Lexicon machtereth: Burglary, breaking in, break-in Original Word: מַחְתֶּרֶת 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 Originfrom chathar Definition a breaking in, burglary NASB Translation breaking (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַחְתֶּ֫רֶת noun masculine breaking in, burglary — יִמָּצֵא 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. 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 vammachTeretLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 2 Occurrences |