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מַטָּע

𐤌𐤈𐤏

maṭṭâʻ

H4302 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A planted area or thing; specifically, a cultivated plant or planting, an orchard, garden, or vineyard. By extension, refers to the act or process of establishing or setting out plants. Used both for individual plants and collective plantings, especially those set apart or cultivated purposefully.

Semantic Range

planted thing, cultivated plant, planted area, orchard, vineyard, garden; act of planting; (metaphorical) object of divine cultivation, established people

Root / Etymology

From the root נטע (nata‘), meaning 'to plant, to set in the ground.' מַטָּע is a noun form denoting the result of planting (that which is planted) or the area bearing the planting.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term מַטָּע appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in prophetic literature (such as Isaiah) in imagery of planting and restoration. While sometimes used concretely for literal orchards or vineyards, it may also be employed metaphorically for the people of Israel as a planted entity (e.g., 'the planting of YHWH'). Compared to the general נטע (plant), מַטָּע emphasizes something intentionally established and maintained, often for productivity—typically fruit trees or vines rather than field crops. English translations may render it as 'plantation,' 'garden,' or 'planting,' but none fully convey its connotation of permanence, cultivation, and care. Over time, especially in poetic and prophetic contexts, the term acquired a richer figurative sense linked to divine action in establishing and nurturing Israelite society.

Translation Consistency

primary "plant" 6 occurrences

“Plant” is the natural, concise base that covers both the cultivated thing/area (orchard, vineyard, garden, planted plant) and the act/process of establishing plants. It matches the attested renderings (“planting(s)”) and works well for literal and metaphorical uses (a people or object established/cultivated by God).

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"plantings of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נָטַע; something planted, i.e. the place (a garden or vineyard), or the thing (a plant, figuratively or men); by implication, the act, planting; plant(-ation, -ing).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נטע (n-ṭ-ʿ) — to plant, set in the ground, establish by planting

Root נטע to plant, set in the ground, establish (by planting)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5193 נָטַע planter of
H5194 נֶטַע he planted
H5195 נָטִיעַ planted seedlings
H5196 נְטָעִים Plantings

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4302-03 מַטָּעָֽ/הּ mataah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its-planting her planting her planting 2
H4302-02 מַטַּ֥ע mata HNcmsc a planting planting of planting of 2
H4302-05 מטע/ו mtv HNcmsc/Sp3ms of-his-planting his planting his planting 1
H4302-04 מַטָּעַ֛/י mataay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my-planting my plantings my planting 1
H4302-01 לְ/מַטָּ֣עֵי lemataey HR/Ncmpc for-plantings-of for plantings of for plantings of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4302-05 Isaiah 60:21 מטע/ו mtv HNcmsc/Sp3ms of-his-planting his planting his planting
H4302-04 Isaiah 60:21 מַטָּעַ֛/י mataay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my-planting my plantings my planting
H4302-02 Isaiah 61:3 מַטַּ֥ע mata HNcmsc planting planting of planting of
H4302-03 Ezekiel 17:7 מַטָּעָֽ/הּ mataah HNcmsc/Sp3fs of its planting her planting her planting
H4302-03 Ezekiel 31:4 מַטָּעָ֔/הּ mataah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its-planting her planting her planting
H4302-02 Ezekiel 34:29 מַטָּ֖ע mata HNcmsa a planting planting of planting of
H4302-01 Micah 1:6 לְ/מַטָּ֣עֵי lemataey HR/Ncmpc for-plantings-of for plantings of for plantings of
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