4307. mattara or mattarah

Lexicon

mattara or mattarah: Target, mark, guard, prison

Original Word: מַטָּרָא
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mattara'
Pronunciation: mat-taw-RAW
Phonetic Spelling: (mat-taw-raw')
Definition: Target, mark, guard, prison
Meaning: a jail, an aim

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

mark, prison

Or mattarah {mat-taw-raw'}; from natar; a jail (as a guard-house); also an aim (as being closely watched) -- mark, prison.

see HEBREW natar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from natar
Definition
a guard, ward, prison, target, mark
NASB Translation
guard (6), guardhouse (7), target (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מַטָּרָה and (Lamentations 3:12) מַטָּרָא noun feminine 1. guard, ward, prison Nehemiah 3:25.

2 target, mark (as kept in the eye, watched, compare נָצַר Proverbs 23:26, and σκόπος (watcher, mark) from σκέπτομαι; perhaps Nabataean [רתא]מט Lzb³²³); — always absolute: —

1 guard, ward, prison, usually ׳חֲצַר הַמּ court of gaurd (see I. ׳חָצֵ) Jeremiah 32:2,8,12; Jeremiah 33:1; Jeremiah 37:21 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 38:6,13,28; Jeremiah 39:14,15; ׳שַׁעַר הַמּ Nehemiah 12:39.

2 target, mark Job 16:12 (figurative of ׳יs chastisement), כַּמַּטָּרָא לַחֵץ Lamentations 3:12 (simile id.); literally only 1 Samuel 20:20.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root נָטַר (natar), which means "to guard" or "to watch."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G4649 (σκοπός, skopos): This Greek term means "a mark" or "goal," similar to the metaphorical sense of מַטָּרָא as an "aim" or "target." It is used in the New Testament to describe a point of focus or objective.
• G5438 (φυλακή, phylakē): This Greek word translates to "prison" or "guard," aligning with the primary meaning of מַטָּרָא as a place of confinement. It is used in the New Testament to describe physical imprisonment or the act of keeping watch.

In summary, מַטָּרָא is a multifaceted Hebrew term that encompasses both the physical reality of imprisonment and the abstract concept of having a specific aim or target. Its usage in the Hebrew Bible reflects themes of captivity, focus, and purpose, with corresponding Greek terms in the New Testament that further illuminate its meanings.

Usage: The word מַטָּרָא is used in the context of confinement or imprisonment, as well as in the sense of having a specific aim or target. It appears in the Hebrew Bible in contexts that involve physical imprisonment or metaphorical focus.

Context: • מַטָּרָא is a noun that appears in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in contexts related to imprisonment or confinement. It is used to describe a physical place where individuals are held captive, such as a jail or prison. This usage underscores the concept of being guarded or watched over, reflecting its root meaning.
• In a metaphorical sense, מַטָּרָא can also refer to an "aim" or "target," suggesting a focus or goal that one strives to reach. This dual usage highlights the word's versatility in conveying both physical and abstract concepts of being held or directed towards something.
• The term is found in passages that emphasize the themes of captivity, protection, and purpose. It serves as a reminder of the physical and spiritual dimensions of being confined or directed towards a particular end.

Forms and Transliterations

הַמַּטָּרָ֑ה הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה הַמַּטָּרָ֗ה הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ הַמַּטָּרָה֒ המטרה המטרה׃ כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א כמטרא לְמַטָּרָֽה׃ למטרה׃ ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh hammattaRah hammaṭṭārāh kam·maṭ·ṭā·rā kammattaRa kammaṭṭārā lə·maṭ·ṭā·rāh lemattaRah ləmaṭṭārāh

Englishman's Concordance

1 Samuel 20:20
HEB: לְשַֽׁלַּֽח־ לִ֖י לְמַטָּרָֽה׃
NAS: as though I shot at a target.
KJV: [thereof], as though I shot at a mark.
INT: will shoot shot A target

Nehemiah 3:25
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֖ר לַחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֑ה אַחֲרָ֖יו פְּדָיָ֥ה
NAS: is by the court of the guard. After
KJV: that [was] by the court of the prison. After
INT: which the court of the guard After Pedaiah

Nehemiah 12:39
HEB: וְעָ֣מְד֔וּ בְּשַׁ֖עַר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃
NAS: at the Gate of the Guard.
KJV: and they stood still in the prison gate.
INT: stopped the Gate of the Guard

Job 16:12
HEB: וַיְקִימֵ֥נִי ל֝֗וֹ לְמַטָּרָֽה׃
NAS: He has also set me up as His target.
KJV: and set me up for his mark.
INT: to pieces set his target

Jeremiah 32:2
HEB: כָלוּא֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בֵּֽית־
NAS: up in the court of the guard, which
KJV: in the court of the prison, which [was] in the king
INT: was shut the court of the guard which the house

Jeremiah 32:8
HEB: אֶל־ חֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָה֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֡י
NAS: to me in the court of the guard according to the word
KJV: to me in the court of the prison according to the word
INT: to me the court of the guard and said to me

Jeremiah 32:12
HEB: הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃
NAS: in the court of the guard.
KJV: that sat in the court of the prison.
INT: were sitting the court of the guard

Jeremiah 33:1
HEB: עָצ֔וּר בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
NAS: in the court of the guard, saying,
KJV: in the court of the prison, saying,
INT: confined the court of the guard saying

Jeremiah 37:21
HEB: יִרְמְיָהוּ֮ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָה֒ וְנָתֹן֩ ל֨וֹ
NAS: to the court of the guardhouse and gave
KJV: into the court of the prison, and that they should give
INT: Jeremiah to the court of the guardhouse and gave A loaf

Jeremiah 37:21
HEB: יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ בַּחֲצַ֖ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃
NAS: in the court of the guardhouse.
KJV: remained in the court of the prison.
INT: Jeremiah the court of the guardhouse

Jeremiah 38:6
HEB: אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה וַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ אֶֽת־
NAS: was in the court of the guardhouse; and they let
KJV: that [was] in the court of the prison: and they let down
INT: which the court of the guardhouse let Jeremiah

Jeremiah 38:13
HEB: יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ בַּחֲצַ֖ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ ס
NAS: stayed in the court of the guardhouse.
KJV: remained in the court of the prison.
INT: and Jeremiah the court of the guardhouse

Jeremiah 38:28
HEB: יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה עַד־ י֖וֹם
NAS: in the court of the guardhouse until
KJV: in the court of the prison until the day
INT: Jeremiah the court of the guardhouse until the day

Jeremiah 39:14
HEB: יִרְמְיָ֜הוּ מֵחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֗ה וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙
NAS: out of the court of the guardhouse and entrusted
KJV: out of the court of the prison, and committed
INT: Jeremiah of the court of the guardhouse and entrusted to

Jeremiah 39:15
HEB: עָצ֔וּר בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
NAS: in the court of the guardhouse, saying,
KJV: in the court of the prison, saying,
INT: was confined the court of the guardhouse saying

Lamentations 3:12
HEB: קַשְׁתּוֹ֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃ ס
NAS: And set me as a target for the arrow.
KJV: and set me as a mark for the arrow.
INT: his bow and set A target the arrow

16 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4307
16 Occurrences

ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh — 13 Occ.
kam·maṭ·ṭā·rā — 1 Occ.
lə·maṭ·ṭā·rāh — 2 Occ.