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מָתַי

𐤌𐤕𐤉

mâthay

H4970 particle

SILEX Entry

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

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain to ask about time, to indicate temporal point
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4970-02 מָתַ֞י matay HTi when when when 41
H4970-01 לְ/מָתַ֣י lematay HR/Ti for when for when? for when 1
H4970-03 וּ/מָתַ֣י umatay HC/Ti and when and when and when 1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4970-02 Genesis 30:30 מָתַ֛י matay HTi when when when
H4970-01 Exodus 8:5 לְ/מָתַ֣י lematay HR/Ti for when for when? for when
H4970-02 Exodus 10:3 מָתַ֣י matay HTi until when when when
H4970-02 Exodus 10:7 מָתַי֙ matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Numbers 14:27 מָתַ֗י matay HTi shall [I bear] when until
H4970-02 1 Samuel 1:14 מָתַ֖י matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 1 Samuel 16:1 מָתַי֙ matay HTi how long when when
H4970-02 2 Samuel 2:26 מָתַי֙ matay HTi until when when when
H4970-02 1 Kings 18:21 מָתַ֞י matay HTi will you when when
H4970-02 Isaiah 6:11 מָתַ֖י matay HTi how long when how long
H4970-02 Jeremiah 4:14 מָתַ֛י matay HTi long when when
H4970-02 Jeremiah 4:21 מָתַ֖י matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Jeremiah 12:4 מָתַי֙ matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Jeremiah 13:27 מָתַ֖י matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Jeremiah 23:26 מָתַ֗י matay HTi will it be when when
H4970-02 Jeremiah 31:22 מָתַי֙ matay HTi will you when when
H4970-02 Jeremiah 47:5 מָתַ֖י matay HTi how long when when
H4970-02 Hosea 8:5 מָתַ֕י matay HTi long when when
H4970-02 Amos 8:5 מָתַ֞י matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Habakkuk 2:6 מָתַ֕י matay HTi when when
H4970-02 Zechariah 1:12 מָתַ֗י matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Psalms 6:4 מָתָֽי matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Psalms 41:6 מָתַ֥י matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Psalms 42:3 מָתַ֥י matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Psalms 74:10 מָתַ֣י matay HTi when when
H4970-02 Psalms 80:5 מָתַ֥י matay HTi how long when
H4970-02 Psalms 82:2 מָתַ֥י matay HTi will you when when
H4970-02 Psalms 90:13 מָתָ֑י matay HTi how long when how long
H4970-02 Psalms 94:3 מָתַ֖י matay HTi shall the wicked when when
H4970-02 Psalms 94:3 מָ֝תַ֗י matay-2 HTi shall the wicked when when
H4970-02 Psalms 94:8 מָתַ֥י matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Psalms 101:2 מָ֭תַי matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Psalms 119:82 מָתַ֥י matay HTi when when when
H4970-02 Psalms 119:84 מָתַ֬י matay HTi When when when
H4970-02 Proverbs 1:22 מָתַ֣י matay HTi will you when will you
H4970-02 Proverbs 6:9 מָתַ֖י matay HTi will you when when
H4970-02 Proverbs 6:9 מָ֝תַ֗י matay-2 HTi when when when
H4970-02 Proverbs 23:35 מָתַ֥י matay HTi When when when
H4970-02 Job 7:4 מָתַ֣י matay HTi When when when
H4970-02 Daniel 8:13 מָתַ֞י matay HTi how long when how long
H4970-02 Daniel 12:6 מָתַ֖י matay HTi how long when how long
H4970-02 Nehemiah 2:6 מָתַ֛י matay HTi how long when when
H4970-03 Nehemiah 2:6 וּ/מָתַ֣י umatay HC/Ti and when and when and when
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