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מַחְתָּה

𐤌𐤇𐤕𐤄

machtâh

H4289 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מחה to wipe, remove, carry away

Definition

A shallow vessel, typically of metal, used to carry burning coals, incense, or ashes. In priestly contexts, specifically designates the implement for transporting live coals for ritual purposes, such as offering incense. The semantic range extends to firepan, censer, incense pan, or ash pan, depending on context.

Semantic Range

firepan (for live coals), censer (incense pan), ash pan, vessel for removing coals or ashes, implement for carrying fire in ritual context

Root / Etymology

Root מָחָה (machah), meaning 'to wipe, sweep, or remove.' The noun מַחְתָּה derives from this root and refers to an implement that removes or carries away ashes or coals. Although related morphologically to מְחִתָּה (terror, destruction), the semantic development here is from the act of removing (e.g., ashes, cinders) rather than instilling fear.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Priestly texts (e.g., Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers), מַחְתָּה is the designated vessel for handling burning coals, especially for the incense offering (cf. Leviticus 16:12, Numbers 16:6–7). Its use is mostly cultic, but domestic or utilitarian firepans are also conceivable. English translations alternate between 'censer,' 'firepan,' or 'snuffdish,' but 'censer' is technically accurate only in incense-offering contexts; elsewhere, 'firepan' better preserves the original. In Levitical ritual, the distinction between מַחְתָּה (for coals/incense) and other vessels (e.g., bowls for sacrificial blood) is explicit. The word is not a designation for a 'snuffer' or candle wick-trimmer (unlike מְזָמֵרָה or מְנֹרָה accessories). The translation 'snuffdish' is an older English rendering reflecting misunderstanding of temple furnishings. In post-exilic and later Jewish usage, מַחְתָּה became less common, supplanting terms with more specific cultic associations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as מְחִתָּה in the sense of removal; a pan for live coals; censer, firepan, snuffdish.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מחה (m-ḥ-h) — wipe, remove, sweep away, carry off

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4220 מֵחַ fat portions
H4229 מָחָה I will wipe out
H4239 מְחִי and striking-ram of
H4287 מַחַת Machath

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4289-02 הַ/מַּחְתֹּ֑ת hamachetot HTd/Ncfpa the firepans the coal-removal pans 5
H4289-03 מַחְתָּת֗/וֹ machetato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his censer his coal-removal pan 5
H4289-04 מַחְתּ֔וֹת machetot HNcfpa censers coal-removal firepans 4
H4289-01 הַ֠/מַּחְתָּה hamachetah HTd/Ncfsa the firepan the coal-removal pan 2
H4289-07 וּ/מַחְתֹּתֶ֖י/הָ umachetoteyha HC/Ncfpc/Sp3fs and its trays and her firepans 2
H4289-08 וְ/הַ/מַּחְתּ֖וֹת vehamachetot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the censers and the firepans 2
H4289-06 וּ/מַחְתֹּתָ֑י/ו umachetotayv HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms and its firepans and his firepans 1
H4289-05 מַחְתֹּתֶ֑י/הָ machetoteyha HNcfpc/Sp3fs its trays her firepans 1

Occurrences in Scripture

22 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4289-07 Exodus 25:38 וּ/מַחְתֹּתֶ֖י/הָ umachetoteyha HC/Ncfpc/Sp3fs and its trays and her firepans
H4289-06 Exodus 27:3 וּ/מַחְתֹּתָ֑י/ו umachetotayv HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms and its firepans and his firepans
H4289-07 Exodus 37:23 וּ/מַחְתֹּתֶ֖י/הָ umachetoteyha HC/Ncfpc/Sp3fs and its trays and her firepans
H4289-02 Exodus 38:3 הַ/מַּחְתֹּ֑ת hamachetot HTd/Ncfpa the firepans the coal-removal pans
H4289-03 Leviticus 10:1 מַחְתָּת֗/וֹ machetato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his censer his coal-removal pan
H4289-01 Leviticus 16:12 הַ֠/מַּחְתָּה hamachetah HTd/Ncfsa the firepan the coal-removal pan
H4289-05 Numbers 4:9 מַחְתֹּתֶ֑י/הָ machetoteyha HNcfpc/Sp3fs its trays her firepans
H4289-02 Numbers 4:14 הַ/מַּחְתֹּ֤ת hamachetot HTd/Ncfpa the firepans the coal-removal pans
H4289-04 Numbers 16:6 מַחְתּ֔וֹת machetot HNcfpa censers coal-removal firepans
H4289-03 Numbers 16:17 מַחְתָּת֗/וֹ machetato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his censer his coal-removal pan
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