מַ֫טָּה (mat.tah)
mat.tah
beneath
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 16 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word mat.tah functions as an adverb meaning "beneath" or "downwards." It describes physical position below something else, such as lying under a shelter or standing below a height. In some contexts, it indicates direction, moving toward a lower place.
One notable usage appears in Proverbs 25:21, where the text advises feeding an enemy who is "beneath" hunger, implying a state of being under the pressure of need. This spatial preposition helps ground abstract concepts in physical reality, showing how Hebrew often uses concrete location to express relational or situational states.
Its root likely relates to descent or lowering, reinforcing its sense of downward movement or subordination. Translators typically render it as "under," "below," or "beneath" depending on context. The word appears sixteen times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in wisdom literature and historical narratives where physical positioning matters.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mat.tah paints a picture of being situated below or under something else. In the ancient world, this was not just about physical height but also about status and security. When God promises that His people will be "above only" and never beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13), He is offering a vision of protection and honor. It reminds us that our standing before Him is secure, grounded in His faithfulness rather than our own shifting circumstances.
Yet this word also appears in moments of humility and limitation. Jeremiah uses it to describe the foundations of the earth searched out beneath (Jeremiah 31:37), emphasizing how vast God’s knowledge is compared to our limited reach. It invites us to rest in the truth that while we may feel small or low, we are held by a Creator who sees everything from above. This perspective brings comfort when life feels overwhelming.
Ultimately, mat.tah helps us understand our place in creation. We are not alone in our struggles, nor are we abandoned in our low points. God’s presence surrounds us, whether we are high or low, and His love remains constant. Let this truth encourage you to trust Him fully, knowing that your life is anchored in His unchanging care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <to>/ downwards7×
- from/ to/ downwards6×
- downwards2×
- beneath1×
- and/ <to>/ downwards1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/מָ֑טָּה4×
- מִ/לְּ/מַטָּה֒2×
- מָּֽטָּה\׃1×
- מָֽטָּה\׃1×
- מַ֥טָּה1×
- מִ/לְּ/מָ֑טָּה1×
- מִ/לְּ/מַ֙טָּה֙1×
- מִ/לְּ/מַ֖טָּה1×
- מִ/לְ/מַ֙טָּה֙1×
- לְ/מַֽטָּה\־1×
- לְ/מַ֥טָּה1×
- לְ/מַ֙טָּה֙1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 28:13
Yahweh will make you the head, and not the tail. You will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you today, to observe and to do,
This verse contrasts being above with being beneath to illustrate the blessing of obedience and God’s protective favor over His people.
-
Jeremiah 31:37
Yahweh says: “If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” says Yahweh.
The word describes the deepest foundations of the earth, highlighting the limits of human measurement against God’s infinite knowledge.
-
Exodus 26:24
They shall be double beneath, and in the same way they shall be whole to its top to one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
It specifies the structural placement of the tabernacle curtains, showing how precise physical arrangements reflected divine order and care.
-
Proverbs 15:24
The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.
The wise person’s path leads upward to avoid going downward to Sheol, using spatial direction as a metaphor for life choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Every Occurrence (16 verses across 10 books)
Exodus 6 verses
They shall be double beneath, and in the same way they shall be whole to its top to one ring: thus shall it be for them…
Exodus 27:5You shall put it under the ledge around the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar.
Exodus 28:27You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its…
Exodus 36:29They were double beneath, and in the same way they were all the way to its top to one ring. He did this to both of them…
Exodus 38:4He made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up.
Exodus 39:20They made two more rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close…