Lexical Summary meta or metah: Death Original Word: מְטָא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance come, reach (Aramaic) or mtah (Aramaic) {met-aw'}; apparently corresponding to matsa' in the intransitive sense of being found present; to arrive, extend or happen -- come, reach. see HEBREW matsa' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) appar. corresponding to matsa Definition to reach, attain NASB Translation arrived (1), came (1), come (1), happened (1), reached (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְטָא, מְטָה verb reach, attain (Targam id., Syriac  , compare Christian-Palestinian Aramaic SchulthLex. 108; Ethiopic  Arabic  (for  ) NöZMG xl (1886), 736; distinct from Biblical Hebrew מָצָא, etc., q. v.); — Pe`al Perfect3masculine singular מְטָא Daniel 4:25, ָ ה Daniel 7:13,22; 3feminine singular מְטַת Daniel 4:19, מְטָת Daniel 4:21 Qr (Kt, erroneous, מטית K§ 47, Beisp. 1) a)); 3 masculine plural מְטוֺ Daniel 6:25; Imperfect3masculine singular יִמְטֵא Daniel 4:8; Daniel 4:17; — 1. a. reach, come to Daniel 6:25 (ל location); come unto, as far as Daniel 7:13 (עַד person); absolute arrive Daniel 7:22 (of time; ᵐ5 ἐδόθη; see NesMM 41 who compare Arabic b. reach, extend, ל location Daniel 4:8; Daniel 4:17; Daniel 4:19. 2 with עַל person come upon, befall Daniel 4:21; Daniel 4:25. Topical Lexicon Overview of Usageמְטָא (“to reach, arrive, approach”) appears eight times, all in the Aramaic sections of Daniel. In every occurrence the verb marks a decisive point of contact—whether physical, spatial, or temporal—emphasizing the moment at which something or someone attains an appointed place or purpose under God’s sovereign direction. Occurrences in Daniel 4: The Towering Tree Nebuchadnezzar’s dream portrays a colossal tree whose “top reached to heaven” and was visible “to the ends of the earth.” The verb underscores the seeming limitlessness of imperial power. Yet the subsequent felling of the tree shows that no throne “reaches” beyond the rule of the Most High. Daniel interprets the dream as a decree that “will come upon my lord the king” (4:24) and later states that “all this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar” (4:28). Here מְטָא moves from imagery to fulfillment: divine judgment literally reaches the king. The word thus forms a bridge between vision and history, illustrating the certainty of God’s warnings. Daniel 6: Retributive Justice Daniel 6:24 recounts how the conspirators were thrown to the lions, and “before they had reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.” The verb highlights the swiftness of retribution; evil plans do not even “reach” their intended end before divine justice intervenes. This narrative vindicates righteousness and warns against opposing God’s servants. Daniel 7: Eschatological Climax 1. Daniel 7:13 “One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven… He approached the Ancient of Days.” מְטָא marks the climactic approach of the Messiah to the throne of God, signaling the transfer of everlasting dominion (7:14). The verb’s ordinary sense of arrival is elevated to describe the heavenly enthronement scene that shapes New Testament Christology (cf. Matthew 26:64; Revelation 1:7). 2. Daniel 7:22 “Until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints took possession of the kingdom.” Here מְטָא demarcates the moment when God Himself intervenes in world history, vindicating His people and inaugurating their reign. The word thus links divine presence, judgment, and the consummation of the kingdom. Historical and Literary Significance • Concentration in Daniel underscores its Aramaic court setting, where the verb carries royal and judicial overtones. Ministry and Devotional Reflections • Assurance of Fulfillment: Promises and warnings alike will reach their mark; believers can trust the certainty of God’s word. Thus מְטָא, though used only eight times, threads through Daniel as a subtle yet powerful reminder that every reach, approach, and arrival in history is governed by the reach of the Almighty. Forms and Transliterations וּמְטָ֣ת ומטת יִמְטֵ֣א ימטא מְּטָ֔א מְט֞וֹ מְטָ֔ה מְטָ֖ת מטא מטה מטו מטת mə·ṭā mə·ṭāh mə·ṭāṯ mə·ṭōw meTa məṭā meTah məṭāh meTat məṭāṯ meTo məṭōw ū·mə·ṭāṯ umeTat ūməṭāṯ yim·ṭê yimTe yimṭêLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:11 HEB: וּתְקִ֑ף וְרוּמֵהּ֙ יִמְטֵ֣א לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּ NAS: And its height reached to the sky, KJV: and the height thereof reached unto heaven, INT: and became height reached to the sky and it visible Daniel 4:20 Daniel 4:22 Daniel 4:24 Daniel 4:28 Daniel 6:24 Daniel 7:13 Daniel 7:22 8 Occurrences |
    |
IV. give).