Lexical Summary mathay: When? Original Word: מָתַי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance long, when From an unused root meaning to extend; properly, extent (of time); but used only adverbially (especially with other particle prefixes), when (either relative or interrogative) -- long, when. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. interrogative adverb Definition when? NASB Translation how (30), long* (27), when (13). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָתַי43 interrogative adverb when? (Arabic  ; Assyrian mati: in Late Hebrew and Aramaic with the interrogative אַי, אֵימָתִי, אֵימָת,  ), in OT only of future time: a. alone, Genesis 30:30 מָתַי אעשׂה גם אנכי לביתי when shall I also do, etc.? Amos 8:5; Psalm 41:6; Psalm 42:3; Psalm 94:8; Psalm 101:2; Psalm 119:82; Psalm 119:84; Proverbs 6:9; b Proverbs 23:35; Job 7:4 מָתַי אָקוּם, Nehemiah 2:6. b. לְמָתַי against when? Exodus 8:5 לְמָתַי לְךָ אַעְתִּיר. c. עַדמָֿתַי until when? how long? followed by imperfect Exodus 10:7 עד מתי יהיה זה לנו למוקשׁ, 1 Samuel 1:14; Jeremiah 4:14,21; Psalm 74:10; Psalm 82:2; Psalm 94:3; Proverbs 1:22 +, followed by participle1 Sam Proverbs 16:1; 1 Kings 18:21 עַדמָֿתַי אַתֶּם מֹּסְחִים עַלשְֿׁתֵּי הַסְּעִמִּים, followed by perfect Exodus 10:3; Psalm 80:5; עַד מָתַי לֹא 2 Samuel 2:26; Hosea 8:5; Zechariah 1:12; alone, Isaiah 6:11 וָאֹמַר עַדמָֿתַי אֲדֹנָי, Habakkuk 2:6 הוֺי הַמַּרְבֶּה לֹאלֿוֺ עַדמָֿתַי; with an aposiop., Psalm 6:4 עַדמָֿתָ֑י ׳וְאַתָּה י, Psalm 90:13. d. אַחֲרֵי מָתַי עוֺד, after how long yet? Jeremiah 13:27. מְתִים see מַת. מַתְכֹּ֫נֶת see תכן. above, מַתְּלָאָה see תְּלָאָה. מְתַלְּעוֺת see תלע. מְתֹם see תמם; Judges 20:48 see מַת. מתן (√ of following; Arabic Topical Lexicon Overview מָתַי appears forty-three times in the Hebrew Scriptures and functions primarily as an interrogative adverb of time, voiced either alone (“when?”) or in the compound אֲד־מָתַי (“until when? / how long?”). It gives voice to expectation, urgency, or frustration as speakers seek clarity about the timing of God’s actions or human commitments. Its settings range from everyday negotiations to the deepest prophetic laments, making it a rich word for tracing Israel’s developing longing for covenant fulfillment. Distribution across the Canon • Torah – 9 occurrences (e.g., Exodus 8:9; Exodus 10:3) Lament and Intercession (“Ad Matay?”) The most poignant use is Israel’s cry, “How long?” The phrase couples deep faith with honest protest. Such texts show that biblical lament is not unbelief but a covenantal appeal calling God to act in line with His promises. The recurrent question purposely leaves the answer open, directing the reader toward hope in God’s sovereign timing. Prophetic Rebuke and Eschatological Expectation Prophets often press apathetic listeners with מָתַי to expose delay in repentance or to point to future judgment. Wisdom and Personal Petition In Job and Proverbs, מָתַי probes personal experience: Covenant Scheduling and Negotiation Several mundane scenes employ מָתַי to fix dates, underscoring that even daily plans rest under divine providence. Historical and Cultural Notes Ancient Near Eastern treaty formulas favored precise timetables, yet Israel’s Scriptures often leave God’s schedule veiled, fostering dependence rather than control. The exilic community, hearing “Ad matay?” in the Psalms, learned to wait for Cyrus’s decree and, ultimately, for Messiah. Theological Trajectories 1. Perseverance in Faith – מָתַי legitimizes patient inquiry without faithlessness. Ministry Applications • Preaching – Contrast human deadlines with God’s “fullness of time,” encouraging congregations that apparent delays serve redemptive purposes. Related Hebrew Expressions אֵימָתַי (eimatai) occurs twice (Numbers 24:23; Job 9:25) as a variant but shares the same interrogative force. Both forms affirm that biblical faith wrestles openly with the mysteries of time. Conclusion מָתַי captures the tension between divine promise and human experience. Its recurring question threads through Scripture until the New Testament reveals God’s definitive answer in Christ, assuring believers that no waiting is wasted in His redemptive plan. Forms and Transliterations וּמָתַ֣י ומתי לְמָתַ֣י ׀ למתי מָ֝תַ֗י מָ֭תַי מָתַ֕י מָתַ֖י מָתַ֗י מָתַ֛י מָתַ֞י מָתַ֣י מָתַ֣י ׀ מָתַ֥י מָתַ֬י מָתַי֙ מָתָ֑י מָתָֽי׃ מתי מתי׃ lə·mā·ṯay lemaTai ləmāṯay mā·ṯay mā·ṯāy maTai māṯay māṯāy ū·mā·ṯay umaTai ūmāṯayLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 30:30 HEB: לְרַגְלִ֑י וְעַתָּ֗ה מָתַ֛י אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה גַם־ NAS: But now, when shall I provide KJV: thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide INT: turned now when provide again Exodus 8:9 Exodus 10:3 Exodus 10:7 Numbers 14:27 1 Samuel 1:14 1 Samuel 16:1 2 Samuel 2:26 1 Kings 18:21 Nehemiah 2:6 Nehemiah 2:6 Job 7:4 Psalm 6:3 Psalm 41:5 Psalm 42:2 Psalm 74:10 Psalm 80:4 Psalm 82:2 Psalm 90:13 Psalm 94:3 Psalm 94:3 Psalm 94:8 Psalm 101:2 Psalm 119:82 Psalm 119:84 43 Occurrences |
    |
be stout, firm, enduring (Frey Wahrm), II. make stout, firm (Lane)).