מַהֲתַלָּה
𐤌𐤄𐤕𐤋𐤄
mahăthallâh
H4123 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A means or act of deception, ruse, device, or (abstractly) delusion; a contrivance intended to deceive, often implying artifice or trickery. In certain contexts, refers to an object or plan used to mislead another person.
Semantic Range
deceit, artifice, ruse, delusion, instrument of deception, trick, stratagem
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root הלת (h-t-l), which carries the sense of 'to mock, deceive, deal craftily.' The noun מַהֲתַלָּה is formed by adding the nominal prefix מַ and adjectival/abstract suffix ָה to the verbal root, creating a noun that denotes the act, means, or result of deceit or trickery. The root itself relates primarily to deception or mockery, rather than simple 'lying.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term מַהֲתַלָּה appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, with its meaning best established in passages like Job 13:9, where it refers to an act of deception or craft used in a rhetorical or legal context. It is distinct from other Hebrew terms for falsehood, such as שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, 'falsehood, lie'), by its greater focus on the means or device of deceit, often implying premeditated artifice or stratagem. Over time, the nuance of cunning trickery—rather than outright false statement—remained primary. In English translations, this term is variously rendered as 'deceit,' 'delusion,' or 'trick,' but such translations risk missing the emphasis on the contrivance or instrumentality of the deception. Its rarity and the context of its use indicate it is more formal or literary than common vocabulary in biblical Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from הָתַל; a delusion; deceit.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
הלת (h-t-l) — to deceive, to mock, to deal craftily
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4123-01 |
מַהֲתַלּֽוֹת | mahatalot | HNcfpa |
illusions | deceptive stratagems | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4123-01 |
Isaiah 30:10 | מַהֲתַלּֽוֹת | mahatalot | HNcfpa |
illusions | deceptive stratagems |