מָתַי (H4970) — Hebrew Lexicon

מָתַי

𐤌𐤕𐤉

mâthay

H4970 particle

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain to ask about time, to indicate temporal point

Definition

Interrogative or relative adverb indicating 'when'—referring to the point or period in time at which an action occurs or is expected. Typically used to introduce temporal questions or indefinite clauses concerning time. The nuance can range from inquiry about a precise moment ('when will this happen?') to the period during which an event occurs. Not used as a substantive noun but always as an adverbial marker in relation to time.

Semantic Range

when (interrogative), when (relative clause), at what time, at which period

Root / Etymology

Uncertain. Though Strong proposes derivation from an unused root 'to extend,' there is no direct evidence in biblical Hebrew for such a root, and the formation of מָתַי is irregular. The word may trace ultimately to a broader Northwest Semitic adverbial particle for time, but precise lineage within Hebrew remains uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מָתַי appears almost exclusively in direct questions or expressions of uncertainty about time and is distinct from related temporal adverbs (e.g., אַיֵּה 'where,' מָה 'what,' אֵימָתַי another form meaning 'when'). Primarily a late biblical Hebrew and post-biblical Hebrew particle, it is rare in earlier biblical texts, appearing mainly in poetic or emphatic contexts. In translation, it frequently overlaps with English 'when,' but Hebrew distinctions are sometimes sharper. There is no evidence that מָתַי carried the meaning 'long' in classical usage, as suggested in some English versions. It does not function as a marker of duration but of the starting point or timing of events. In later Hebrew (rabbinic), a similar interrogative function is retained.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to extend; properly, extent (of time); but used only adverbially (especially with other particle prefixes), when (either relative or interrogative); long, when.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מתי (m-t-y) — to ask about time, to indicate temporal point

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H4970-02`	מָתַ֛י	matay	`HTi`	when	when	41
`H4970-01`	לְ/מָתַ֣י	lematay	`HR/Ti`	for when	for when?	1
`H4970-03`	וּ/מָתַ֣י	umatay	`HC/Ti`	and when	and when	1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H4970-02`	Genesis 30:30	מָתַ֛י	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-01`	Exodus 8:5	לְ/מָתַ֣י	lematay	`HR/Ti`	for when	for when?
`H4970-02`	Exodus 10:3	מָתַ֣י	matay	`HTi`	until when	when
`H4970-02`	Exodus 10:7	מָתַי֙	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Numbers 14:27	מָתַ֗י	matay	`HTi`	shall [I bear]	when
`H4970-02`	1 Samuel 1:14	מָתַ֖י	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	1 Samuel 16:1	מָתַי֙	matay	`HTi`	how long	when
`H4970-02`	2 Samuel 2:26	מָתַי֙	matay	`HTi`	until when	when
`H4970-02`	1 Kings 18:21	מָתַ֞י	matay	`HTi`	will you	when
`H4970-02`	Isaiah 6:11	מָתַ֖י	matay	`HTi`	how long	when
`H4970-02`	Jeremiah 4:14	מָתַ֛י	matay	`HTi`	long	when
`H4970-02`	Jeremiah 4:21	מָתַ֖י	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Jeremiah 12:4	מָתַי֙	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Jeremiah 13:27	מָתַ֖י	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Jeremiah 23:26	מָתַ֗י	matay	`HTi`	will it be	when
`H4970-02`	Jeremiah 31:22	מָתַי֙	matay	`HTi`	will you	when
`H4970-02`	Jeremiah 47:5	מָתַ֖י	matay	`HTi`	how long	when
`H4970-02`	Hosea 8:5	מָתַ֕י	matay	`HTi`	long	when
`H4970-02`	Amos 8:5	מָתַ֞י	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Habakkuk 2:6	מָתַ֕י	matay	`HTi`		when
`H4970-02`	Zechariah 1:12	מָתַ֗י	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 6:4	מָתָֽי	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 41:6	מָתַ֥י	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 42:3	מָתַ֥י	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 74:10	מָתַ֣י	matay	`HTi`		when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 80:5	מָתַ֥י	matay	`HTi`	how long	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 82:2	מָתַ֥י	matay	`HTi`	will you	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 90:13	מָתָ֑י	matay	`HTi`	how long	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 94:3	מָתַ֖י	matay	`HTi`	shall the wicked	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 94:3	מָ֝תַ֗י	matay-2	`HTi`	shall the wicked	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 94:8	מָתַ֥י	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 101:2	מָ֭תַי	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 119:82	מָתַ֥י	matay	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Psalms 119:84	מָתַ֬י	matay	`HTi`	When	when
`H4970-02`	Proverbs 1:22	מָתַ֣י	matay	`HTi`	will you	when
`H4970-02`	Proverbs 6:9	מָתַ֖י	matay	`HTi`	will you	when
`H4970-02`	Proverbs 6:9	מָ֝תַ֗י	matay-2	`HTi`	when	when
`H4970-02`	Proverbs 23:35	מָתַ֥י	matay	`HTi`	When	when
`H4970-02`	Job 7:4	מָתַ֣י	matay	`HTi`	When	when
`H4970-02`	Daniel 8:13	מָתַ֞י	matay	`HTi`	how long	when
`H4970-02`	Daniel 12:6	מָתַ֖י	matay	`HTi`	how long	when
`H4970-02`	Nehemiah 2:6	מָתַ֛י	matay	`HTi`	how long	when
`H4970-03`	Nehemiah 2:6	וּ/מָתַ֣י	umatay	`HC/Ti`	and when	and when

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