הַ/מַּטֶּֽה
𐤄/𐤌𐤈𐤄
hamateh
the tribe
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 34:13 · Word #20
Lexicon H4294
| Lemma | מַטֶּה |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤌𐤈𐤄 |
| Transliteration | maṭṭeh |
| Strong's | H4294 |
| In-context | the tribe |
Morphology HTd/Ncmsa
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 | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
SIBI-P1 H4294-04
the extended-branch
| Root | נטה (n-ṭ-h) |
| Core Meanings | to stretch out, extend, incline, spread |
| Semantic Range | staff, rod, sceptre, branch, tribal division, support (figuratively), instrument of rule or correction |
| Conceptual Significance | מַטֶּה expresses the idea of extension from a source—whether a physical staff extended from the hand, authority extended in rule, or a tribe as an extended branch of a patriarchal house. It reflects Israel’s self-understanding as branching families descended from a common ancestor and highlights themes of authority, lineage, and divinely ordered structure. |
| Morphological Notes | Noun common masculine singular absolute with prefixed definite article (הַ). Derived from the verbal root נטה. Though occasionally attested in a feminine form (מַטָּה), this lemma is masculine here. |
| Rendering Rationale | מַטֶּה derives from the root נטה (“to stretch out, extend”), originally denoting something extended, such as a branch or staff. By extension it refers to a tribal branch of a larger family. The form הַמַּטֶּה is masculine singular absolute with the definite article, hence “the extended-branch,” preserving both the root imagery and the singular definite morphology. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root נטה (to stretch out, extend, incline, spread)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H5186-01 |
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 |