מְטָא (me.ta)
me.ta
to reach
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb mētā means to reach, arrive at, or attain a destination. It describes the physical act of coming upon a place or extending toward a point. In the biblical text, it often conveys the idea of something arriving or being reached, whether by a person or an event.
This word appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Daniel. Its limited usage highlights specific moments of arrival or attainment in the narrative. Translators typically render it as "reach" or "come upon," capturing the straightforward sense of arriving at a location or state.
The term focuses on the completion of movement toward a goal. It does not imply effort or struggle, but rather the fact of reaching the end point. This simple action underscores the certainty of events unfolding in Daniel's visions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mētā describes the simple act of arriving at a destination or reaching a goal. It appears only twice in the entire Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Daniel. This rarity draws our attention to specific moments where movement ends and presence begins. In these visions, it marks the transition from journeying to standing before God.
When we read about figures reaching the Ancient of Days, we see a picture of divine appointment. The word does not suggest struggle or effort, but rather the certainty of an outcome. For your faith, this offers comfort: the path you are on has a defined end point where justice and peace are established.
These verses remind us that history is moving toward a clear conclusion. Just as the vision in Daniel describes one coming with the clouds to reach the throne, we can trust that our own journeys have purpose. The arrival is certain, and the destination is secure in God's hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it arrived1×
- he reached1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְטָ֔ה2×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 7:13
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.
This verse uses the concept of reaching to describe the Son of Man coming before the Ancient of Days, highlighting divine authority and presence.
-
Daniel 7:22
until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Here the arrival at the judgment scene marks the turning point where the saints receive their kingdom, showing the completion of God's plan.