Lexical Summary matteh or mattah: tribe, staff, tribes Original Word: מַטֶּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance rod, staff, tribe Or (feminine) mattah {mat-taw'}; from natah; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. Bread) -- rod, staff, tribe. see HEBREW natah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom natah Definition a staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe NASB Translation branch (3), branches (1), half-tribe* (13), rod (18), rods (6), scepter (2), spears (1), staff (33), staffs (1), supply (1), tribal (8), tribe (140), tribes (20). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַטֶּה251 noun masculineExodus 4:17 (feminine Micah 6:9 according to ᵑ0, but dubious, see below) 1 staff, rod, shaft. 2 branch. 3 tribe (Ecclus 48:2 staff, Ecclesiasticus 45:6; Ecclesiasticus 45:25 tribe); — absolute ׳מ Genesis 38:25 +; construct מַטַּה Exodus 4:20 +; suffix מַטְּךָ Genesis 38:18 5t., מַטֶּ֑ךָ Exodus 8:1, מַטֵּ֫הוּ Isaiah 10:24 10t.; plural מַטּוֺת 1 Kings 8:1 +, etc.; suffix מַטּוֺחָם Exodus 7:12; Numbers 17:21; also מַטָּיו Habakkuk 3:14 (but read מַטֶּיךָ or — Gr — מַטֹּתֶיךָ); — 1 (compare מַקֵּל, שֵׁבֶט) staff of traveller Genesis 38:18,25 (J); in General Isaiah 10:15 (simile; "" שֵׁבֶט); from staff as support comes figurative מַטֵּהלֶֿחֶם staff of bread (food supply) Ezekiel 4:16; Ezekiel 5:16; Ezekiel 14:13; Leviticus 26:26; Psalm 105:16; of staff or rod, Moses as shepherd Exodus 4:2,4; Exodus 7:15 (J), Exodus 4:17; Exodus 7:17,20; Exodus 9:23; Exodus 10:13; Exodus 17:5 (all E); compare also Isaiah 10:26; Exodus 14:16; Numbers 20:8,9,11 (all P); called הָאֱלֹהִים ׳מ Exodus 4:20; Exodus 17:9 (both E), because of miraculous power connected with it; compare mirac. rod of Aaron Exodus 7:9,10,12,19; Exodus 8:1; Exodus 8:12; Exodus 8:13 (all P), and of Egyptian magicians Exodus 7:12 (twice in verse) (P); compare Aaron's rod that budded Numbers 17:18; Numbers 17:21; Numbers 17:23; Numbers 17:25 (compare RSSemitic i. 180; 2d ed. 197); carried even by warrior 1 Samuel 14:27,43; מַטֵּה שִׁכְמוֺ Isaiah 9:3 i.e. rod that strikes his shoulder, task-master's rod ("" שֵׁבֶט הַנֹּגֵשׂ בּוֺ), compare Isaiah 10:5 and Isaiah 10:24; Isaiah 14:5 ("" שֵׁבֶט), all figurative of oppression; מַטֵּה מוּסָדָה Isaiah 30:32 appointed rod (of punishment); compare ׳מ Ezekiel 7:10,11 (but text obscure, Co — q. v. — sceptre), also Micah 6:9 according to ᵑ0, but see below 3; used in beating out (חבט) fennel Isaiah 28:27; staff as badge of leader or ruler מַטֵּהעֹֿז Jeremiah 48:17 ("" מַקֵּל), compare Psalm 110:2; so Numbers 17:17 (4 t. in verse) + 10 t. Numbers 17; apparently shafts, i.e. arrows or spears, Habakkuk 3:9,14 (compare Now Da GASm). 2 branch of vine Ezekiel 19:11,12,14 (twice in verse). 