4290. machtereth
Berean Strong's Lexicon
machtereth: Burglary, breaking in, break-in

Original Word: מַחְתֶּרֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: machtereth
Pronunciation: makh-teh'-reth
Phonetic Spelling: (makh-teh'-reth)
Definition: Burglary, breaking in, break-in
Meaning: a burglary, unexpected examination

Word Origin: Derived from the root חָתַר (chathar), meaning "to dig" or "to bore."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Greek equivalent in the Strong's Concordance, the concept of theft and burglary can be related to Greek terms such as κλέπτης (kleptēs, Strong's G2812), meaning "thief."

Usage: The term "machtereth" refers to the act of breaking in or burglary, specifically the clandestine act of digging through or breaking into a house. It is used in the context of theft or intrusion, highlighting the secretive and unlawful nature of the act.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, homes were often constructed with mud bricks or stone, making it feasible for a thief to dig through a wall to gain entry. The concept of "machtereth" underscores the vulnerability of households to such invasions and the need for protective measures. The Mosaic Law addressed issues of theft and burglary, emphasizing restitution and justice, reflecting the importance of property rights and community security in Israelite society.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chathar
Definition
a breaking in, burglary
NASB Translation
breaking (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מַחְתֶּ֫רֶת noun masculine breaking in, burglaryיִמָּצֵא הַגַּנָּב ׳אִםבַּֿמּ Exodus 22:1 i.e. caught in the act (JE); so מְצָאתִים ׳לֹא בַּמּ Jeremiah 2:34, not in the act of breaking in didst thou find them (2 feminine singular suffix Ges§ 44, 2, R 4), i.e. those whom thou hast slain were not detected in crime.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
breaking up, secret search

From chathar; a burglary; figuratively, unexpected examination -- breaking up, secret search.

see HEBREW chathar

Forms and Transliterations
בַּמַּחְתֶּ֛רֶת בַמַּחְתֶּ֥רֶת במחתרת bam·maḥ·te·reṯ ḇam·maḥ·te·reṯ bammachTeret bammaḥtereṯ ḇammaḥtereṯ vammachTeret
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 22:2
HEB: אִם־ בַּמַּחְתֶּ֛רֶת יִמָּצֵ֥א הַגַּנָּ֖ב
NAS: is caught while breaking in and is struck
KJV: be found breaking up, and be smitten
INT: If breaking is caught the thief

Jeremiah 2:34
HEB: נְקִיִּ֑ים לֹֽא־ בַמַּחְתֶּ֥רֶת מְצָאתִ֖ים כִּ֥י
NAS: You did not find them breaking in. But in spite
KJV: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
INT: of the innocent not breaking find in

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4290
2 Occurrences


bam·maḥ·te·reṯ — 1 Occ.
ḇam·maḥ·te·reṯ — 1 Occ.
















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