מַלְתָּעָה
𐤌𐤋𐤕𐤏𐤄
maltâʻâh
H4459 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Primarily denotes a jawbone or jaw, especially the side or bone structure of the mouth, and by extension can refer to a cheek or the prominent back teeth (molar). In anatomical and zoological contexts, it generally describes the part of an animal or human used for biting or chewing, such as the jaw or strong molar teeth.
Semantic Range
jaw, jawbone, cheek, back tooth/molar, part of mouth used for biting or chewing
Root / Etymology
Derived (by metathesis or alternate vocalization) from the root תָּלַע (t-l-‘), related to the idea of splitting or opening. The root's core sense is 'to split, cleave.' The word מַלְתָּעָה seems to be a variant formation or adaptation of מְתַלְּעָה (metalle‘âh), which directly refers to jaw or jawbone.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מַלְתָּעָה is rare, occurring in poetic or zoological descriptions (e.g., in Job 29:17, describing the action of breaking the 'jaws' of the wicked). The term emphasizes either the structure (bone) or the functional aspect (biting, chewing) of the jaw, especially in animals but applicable to humans. Most major English translations render it as 'jaw' or 'jawbone,' while some older or more literal ones use 'great tooth' based on the root's relationship to chewing. The related form מְתַלְּעָה is more common and uniformly refers to the jaw; מַלְתָּעָה may simply reflect a textual or dialectal variant. The translation 'grinder' or 'back tooth' is seen in some, but the weight of evidence indicates the whole jaw or large tooth (molar) is in view, rather than an individual tooth. In post-biblical and later Hebrew, the term develops into words for jaw, jawbone, or molar. The semantic distinction between מַלְתָּעָה and לֶחִי (leḥi, another word for 'jaw' or 'cheek') lies in context: מַלְתָּעָה often conveys a more forceful or biting aspect.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
transp. for מְתַלְּעָה; a grinder, i.e. back tooth; great tooth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
תלע (t-l-ʿ) — to split, cleave, break open
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4459-01 |
מַלְתְּע֥וֹת | maleteot | HNcfpc |
the fangs | jawbones of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4459-01 |
Psalms 58:7 | מַלְתְּע֥וֹת | maleteot | HNcfpc |
the fangs | jawbones of |