3 tribe (183 t.), originally company led by chief with staff: specifically of tribes of Israel in both singular and plural, 1 Kings 7:14; 1 Kings 8:1 2Chronicles 5:2; Exodus 31:2 5t. Exodus; Leviticus 24:11; Numbers 1:4 89t. Numbers; Joshua 7:1 56t. Joshua (all P); 1 Chronicles 6:45 21t. 1 Chronicles 6; 1 Chronicles 12:31; probably also Micah 6:9 (vocative; so ᵐ5 We Now GASm). — compare שֵׁבֶט, and on relation of these two words for tribe Hebrew usage DrJPhoenician xi. (1882), 213 f. Topical Lexicon Overview of Usage מַטֶּה appears about 252 times and carries two closely related ideas: a physical rod or staff, and, by extension, a tribe as the organized body under that rod. Whether in shepherding, national census, prophetic warning, or messianic anticipation, the term points to delegated authority set in motion by God. Symbol of Authority and Leadership • Patriarchs: Jacob crossed the Jordan “with only my staff” (Genesis 32:10), acknowledging God’s faithfulness from solitary wanderer to family head. Instrument of Divine Power and Miraculous Signs • Plagues: With an outstretched staff the Nile turned to blood (Exodus 7:20). Tribal Identity and Organizational Structure Each tribal unit is a מַטֶּה because governance rested in a leader’s staff. Census lists (Numbers 1–4; 26) are arranged “according to the tribes of their fathers” (Numbers 26:55), revealing a divinely ordered community. Land allotments, military musters, and worship service were all coordinated by tribe, displaying both diversity and oneness in covenant life. Tool of Judgment and Correction • Assyrian Rod: “O My people… do not fear the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod” (Isaiah 10:24). God may raise up foreign powers as corrective staves, yet He also “has broken the staff of the wicked” (Isaiah 14:5). Support and Pilgrimage The staff is the pilgrim’s aid. Israel ate the Passover “with your staff in your hand” (Exodus 12:11), ready for departure. Later prophets denounce Egypt as “that broken reed of a staff” (2 Kings 18:21), warning against false supports and calling God’s people to lean on Him alone. Prophetic Imagery and Eschatological Hope Zechariah names two staves, Favor and Union (Zechariah 11:7), dramatizing covenant grace and national unity. When Favor is broken, it signals judgment; when Union is broken, it foreshadows Israel’s scattering. Yet God promises restoration: “The LORD of Hosts will brandish His staff over the sea” (Zechariah 10:11), assuring final deliverance. Christological Foreshadowing Moses’ staff points to Christ’s cross—an emblem of weakness that becomes the means of triumph. Aaron’s budding rod anticipates resurrection life issuing from what seemed dead. The messianic Shepherd rules with a rod yet comforts His flock, uniting mercy and sovereignty (compare Revelation 19:15 with John 10:11). Practical Ministry Lessons 1. God chooses ordinary instruments to accomplish extraordinary purposes. Key References Genesis 32:10; Exodus 4:2–17; Exodus 7:19–20; Exodus 12:11; Exodus 14:16; Exodus 17:5–6; Numbers 1:4; Numbers 17:2–10; Deuteronomy 29:9; Judges 6:21; 1 Samuel 14:43; 1 Kings 17:1; 2 Kings 18:21; Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 10:24; Isaiah 14:5; Isaiah 