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מַטֶּה

𐤌𐤈𐤄

maṭṭeh

H4294 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נטה to stretch out, extend, incline

Definition

A staff, rod, or branch, typically of wood, often used as a physical implement for support, authority, correction, or symbolic representation. By metonymy, it also designates a division or subdivision of the Israelite tribes, i.e., a clan or tribal group (particularly in census and land allocation contexts).

Semantic Range

staff, rod, walking stick, scepter (symbol of authority), branch, tribe (as an extended group), clan, division, support

Root / Etymology

The noun מַטֶּה derives from the root נָטָה (natah), meaning 'to stretch out, extend, incline.' The original semantic sense relates to something that is stretched out—hence, a staff or rod. From this physical sense developed several figurative extensions: authority (a ruler's scepter), lineage (an extended branch representing a tribe), and support (a staff for walking).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the biblical period, מַטֶּה predominantly refers to a physical staff or rod—an implement with various uses including walking (Gen 32:11), leading animals, exercising authority (Exod 4:20, 'the staff of God' held by Moses), or as a symbol of tribal leadership (Num 17:2-10, where each Israelite tribe is represented by a staff). The extended meaning of מַטֶּה as 'tribe' is unique to the Israelite context, notably in texts concerning tribal census, genealogy, and land apportionment; the term is used interchangeably with שֵׁבֶט (shevet), though שֵׁבֶט also more strongly denotes 'rod' in the sense of discipline or ruling power. While most English translations render מַטֶּה as 'staff' or 'rod' in literal contexts and 'tribe' in genealogical contexts, the transitions between these senses highlight the fluidity of metonymy in biblical Hebrew. In later periods, after the tribal system waned, the usage of מַטֶּה as 'tribe' diminished. The feminine form מַטָּה occurs rarely and has an identical range of meanings. Neither 'tribe' nor 'scepter' in later English or religious usage captures the original material and metonymic breadth of the term as used in biblical texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

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.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נטה (n-ṭ-h) — to stretch out, extend, incline

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3194 יֻטָּה and Extended-Place
H4295 מַטָּה downward
H4296 מִטָּה the stretched-out bed
H4297 מֻטֶּה bent distortion
H4298 מֻטָּה stretches of

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4294-09 מַטֶּֽה mateh HNcmsa tribe staff-branch 71
H4294-07 לְ/מַטֶּ֖ה lemateh HR/Ncmsa of the tribe to a staff 52
H4294-20 וּ/מִ/מַּטֵּ֨ה umimateh HC/R/Ncmsc and from the tribe and from the branch-of 27
H4294-14 מִ/מַּטֶּ֑ה mimateh HR/Ncmsa from the tribe from a staff-branch 18
H4294-04 הַ/מַּטֶּ֥ה hamateh HTd/Ncmsa the tribe the staff 13
H4294-05 הַ/מַּטֹּ֔ת hamatot HTd/Ncmpa the tribes the staffs 13
H4294-12 מַטּ֣וֹת matot HNcmpc tribes extended branches of 10
H4294-16 וּ/לְ/מַטֵּה֙ ulemateh HC/R/Ncmsc of the tribe and to the staff-of 7
H4294-10 מַטֵּ֗/הוּ matehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his staff his staff 7
H4294-17 וּ/מַטֵּ֥ה umateh HC/Ncmsc and staff and staff-of 6

Occurrences in Scripture

252 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4294-19 Genesis 38:18 וּ/מַטְּ/ךָ֖ umatekha HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and your staff and your staff
H4294-22 Genesis 38:25 וְ/הַ/מַּטֶּ֖ה vehamateh HC/Td/Ncmsa and the staff and the staff
H4294-09 Exodus 4:2 מַטֶּֽה mateh HNcmsa a staff staff-branch
H4294-07 Exodus 4:4 לְ/מַטֶּ֖ה lemateh HR/Ncmsa a staff to a staff
H4294-04 Exodus 4:17 הַ/מַּטֶּ֥ה hamateh HTd/Ncmsa the staff the staff
H4294-09 Exodus 4:20 מַטֵּ֥ה mateh HNcmsc the staff of staff-branch
H4294-11 Exodus 7:9 מַטְּ/ךָ֛ matekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your staff your staff
H4294-10 Exodus 7:10 מַטֵּ֗/הוּ matehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his staff his staff
H4294-10 Exodus 7:12 מַטֵּ֔/הוּ matehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his staff his staff
H4294-09 Exodus 7:12 מַטֵּֽה mateh HNcmsc the staff of staff-branch
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