4988. mathaq

Lexicon

mathaq: To be sweet, to become sweet, to be pleasant

Original Word: מָתָק
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: mathaq
Pronunciation: maw-thak'
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-thawk')
Definition: To be sweet, to become sweet, to be pleasant
Meaning: a dainty, food

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

feed sweetly

From mathaq; a dainty, i.e. (generally) food -- feed sweetly.

see HEBREW mathaq

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from mathoq, q.v.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb מָתַק (matak), which means "to be sweet" or "to become sweet."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1099: γλυκύς (glukus) • meaning "sweet," often used in the New Testament to describe sweet substances or metaphorically to describe pleasantness.
• G5547: χριστός (Christos) • while not directly related to sweetness, this term is associated with the anointed one, Christ, who is often described in terms of spiritual nourishment and fulfillment, akin to the metaphorical use of sweetness in the Hebrew Bible.

Usage: The term מָתָק is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe sweet foods or delicacies. It conveys the idea of something pleasant to the taste, often associated with enjoyment and delight.

Context: מָתָק (matok) appears in the Hebrew Bible as a noun that signifies sweetness or a sweet thing, particularly in the context of food. This term is used to describe items that are pleasant to the palate, often implying a sense of luxury or indulgence. In the ancient Near Eastern context, sweet foods were considered a delicacy, often reserved for special occasions or as a sign of hospitality and abundance.

In the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), מָתָק is translated in contexts that highlight the sensory pleasure derived from sweet foods. For example, in the book of Proverbs, the sweetness of honey is used metaphorically to describe the pleasantness of wisdom and knowledge: "Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste" (Proverbs 24:13, BSB). This illustrates the cultural and symbolic significance of sweetness in biblical literature, where it often represents goodness, wisdom, and divine favor.

The concept of sweetness extends beyond physical taste to encompass spiritual and moral dimensions, reflecting the holistic view of life in biblical thought. Sweetness, as represented by מָתָק, thus serves as a metaphor for the desirable and the good, both in the material and spiritual realms.

Forms and Transliterations

מְתָ֘ק֤וֹ מתקו mə·ṯā·qōw meTaKo məṯāqōw

Englishman's Concordance

Job 24:20
HEB: יִשְׁכָּ֘חֵ֤הוּ רֶ֨חֶם ׀ מְתָ֘ק֤וֹ רִמָּ֗ה ע֥וֹד
KJV: him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered;
INT: will forget A mother sweetly the worm longer

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 4988
1 Occurrence

mə·ṯā·qōw — 1 Occ.