30:32; Ezekiel 19:11; Ezekiel 29:6; Zechariah 10:11; Zechariah 11:7-14; Hebrews 9:4; Revelation 19:15. Forms and Transliterations בְּמַטֵּ֖הוּ בְּמַטֶּ֔ךָ בְמַטֵּ֙הוּ֙ בְמַטָּיו֙ בַּמַּטֶּ֣ה בַּמַּטֶּה֙ בַמַּטֶּ֛ה במטה במטהו במטיו במטך הַמַּטֶּ֑ה הַמַּטֶּ֔ה הַמַּטֶּ֖ה הַמַּטֶּ֗ה הַמַּטֶּ֡ה הַמַּטֶּ֥ה הַמַּטֶּ֧ה הַמַּטֶּֽה׃ הַמַּטֶּה֙ הַמַּטֹּ֔ת הַמַּטֹּ֖ת הַמַּטֹּת֙ הַמַּטּ֔וֹת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת הַמַּטּ֜וֹת הַמַּטּוֹת֙ הַמַּטּוֹת֩ המטה המטה׃ המטות המטת וְהַמַּטֶּ֖ה וְהַמַּטֶּ֛ה וְמַטֵּ֖ה וּֽמִמַּטֵּה־ וּלְמַטֵּ֥ה וּלְמַטֵּה֙ וּמִ֨מַּטֵּה־ וּמִמַּ֨טֵּה־ וּמִמַּטֵּ֖ה וּמִמַּטֵּ֣ה וּמִמַּטֵּ֤ה וּמִמַּטֵּ֨ה וּמִמַּטֵּֽה־ וּמִמַּטֵּה־ וּמַטְּךָ֖ וּמַטְּךָ֗ וּמַטֵּ֖ה וּמַטֵּ֙הוּ֙ וּמַטֵּ֥ה וּמַטֵּ֥הוּ וּמַטֶּה־ והמטה ולמטה ומטה ומטה־ ומטהו ומטך וממטה וממטה־ לְמַטֵּ֛ה לְמַטֵּ֣ה לְמַטֵּ֤ה לְמַטֵּ֥ה לְמַטֵּה־ לְמַטֶּ֖ה לְמַטֶּ֣ה לְמַטּ֥וֹת לְמַטּוֹת֩ לַמַּטֶּ֑ה לַמַּטֶּ֔ה לַמַּטֶּ֖ה למטה למטה־ למטות מִמַּטֵּ֖ה מִמַּטֵּ֣ה מִמַּטֵּ֤ה מִמַּטֵּ֥ה מִמַּטֵּ֨ה מִמַּטֵּה֙ מִמַּטֵּה־ מִמַּטֶּ֑ה מִמַּטֶּ֖ה מִמַּטּוֹת֮ מַטְּךָ֔ מַטְּךָ֗ מַטְּךָ֛ מַטְּךָ֣ מַטֵּ֔הוּ מַטֵּ֖ה מַטֵּ֗הוּ מַטֵּ֣ה מַטֵּ֣הוּ מַטֵּ֤ה מַטֵּ֥ה מַטֵּ֧ה מַטֵּ֨ה מַטֵּֽה־ מַטֵּֽהוּ׃ מַטֵּה־ מַטֵּהוּ֮ מַטֶּ֑ה מַטֶּ֖ה מַטֶּ֣ה מַטֶּ֨ה מַטֶּֽה׃ מַטֶּה֩ מַטֹּתָֽם׃ מַטּ֑וֹת מַטּ֖וֹת מַטּ֣וֹת מַטּוֹתָֽם׃ מַטּוֹת־ מטה מטה־ מטה׃ מטהו מטהו׃ מטות מטות־ מטותם׃ מטך מטתם׃ ממטה ממטה־ ממטות bam·maṭ·ṭeh ḇam·maṭ·ṭeh bammatTeh bammaṭṭeh ḇammaṭṭeh ḇə·maṭ·ṭāw bə·maṭ·ṭê·hū ḇə·maṭ·ṭê·hū bə·maṭ·ṭe·ḵā ḇəmaṭṭāw bematTecha bematTehu bəmaṭṭêhū ḇəmaṭṭêhū bəmaṭṭeḵā ham·maṭ·ṭeh ham·maṭ·ṭō·wṯ ham·maṭ·ṭōṯ hammatTeh hammaṭṭeh hammatTot hammaṭṭōṯ hammaṭṭōwṯ lam·maṭ·ṭeh lammatTeh lammaṭṭeh lə·maṭ·ṭeh lə·maṭ·ṭêh lə·maṭ·ṭêh- lə·maṭ·ṭō·wṯ lematTeh ləmaṭṭeh ləmaṭṭêh ləmaṭṭêh- lematTot ləmaṭṭōwṯ maṭ·ṭê·hū maṭ·ṭə·ḵā maṭ·ṭeh maṭ·ṭêh maṭ·ṭêh- maṭ·ṭō·ṯām maṭ·ṭō·w·ṯām maṭ·ṭō·wṯ maṭ·ṭō·wṯ- matteCha matTeh maṭṭeh maṭṭêh maṭṭêh- matTehu maṭṭêhū maṭṭəḵā matTot mattoTam maṭṭōṯām maṭṭōwṯ maṭṭōwṯ- maṭṭōwṯām mim·maṭ·ṭeh mim·maṭ·ṭêh mim·maṭ·ṭêh- mim·maṭ·ṭō·wṯ mimatTeh mimattOt mimmaṭṭeh mimmaṭṭêh mimmaṭṭêh- mimmaṭṭōwṯ ū·lə·maṭ·ṭêh ū·maṭ·ṭê·hū ū·maṭ·ṭə·ḵā ū·maṭ·ṭêh ū·maṭ·ṭeh- ū·mim·maṭ·ṭêh ū·mim·maṭ·ṭêh- ulematTeh ūləmaṭṭêh umatteCha umatTeh ūmaṭṭêh ūmaṭṭeh- umatTehu ūmaṭṭêhū ūmaṭṭəḵā umimatTeh ūmimmaṭṭêh ūmimmaṭṭêh- vammatTeh vehammatTeh vematTav vematTeh vematTehu wə·ham·maṭ·ṭeh wə·maṭ·ṭêh wəhammaṭṭeh wəmaṭṭêhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 38:18 HEB: חֹתָֽמְךָ֙ וּפְתִילֶ֔ךָ וּמַטְּךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ NAS: and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand. KJV: and thy bracelets, and thy staff that [is] in thine hand. INT: your seal and your cord and your staff is in hand Genesis 38:25 Exodus 4:2 Exodus 4:4 Exodus 4:17 Exodus 4:20 Exodus 7:9 Exodus 7:10 Exodus 7:12 Exodus 7:12 Exodus 7:12 Exodus 7:15 Exodus 7:17 Exodus 7:19 Exodus 7:20 Exodus 8:5 Exodus 8:16 Exodus 8:17 Exodus 9:23 Exodus 10:13 Exodus 14:16 Exodus 17:5 Exodus 17:9 Exodus 31:2 Exodus 31:6 252 Occurrences |