מָתַ֥י
𐤌𐤕𐤉
matay
When
from an unused root meaning to extend; properly, extent (of time); but used only adverbially (especially with other particle prefixes), when (either relative or interrogative); long, when.
H4970
Proverbs 23:35 · Word #7
Lexicon H4970
| Lemma | מָתַי |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤌𐤕𐤉 |
| Transliteration | mâthay |
| Strong's | H4970 |
| In-context | When |
Morphology HTi
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | T — Particle — Function word |
| Subtype | i — Interrogative — Interrogative |
SIBI-P1 H4970-01
at-what-time?
| Root | מתה (m-t-h) |
| Core Meanings | extension, stretch, duration, temporal extent |
| Semantic Range | when?, at what time?, how long?, whenever (in relative usage) |
| Conceptual Significance | Frequently used in laments and prophetic appeals, מָתַי gives voice to human longing for divine intervention or clarity about God’s timing. It frames questions of delay, patience, and expectation within Israel’s covenant relationship with YHWH. |
| Morphological Notes | Interrogative adverb (HTi), indeclinable. Often appears with prepositions or particles (e.g., עַד־מָתַי "until when?"), functioning either as a direct question or in indirect/relative clauses. |
| Rendering Rationale | מָתַי is an interrogative particle derived from a root conveying temporal extension or duration. Rendering it as "at-what-time?" preserves both its interrogative force and its underlying sense of asking about the extent or point of time. As an indeclinable interrogative adverb (HTi), it carries no gender or number distinctions. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Word Usage (43 occurrences of H4970)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 30:30 | מָתַ֛י | matay | when |
| Exodus 8:5 | לְ/מָתַ֣י | lematay | for when |
| Exodus 10:3 | מָתַ֣י | matay | until when |