4290. machtereth
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

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
breaking up, secret search

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

see HEBREW chathar

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.

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

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: Strong's Greek Number 2812: κλέπτης (kleptes) • meaning "thief" or "burglar," which corresponds to the concept of a person who engages in stealthy or secretive theft.
Strong's Greek Number 2925: κρυφαῖος (kryphaios) • meaning "hidden" or "secret," which aligns with the notion of clandestine or unexpected actions.

These Greek terms capture similar themes of secrecy and stealth found in the Hebrew מַחְתֶּרֶת, reflecting the broader biblical concern with theft and the protection of property.

Usage: The word מַחְתֶּרֶת is used in the context of clandestine or surreptitious activities, particularly in reference to burglary or breaking into a house. It appears in the Hebrew Bible to describe scenarios involving stealth and secrecy.

Context: מַחְתֶּרֶת is a noun that appears in the Hebrew Bible to describe the act of breaking into a house, typically under the cover of darkness or in a secretive manner. This term is used in legal contexts to address the consequences and considerations of such actions. For instance, in Exodus 22:2, the law provides guidance on how to deal with a thief caught in the act of burglary: "If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him." This passage highlights the seriousness of the crime and the potential for lethal self-defense against a burglar. The concept of מַחְתֶּרֶת underscores the importance of security and the protection of one's home in ancient Israelite society. The term is also used metaphorically to describe unexpected or thorough examinations, suggesting a probing or investigative action that uncovers hidden matters.

Forms and Transliterations
בַּמַּחְתֶּ֛רֶת בַמַּחְתֶּ֥רֶת במחתרת bam·maḥ·te·reṯ ḇam·maḥ·te·reṯ bammachTeret bammaḥtereṯ ḇammaḥtereṯ vammachTeret
Links
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.















4289
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