support, authority, correction, or symbolic representation. By metonymy, it also designates a division or subdivision of the Israelite tribes, i.e., a clan or tribal group (particularly in census and land allocation contexts).
| Word | Meaning | Language |
|---|---|---|
| mat-taw' | a branch | Akan Twi |