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מָתוֹק

𐤌𐤕𐤅𐤒

mâthôwq

H4966 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root מתק to be sweet, to become sweet, to make sweet

Definition

Pleasant to the taste, sweet in flavor or sensation; by extension, used metaphorically for something agreeable, delightful, or pleasing. The term primarily describes literal sweetness (especially of food or drink), but also extends to figurative uses signifying pleasantness or desirability in speech, relationships, or experience.

Semantic Range

sweet (of taste), sweet (of smell), pleasant in sensation, delightful, pleasing, agreeable, figuratively: pleasant speech, delightful experience, pleasing companionship

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root מָתַק (maṯaq), meaning 'to be or become sweet, to make sweet.' מָתוֹק (mâthôwq) functions as an adjective or, less frequently, as a substantive, describing that which is sweet or pleasant. The form מָתוּק also occurs interchangeably. Root meaning focuses on the sensory perception of sweetness; the derived adjective extends this perception to broader applications of pleasantness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מָתוֹק most often appears to describe literal taste (e.g., sweet honey, sweet wine), reflecting the agricultural and culinary context of ancient Israel. The figurative sense (e.g., sweet speech, pleasant sleep, delightful companionship) shows the semantic broadening already present in the monarchic period. The contrast with מָר (mar, 'bitter') is a common literary trope (e.g., Ecclesiastes 11:7), emphasizing experiential or moral polarities. In post-exilic and later Biblical Hebrew, as well as in post-biblical Hebrew, the word's metaphorical applications become more prominent. English 'sweet' generally renders the meaning but may underrepresent emotional or aesthetic overtones present in the Hebrew. No direct association with later religious or ethnic terminology; referential contexts are culinary, sensory, or broadly metaphorical.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מָתוּק; from מָתַק; sweet; sweet(-er, -ness).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מתק (m-t-q) — to be sweet, to become sweet, to make sweet

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4477 מַמְתַּק sweet delicacies
H4985 מָתַק they were sweet
H4986 מֶתֶק and sweetness of
H4987 מֹתֶק my sweetness
H4988 מָתָק he was sweet to him

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4966-02 מָת֑וֹק matoq HAamsa sweet sweet 6
H4966-01 לְ/מָת֖וֹק lematoq HR/Aamsa for sweetness to what is sweet 2
H4966-04 וּ/מָת֥וֹק umatoq HC/Aamsa and sweet and sweet 2
H4966-03 מְתוּקָה֙ metuqah HAafsa sweet 1
H4966-05 וּ/מְתוּקִ֥ים umetuqim HC/Aampa and sweeter and sweet ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4966-02 Judges 14:14 מָת֑וֹק matoq HAamsa something sweet sweet
H4966-02 Judges 14:18 מָּת֣וֹק matoq HAamsa sweeter sweet
H4966-01 Isaiah 5:20 לְ/מָת֖וֹק lematoq HR/Aamsa for sweet to what is sweet
H4966-04 Isaiah 5:20 וּ/מָת֥וֹק umatoq HC/Aamsa and sweet and sweet
H4966-01 Ezekiel 3:3 לְ/מָתֽוֹק lematoq HR/Aamsa for sweetness to what is sweet
H4966-05 Psalms 19:11 וּ/מְתוּקִ֥ים umetuqim HC/Aampa and sweeter and sweet ones
H4966-02 Proverbs 16:24 מָת֥וֹק matoq HAamsa sweet sweet
H4966-02 Proverbs 24:13 מָ֝ת֗וֹק matoq HAamsa sweet sweet
H4966-02 Proverbs 27:7 מָתֽוֹק matoq HAamsa sweet sweet
H4966-02 Song of Songs 2:3 מָת֥וֹק matoq HAamsa sweet sweet
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