מֶתֶג הָאַמָּה
𐤌𐤕𐤂 𐤄𐤀𐤌𐤄
Metheg hâ-ʼAmmâh
H4965 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun phrase referring to a specific geographical location or designation, best rendered as 'Metheg-ha-Ammâh', meaning 'the bridle of the metropolis (or mother city)'. Used as an epithet or alternative name for the Philistine city of Gath or its region in certain biblical contexts; refers to domination, control, or the principal status of a city within its geographic or political sphere.
Semantic Range
name of a city or region (possibly Gath or 'Metheg-ha-Ammah'), the bridle or control of a principal city, control or dominance over an urban center or region, figurative designation for a chief city's sphere of influence
Root / Etymology
Compound phrase: מֶתֶג (metheg, root מתג—'bridle, restraint, control') + הָאַמָּה ('the mother', with definite article ה and אַמָּה, meaning 'mother' or, by extension, 'metropolis, principal city'). Root מתג means 'to bridle, restrain' and root אם ('mother') can refer metaphorically to a metropolis or principal city. The phrase together evokes the sense of control or dominance exercised by a chief city (possibly Gath) over its surroundings.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The phrase מֶתֶג הָאַמָּה appears only in 2 Samuel 8:1 (paralleled as 'Gath and its towns' in 1 Chronicles 18:1), where David is described as having taken it from the Philistines. The phrase likely represents either an epithet for the Philistine city of Gath, highlighting its status as a dominant or chief city in Philistine territory ('mother city'), or it may refer to the region controlled by Gath. Standard English translations render this phrase as 'Metheg-ammah,' but its meaning was not understood in antiquity, resulting in paraphrase or translation (e.g., LXX 'the bridle of their cubs' as a misreading) or simplification. The use of 'bridle' metaphorically suggests submission or control (i.e., putting a bridle on the chief city). In later periods, this place name is not attested, and thus the phrase does not develop further in Hebrew or Jewish tradition. The word contrasts with other city epithets that emphasize fertility or size rather than dominance or control.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מֶתֶג and אַמָּה with the art. interposed; bit of the metropolis; Metheg-ha-Ammah, an epithet of Gath; Metheg-ammah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אמה (ʾ-m-h) — mother, foundation, base unit, forearm measure
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H368 | אֵימִים | Terror-Ones |
| H519 | אָמָה | forearm-length measure |
| H520 | אַמָּה | forearm-measure |
| H522 | אַמָּה | forearm-length unit |
| H524 | אֻמָּה | the people-groups |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4965-01 |
הָ/אַמָּ֖ה | haamah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the Ammah | the cubit-measure | 1 |
H4965-02 |
מֶ֥תֶג | meteg | HNcmsc |
Metheg | bridle-of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4965-02 |
2 Samuel 8:1 | מֶ֥תֶג | meteg | HNcmsc |
Metheg | bridle-of |
H4965-01 |
2 Samuel 8:1 | הָ/אַמָּ֖ה | haamah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the Ammah | the cubit-measure |