הַ/מַּכְתֵּ֣שׁ

𐤄/𐤌𐤊𐤕𐤔

maktêsh

the hollow place

A mortar—a bowl-shaped implement used for pounding, crushing, or grinding various materials such as grain, spices, and sometimes metals. By extension, refers metaphorically to a cavity, hollow, or depression, particularly in geographical or anatomical contexts, such as a hollow place or socket (notably the socket of a tooth in Proverbs 27:22).

H4388

Judges 15:19 · Word #4

Lexicon H4388

Lemmaמַכְתֵּשׁ
Lemma (Paleo)𐤌𐤊𐤕𐤔
Transliterationmaktêsh
Strong'sH4388
DefinitionA mortar—a bowl-shaped implement used for pounding, crushing, or grinding various materials such as grain, spices, and sometimes metals. By extension, refers metaphorically to a cavity, hollow, or depression, particularly in geographical or anatomical contexts, such as a hollow place or socket (notably the socket of a tooth in Proverbs 27:22).

Morphology HTd/Ncmsa All morphology codes

Part of Speech N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea
Subtype c — Common — Common noun
Gender m — Masculine — Masculine
Number s — Singular — Singular
State a — Absolute — The noun stands independently

Common Translation

Phrasethe hollow place

SIBI-P1 Translation H4388-02

the pounding-mortar

Morphological NotesMasculine singular common noun in the absolute state with prefixed definite article (הַ).
Rendering RationaleThe noun מַכְתֵּשׁ derives from כתשׁ (“to pound, crush”) and denotes the implement in which pounding occurs. Rendering it “the pounding-mortar” preserves the definite article and reflects the root action embedded in the noun.

View full lexicon entry for H4388 →

SILEX v2

SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)

the pounding-mortar

Same as P1Yes
RationaleP1 is consistent with the SILEX definition, highlighting both literal and metaphorical nuance of the Hebrew word in context; no change needed.