מַטְבֵּחַ (mat.be.ach)
mat.be.ach
slaughter
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun matbeach refers specifically to a slaughterhouse or a place where animals are killed for food. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 14:21, describing the fate awaiting the Assyrian king.
In this context, the word carries heavy symbolic weight. The prophet declares that God will prepare a matbeach for Babylon’s remnants, turning their royal palace into a site of execution and ruin. This usage transforms a mundane term for a kitchen facility into a stark image of divine judgment and total destruction.
The root verb tabaḥ simply means to slaughter or kill. By using the noun form here, Isaiah emphasizes not just the act of killing, but the designated location where that violence will occur. The imagery suggests a complete reversal of fortune: from imperial power to being treated as mere livestock for slaughter.
Translators typically render matbeach as "slaughter" or "slaughterhouse." This single occurrence highlights how biblical language can repurpose everyday vocabulary to convey profound theological truths about justice and the consequences of pride.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word matbeach appears only once in Scripture, located in Isaiah 14:21. It describes a slaughterhouse or place of execution. The prophet uses this stark image to describe the downfall of a proud king. What was once a seat of imperial power becomes a site of judgment. This shift reminds us that human pride cannot withstand divine justice.
For your faith, this passage offers comfort against the fear of oppressive powers. It shows that God sees the injustice done by those who rise up against others. The imagery is severe, yet it points to a God who ultimately sets things right. You can trust that no earthly authority is beyond His reach or care.
This single word invites reflection on the temporary nature of worldly power. It encourages you to find your security not in human strength but in God’s faithful rule. The Bible does not shy away from the reality of judgment, but it always points toward a just and sovereign Lord who protects the vulnerable.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a place of slaughter1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַטְבֵּ֖חַ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 14:21
Prepare for slaughter of his children because of the iniquity of their fathers, that they not rise up and possess the earth, and fill the surface of the world with cities.
The word matbeach transforms the king's palace into a slaughterhouse, emphasizing total divine judgment on pride.