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מַטְבֵּחַ

𐤌𐤈𐤁𐤇

maṭbêach

H4293 noun

SILEX Entry

Root טבח to slaughter, kill, butcher

Definition

A place or structure designated for slaughtering animals, particularly as sacrifices; can refer more specifically to a slaughter-place or altar where animals are ritually killed, particularly within cultic or temple contexts. May also refer generally to the act or place of slaughter without a strictly ritual or sacred nuance, depending on context.

Semantic Range

slaughter-house, place of slaughter, structure for ritual slaughter, area for killing sacrificial animals, abattoir

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root טָבַח (ṭ-v-ḥ), meaning 'to slaughter, kill (especially of animals)'. The form מַטְבֵּחַ is a noun of place or instrument, indicating the location or structure related to the act of slaughtering.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַטְבֵּחַ is not among the most frequently used terms in the Hebrew Bible, occurring only a few times (e.g., Ezekiel 40:39; 40:40–43), where it refers to an area in the temple complex designated for the slaughtering of sacrificial animals. It is distinct from מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbēaḥ, 'altar'), which more typically denotes the altar upon which sacrifices are offered. While the altar (mizbēaḥ) is for burning portions as offerings, the מַטְבֵּחַ functions as the place for ritual slaughter prior to presentation at the altar. In later periods, the semantic distinction between מַטְבֵּחַ as a slaughter-house or abattoir becomes prominent in post-biblical Hebrew. English translations typically render it as 'place of slaughter,' 'slaughtering place,' or similar phrases, but sometimes conflate its function with the altar itself due to proximity or overlapping sacrificial proceedings.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from טָבַח; slaughter; slaughter.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

טבח (ṭ-v-ḥ) — to slaughter, kill, butcher

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2873 טָבַח to slaughter
H2874 טֶבַח to the slaughter
H2875 טֶבַח Tebach
H2876 טַבָּח the slaughterer
H2877 טַבָּח the slaughter-executioners

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4293-01 מַטְבֵּ֖חַ matebecha HNcmsa slaughter slaughter-place 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4293-01 Isaiah 14:21 מַטְבֵּ֖חַ matebecha HNcmsa slaughter slaughter-place
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