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מַתָּנָה

𐤌𐤕𐤍𐤄

mattânâh

H4979 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נתן to give, grant, bestow

Definition

A gift or present, generally given voluntarily and without compensation; in specific contexts, a tribute, sacrificial offering, or, negatively, a bribe. The term may refer to the act or object of giving, and is commonly used for gifts exchanged among individuals, for ritual or religious purposes, or to describe illicit payments meant to influence judgment.

Semantic Range

gift, present, tribute, sacrificial offering, donation, bribe

Root / Etymology

From the root נָתַן (נתן), meaning 'to give.' מַתָּנָה is a feminine noun formation deriving from the basic notion of giving, indicating the object that is given (a gift, present).

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַתָּנָה appears in various biblical contexts ranging from the straightforward gift exchange (Genesis 25:6) to specific legal or cultic offerings (Numbers 18:11). In some cases, such as Proverbs 21:14, it denotes a bribe, a gift intended to influence official conduct, showing the spectrum from honorable to corrupt uses. The distinction between מַתָּנָה and related terms like שֹׁחַד (bribe) or תְּרוּמָה (offering/contribution) lies in connotation and context, with מַתָּנָה focusing on the fact of giving rather than the mode or intention. Over time, the term remains general but may be narrowed in rabbinic or post-biblical texts to specific ritual donations or legal gifts. Later translations often render מַתָּנָה as 'gift,' but this can obscure the nuanced difference between a tribute, offering, or illicit payment present in biblical usages. The term appears in both prose and poetry, and is not limited to religious contexts. In the place name מַתָּנָה (Numbers 21:18–19), the word reflects a tradition of commemorative naming tied to acts of giving or provision.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of מַתָּן; a present; specifically (in a good sense), a sacrificial offering, (in a bad sense) a bribe; gift.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נתן (n-t-n) — to give, grant, bestow

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3129 יוֹנָתָן in Yahweh-has-given
H4976 מַתָּן Mattan
H4977 מַתָּן Gift
H4978 מַתְּנָא gifts
H4980 מַתָּנָה Gift-place

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4979-04 מַתָּנָ֤ה matanah HNcfsa gift gift 5
H4979-05 מַתָּנֹ֑ת matanot HNcfpa gifts gifts 4
H4979-07 מַתְּנֽוֹתֵי/כֶ֗ם matenoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your gifts your gifts 3
H4979-02 בְּ/מַתְּנֽוֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם bematenoteykhem HR/Ncfpc/Sp2mp in-your(pl)-gifts in your gifts 1
H4979-03 כְּ/מַתְּנַ֣ת kematenat HR/Ncfsc according to the gift as gift-of 1
H4979-08 וּ/מַתָּנ֖וֹת umatanot HC/Ncfpa and-gifts and gifts 1
H4979-06 מַתְּנֹ֖ת matenot HNcfpc their gifts gifts of 1
H4979-01 בְּ/מַתְּנוֹתָ֔/ם bematenotam HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp through their gifts with their gifts 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4979-05 Genesis 25:6 מַתָּנֹ֑ת matanot HNcfpa gifts gifts
H4979-06 Exodus 28:38 מַתְּנֹ֖ת matenot HNcfpc their gifts gifts of
H4979-07 Leviticus 23:38 מַתְּנֽוֹתֵי/כֶ֗ם matenoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your gifts your gifts
H4979-04 Numbers 18:6 מַתָּנָ֤ה matanah HNcfsa a gift gift
H4979-04 Numbers 18:7 מַתָּנָ֗ה matanah HNcfsa gift gift
H4979-07 Numbers 18:29 מַתְּנֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם matenoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your gifts your gifts
H4979-03 Deuteronomy 16:17 כְּ/מַתְּנַ֣ת kematenat HR/Ncfsc according to the gift as gift-of
H4979-01 Ezekiel 20:26 בְּ/מַתְּנוֹתָ֔/ם bematenotam HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp through their gifts with their gifts
H4979-07 Ezekiel 20:31 מַתְּנֹֽתֵי/כֶ֡ם matenoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your gifts your gifts
H4979-02 Ezekiel 20:39 בְּ/מַתְּנֽוֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם bematenoteykhem HR/Ncfpc/Sp2mp in-your(pl)-gifts in your gifts
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