מָצָה
𐤌𐤑𐤄
mâtsâh
H4680 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To suck out or draw out liquid, particularly through pressure or force; by extension, to drain, squeeze moisture out, or extract something by force. The term is used with reference both to the physical action of sucking or wringing out liquids and, by figurative extension, to draining or exhausting resources.
Semantic Range
to suck out, to drain, to press out, to wring out, to deplete, to exhaust resources
Root / Etymology
Root: מצה. Derived from the root meaning 'to suck out, extract, drain.' The verbal form reflects both direct and indirect extraction of liquid or essence, typically through some form of pressure or forceful action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb מָצָה appears primarily in poetic or metaphorical contexts in the Hebrew Bible, often describing the action of thoroughly removing or extracting liquid. Usage examples include wringing or draining blood or water, or figuratively exhausting or depleting something. This root is distinct from similar terms like סחט, which also means 'to wring out' but is typically used for more mundane, physical squeezing. In some contexts, מָצָה underscores the thoroughness or completeness of the extraction. English translations (such as 'suck,' 'wring out,' or 'drain') capture the physical dimension but often miss the intensity or exhaustive nature implied in Hebrew usage. The word does not occur frequently, and its nuances are clearest when set in poetic or parallel structures emphasizing total removal or depletion. There is no relationship between this root and the noun מַצָּה (unleavened bread, cf. H4682), which is etymologically distinct despite identical spelling in unpointed script.
Translation Consistency
"Drain" naturally covers both the physical sense (removing liquid by sucking, pressing, or wringing) and the common figurative sense (depleting or exhausting resources). It is simple, idiomatic English and matches the typical uses in the SILEX semantic range, providing consistent, clear rendering across all forms of H4680.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to suck out; by implication, to drain, to squeeze out; suck, wring (out).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מצה (m-ṣ-h) — to suck out, extract, drain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4682 | מַצָּה | the unleavened breads |
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4680-05 |
יִמָּצֵ֖ה | yimatseh | HVNi3ms |
shall be drained out | he will be drained out | shall be drained out | 1 |
H4680-04 |
וְ/נִמְצָ֣ה | venimetsah | HC/VNq3ms |
and it shall be | and he was drained | and its blood shall be drained out | 1 |
H4680-03 |
וַ/יִּ֤מֶץ | vayimets | HC/Vqw3ms |
and-he-wrung-out | and he pressed out | and he pressed out | 1 |
H4680-01 |
מָצִֽית | matsit | HVqp2fs |
and drained it out | you sucked out | you sucked out | 1 |
H4680-07 |
יִמְצ֣וּ | yimetsu | HVqi3mp |
shall drain | they will drain | they will drain | 1 |
H4680-02 |
וּ/מָצִ֗ית | umatsit | HC/Vqq2fs |
and-drain-it | and you drained out | and you will drain it out | 1 |
H4680-06 |
יִמָּ֥צוּ | yimatsu | HVNi3mp |
are drained | they will be drained | they will be drained | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4680-04 |
Leviticus 1:15 | וְ/נִמְצָ֣ה | venimetsah | HC/VNq3ms |
and it shall be | and he was drained | and its blood shall be drained out |
H4680-05 |
Leviticus 5:9 | יִמָּצֵ֖ה | yimatseh | HVNi3ms |
shall be drained out | he will be drained out | shall be drained out |
H4680-03 |
Judges 6:38 | וַ/יִּ֤מֶץ | vayimets | HC/Vqw3ms |
and-he-wrung-out | and he pressed out | and he pressed out |
H4680-01 |
Isaiah 51:17 | מָצִֽית | matsit | HVqp2fs |
and drained it out | you sucked out | you sucked out |
H4680-02 |
Ezekiel 23:34 | וּ/מָצִ֗ית | umatsit | HC/Vqq2fs |
and-drain-it | and you drained out | and you will drain it out |
H4680-06 |
Psalms 73:10 | יִמָּ֥צוּ | yimatsu | HVNi3mp |
are drained | they will be drained | they will be drained |
H4680-07 |
Psalms 75:9 | יִמְצ֣וּ | yimetsu | HVqi3mp |
shall drain | they will drain | they will drain |