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מַתָּת

𐤌𐤕𐤕

mattâth

H4991 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נתן to give, bestow, grant

Definition

A gift or offering given, generally connoting something bestowed voluntarily or as an act of generosity. Depending on context, may refer to a material gift, tribute, or offering dedicated to the deity or another individual.

Semantic Range

gift, present, voluntary offering (to deity or person), donation, tribute

Root / Etymology

From the root נתן ('to give'), with מַתָּן (mattān) as a masculine noun form meaning 'gift,' and מַתָּת (mattâth) operating as a feminine counterpart, possibly as a variant form rather than a strict feminine derivation. The base root נתן means 'to give, bestow, grant.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term מַתָּת is rare in the Hebrew Bible, found in late biblical or post-biblical sources (e.g., Nehemiah 12:19) and in theophoric names. Its usage is parallel to (though less common than) מַתָּן (mattān). Within the biblical context, מַתָּת can designate a tangible present between humans or a votive or cultic offering to the deity, but does not always convey the ritual or sacrificial connotations carried by words like קָרְבָּן (qorbān, 'offering'). Later, the term also appears in post-biblical Hebrew and is perpetuated in personal names that relate to the idea of a 'gift.' Standard English translations (such as 'present' or 'gift') capture the general sense, but do not always convey whether the gift is interpersonal or religious unless context specifies. In ancient Israelite society, gifts often functioned as elements of social exchange, tribute, or covenantal bonds, which adds nuance beyond the simple concept of a present.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of מַתָּן abbreviated form; a present; gift.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נתן (n-t-n) — to give, bestow, grant

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3129 יוֹנָתָן in Yahweh-has-given
H4976 מַתָּן Mattan
H4977 מַתָּן Gift
H4978 מַתְּנָא gifts
H4979 מַתָּנָה with their gifts

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4991-02 מַתָּֽת matat HNcfsa gift gift-offering 5
H4991-01 בְּ/מַתַּת bematat HR/Ncfsc of a gift in gift-of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4991-02 1 Kings 13:7 מַתָּֽת matat HNcfsa a gift gift-offering
H4991-02 Ezekiel 46:5 מַתַּ֣ת matat HNcfsc gift gift-offering
H4991-02 Ezekiel 46:11 מַתַּ֣ת matat HNcfsc gift gift-offering
H4991-01 Proverbs 25:14 בְּ/מַתַּת bematat HR/Ncfsc of a gift in gift-of
H4991-02 Ecclesiastes 3:13 מַתַּ֥ת matat HNcfsc gift-offering
H4991-02 Ecclesiastes 5:18 מַתַּ֥ת matat HNcfsc gift-offering
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