Lexical Summary mamthaqqim: Sweetness, delights Original Word: מַמְתַּק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance most sweet From mathaq; something sweet (literally or figuratively) -- (most) sweet. see HEBREW mathaq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom mathoq Definition sweetness, sweet things NASB Translation sweet (1), sweetness (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַמְתַֿקִּים noun [masculine] plural sweetness = sweet things; — of drinks ׳וּשְׁתוּ מ Nehemiah 8:10 ("" מַשְׁמַנִּים אִכְלוּ); of lover's kisses ׳חִכּוֺ מ Songs 5:16 ("" כֻלּוֺ מַחֲמַדִּים). Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Figurative Nuance The noun מַמְתַּק denotes sweetness, pleasantness, or something delightful to the taste. Beyond literal flavor, the term serves as a metaphor for any experience that brings delight, satisfaction, and wholesome pleasure. In Hebrew thought, taste imagery readily overlaps with moral and spiritual evaluation; what is “sweet” is acceptable, beneficial, and to be embraced. Canonical Occurrences Nehemiah 8:10 records the Levites instructing a newly repentant community: “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, for today is holy to our Lord.” Here מַמְתַּק invites celebration in response to covenant renewal. Sweet drink becomes a tangible sign of divine joy and communal generosity. Song of Solomon 5:16 climaxes a chain of sensory metaphors for the beloved: “His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely.” In the marital poetry, sweetness crystallizes intimate delight, emphasizing that covenant love satisfies the deepest longings of the heart. Historical Setting In post-exilic Jerusalem (Nehemiah 8), the rarity of sweetened beverages underlines the special character of the feast. Sugarcane and imported honey were limited commodities; therefore, offering the people מַמְתַּק underscored Yahweh’s lavish grace after years of judgment and exile. The Song of Solomon portrays courtly life in Israel’s united-kingdom era. The language of sweetness reflects the agricultural abundance that typified Solomon’s reign. Honey, dates, and pomegranate syrups furnished common sweeteners, making the metaphor both accessible and emotionally evocative. Theological Significance 1. Joy Rooted in Holiness – Nehemiah’s command links sweetness to “a day holy to our Lord.” True joy arises not from indulgence but from alignment with God’s redemptive work. The people’s renewed obedience culminates in permission to partake of delights previously withheld in exile. Intertextual Resonance Psalm 19:10 praises the ordinances of the LORD as “sweeter than honey.” Though מַמְתַּק is not used, the conceptual overlap is striking: the Word of God, like the sweet drink of Nehemiah 8, brings life-giving joy. Likewise, Proverbs frequently equates honey with wisdom (Proverbs 24:13-14). In the New Testament, Peter exhorts believers to “taste that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:3), reflecting the same sensory-spiritual linkage. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Celebration and Compassion – Nehemiah couples sweetness with sharing. Christian communities can emulate this by weaving acts of generosity into seasons of festivity, ensuring that celebration never neglects the needy. Homiletical Reflections A sermon on Nehemiah 8:10 might contrast temporary pleasures that dull spiritual hunger with the sanctified sweetness God provides. The text invites a call to rejoice in forgiveness and to extend that joy by feeding others—physically and spiritually. In marriage counseling, Song of Solomon 5:16 offers a paradigm: spouses should speak words of sweetness that affirm, heal, and build up, mirroring Christ’s own gracious speech to His bride, the Church. Eschatological Outlook Revelation 19:9 announces, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” The final banquet perfectly fulfills the anticipatory sweetness of Nehemiah’s feast and Solomon’s love song. Earthly delights, rightly received, preview the consummate joy awaiting the saints. Devotional Meditation As believers partake of the Lord’s Supper, they taste symbols of covenant redemption. Let the palate recall מַמְתַּק—celebratory sweetness gifted to a forgiven people—while anticipating the day when “in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Forms and Transliterations מַֽמְתַקִּ֔ים מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים ממתקים mam·ṯaq·qîm mamtakKim mamṯaqqîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 8:10 HEB: מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים וּשְׁת֣וּ מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים וְשִׁלְח֤וּ מָנוֹת֙ NAS: drink of the sweet, and send KJV: and drink the sweet, and send INT: of the fat drink of the sweet and send portions Songs 5:16 2 Occurrences |
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