מִכְמְתָת
𐤌𐤊𐤌𐤕𐤕
Mikhemetat
H4366 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym—Mikmethath—referring to a geographic location in the territory of Ephraim near the border with the tribe of Manasseh. The word denotes a specific place and does not carry descriptive meaning beyond its use as a place name.
Semantic Range
Mikmethath (proper noun, place name as geographic boundary marker); the name itself does not denote other meanings.
Root / Etymology
Root/etymology uncertain. The name may be linked to a root related to hiding or concealment (possibly כמת, otherwise unused in Biblical Hebrew), but no attested verb or noun form confirms this derivation. The actual meaning and origin of the name remain obscure.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מִכְמְתָת appears as a place name in the descriptions of tribal boundaries in the book of Joshua (Josh 16:6; 17:7), marking a point on the northern edge of Ephraim and the southern border of Manasseh. There is no evidence in the text for any use of מִכְמְתָת to denote a person, nor does the context clarify any meaning aside from its function as a location marker. The proposed connection to a root meaning 'to hide/conceal' is based solely on resemblance; this root is otherwise unattested in Hebrew, and the meaning is therefore inferred and not confirmed by usage. In ancient Near Eastern studies, such place names sometimes preserve folklore, topographic description, or early settlement history, but in this case, the precise significance is lost. English translations render it phonetically (e.g., 'Mikmethath') without interpreting the name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently from an unused root meaning to hide; concealment; Mikmethath, a place in Palestine; Michmethath.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כמת (uncertain) (k-m-t (uncertain)) — possibly hide, conceal (unattested; uncertain)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4366-01 |
הַֽ/מִּכְמְתָת֙ | hamikhemetat | HTd/Np |
Michmethath | the Mikmethath | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4366-01 |
Joshua 16:6 | הַֽ/מִּכְמְתָת֙ | hamikhemetat | HTd/Np |
Michmethath | the Mikmethath |
H4366-01 |
Joshua 17:7 | הַֽ/מִּכְמְתָ֔ת | hamikhemetat | HTd/Np |
to Michmethath | the Mikmethath |