מַטְמוֹן
𐤌𐤈𐤌𐤅𐤍
maṭmôwn
H4301 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A treasure, especially one that is hidden, hoarded, or concealed; refers primarily to valuables, money, or stores of precious materials kept hidden for safekeeping. The term does not necessarily specify the type of valuable but conveys the sense of something secreted intentionally. Can connote both personal hoards and communal stores, with a focus on secrecy and protection from theft or loss.
Semantic Range
hidden treasure, secret hoard, concealed valuables, store of money, metaphorical treasure (e.g., wisdom, knowledge)
Root / Etymology
From the root טָמַן, meaning 'to hide, conceal, bury.' The noun מַטְמוֹן is a formation denoting the result or place of hiding, i.e., a hidden thing or hidden treasure. The formation emphasizes the state of being concealed rather than the intrinsic value of the contents.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, מַטְמוֹן occurs infrequently but is consistently associated with secreted treasure or valuables. It appears in poetic and wisdom literature, such as Proverbs and Job, where it is often metaphorically associated with the value of wisdom or knowledge, implying that such qualities are as precious and well-concealed as physical treasures. The association with buried or hidden wealth reflects ancient Near Eastern practices of concealing valuables for safekeeping, particularly in times of instability. English translations usually render it as 'hidden treasure' or simply 'treasure,' but this can flatten the specificity of secrecy and intentional concealment inherent in the word. The term does not carry the specific connotations of cultic offerings or temple treasuries, for which other Hebrew terms are used (e.g., אוֹצָר, 'storehouse, treasury'). The meaning remains relatively stable from early Israelite poetry through later biblical literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or מַטְמֹן; or מַטְמֻן; from טָמַן; a secret storehouse; hence, a secreted valuable (buried); generally money; hidden riches, (hid) treasure(-s).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
טמן (ṭ-m-n) — hide, conceal, bury
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2934 | טָמַן | in the concealed one |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4301-04 |
וּ/מַטְמֻנֵ֖י | umatemuney | HC/Ncmpc |
and-hidden | and hidden treasures of | 1 |
H4301-01 |
מַטְמוֹן֙ | matemon | HNcmsa |
treasure | hidden hoard | 1 |
H4301-03 |
מִ/מַּטְמוֹנִֽים | mimatemonim | HR/Ncmpa |
more than for hidden treasures | hidden hoards | 1 |
H4301-05 |
וְֽ/כַ/מַּטְמוֹנִ֥ים | vekhamatemonim | HC/Rd/Ncmpa |
and as hidden treasures | and like the hidden hoards | 1 |
H4301-02 |
מַטְמֹנִים֙ | matemonim | HNcmpa |
treasures | hidden hoards | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4301-01 |
Genesis 43:23 | מַטְמוֹן֙ | matemon | HNcmsa |
treasure | hidden hoard |
H4301-04 |
Isaiah 45:3 | וּ/מַטְמֻנֵ֖י | umatemuney | HC/Ncmpc |
and-hidden | and hidden treasures of |
H4301-02 |
Jeremiah 41:8 | מַטְמֹנִים֙ | matemonim | HNcmpa |
treasures | hidden hoards |
H4301-05 |
Proverbs 2:4 | וְֽ/כַ/מַּטְמוֹנִ֥ים | vekhamatemonim | HC/Rd/Ncmpa |
and as hidden treasures | and like the hidden hoards |
H4301-03 |
Job 3:21 | מִ/מַּטְמוֹנִֽים | mimatemonim | HR/Ncmpa |
more than for hidden treasures | hidden hoards |