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מַצֵּבָה

𐤌𐤑𐤁𐤄

matstsêbâh

H4676 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נצב to stand, to set upright, to station

Definition

A standing stone, pillar, or monument, typically set up vertically as a physical marker. In the Hebrew Bible, מַצֵּבָה refers primarily to a stone or stones erected to signify a significant event (e.g., a covenant, divine encounter, or memorial) or to mark a location. The term also extends to refer to cultic or ritual pillars, sometimes associated with religious practice, whether for legitimate worship in earlier Israelite use or in later polemical contexts associated with prohibited practices.

Semantic Range

standing stone, pillar (as a memorial or marker), commemorative monument, cultic or ritual pillar, (in negative polemical contexts) idol, forbidden sacred pillar

Root / Etymology

From the root נצב (נ-צ-ב), meaning 'to stand, take one's stand, be stationed.' מַצֵּבָה is a feminine noun formation indicating something that is made to stand or is set upright. Its literal sense is 'standing object.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Initially, מַצֵּבָה denoted standing stones commemorating divine encounters or marking significant locations, as in the patriarchal period (e.g., Jacob setting up a מַצֵּבָה at Bethel, Genesis 28:18, 22). In the early monarchy, such stones were sometimes used at sacred sites; however, as Israelite religion developed, particularly under Deuteronomic and prophetic influence, the use of מַצֵּבָה became associated with prohibited cultic practices, especially those linked to Canaanite worship (Deuteronomy 16:22). The term is regularly found in polemical contexts referring to cultic objects proscribed for Israelites. English translations often use 'pillar,' 'sacred pillar,' or 'standing stone.' There is some overlap with related terms like עֲמֻד (pillar) and גַּל (stone heap), but מַצֵּבָה refers specifically to a deliberately set upright stone with commemorative or ritual function. In later periods, especially post-exilic, the word is nearly always negative due to its association with idolatry.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine (causatively) participle of נָצַב; something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol; garrison, (standing) image, pillar.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נצב (n-ṣ-b) — to stand, to set upright, to station

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4673 מַצָּב the standing-post
H4674 מֻצָּב one stationed
H4675 מַצָּבָה the standing-post
H4678 מַצֶּבֶת to the standing stone
H5324 נָצַב the stationed one

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4676-03 מַצֵּבָ֑ה matsevah HNcfsa as a pillar standing stone 9
H4676-02 הַ/מַּצֵּבֹ֔ת hamatsevot HTd/Ncfpa pillars the standing-stones 4
H4676-05 מַצְּב֥וֹת matsevot HNcfpc sacred pillars standing-stones of 4
H4676-06 מַצֵּבֹתָ֖/ם matsevotam HNcfpc/Sp3mp their sacred pillars their standing pillars 3
H4676-01 הַ/מַצֵּבָ֔ה hamatsevah HTd/Ncfsa the pillar the standing-pillar 3
H4676-08 וּ/מַצֵּבָה֙ umatsevah HC/Ncfsa and a pillar standing stone 2
H4676-04 מַצְּבַ֣ת matsevat HNcfsc pillar standing-stone of 2
H4676-09 וּ/מַצֵּב֖וֹת umatsevot HC/Ncfpa and-pillars standing pillars 2
H4676-10 וּ/מַצֵּבֹתָ֖/ם umatsevotam HC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp and their pillars and their standing-pillars 1
H4676-07 מַצֵּבֹתֵי/הֶֽם matsevoteyhem HNcfpc/Sp3mp their pillars their standing-stones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

32 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4676-03 Genesis 28:18 מַצֵּבָ֑ה matsevah HNcfsa as a pillar standing stone
H4676-03 Genesis 28:22 מַצֵּבָ֔ה matsevah HNcfsa as a pillar standing stone
H4676-03 Genesis 31:13 מַצֵּבָ֔ה matsevah HNcfsa pillar standing stone
H4676-03 Genesis 31:45 מַצֵּבָֽה matsevah HNcfsa as a pillar standing stone
H4676-01 Genesis 31:51 הַ/מַצֵּבָ֔ה hamatsevah HTd/Ncfsa the pillar the standing-pillar
H4676-01 Genesis 31:52 הַ/מַּצֵּבָ֑ה hamatsevah HTd/Ncfsa the pillar the standing-pillar
H4676-01 Genesis 31:52 הַ/מַּצֵּבָ֥ה hamatsevah-2 HTd/Ncfsa the pillar the standing-pillar
H4676-03 Genesis 35:14 מַצֵּבָ֗ה matsevah HNcfsa a pillar standing stone
H4676-03 Genesis 35:20 מַצֵּבָ֖ה matsevah HNcfsa a pillar standing stone
H4676-07 Exodus 23:24 מַצֵּבֹתֵי/הֶֽם matsevoteyhem HNcfpc/Sp3mp their pillars their standing-stones
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