מִטָּה (mit.tah)
mit.tah
bed
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 26 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mitṭâh refers simply to a bed or couch, derived from a root meaning "to stretch out." It describes the physical furniture used for sleeping, reclining at meals, or resting. In Genesis, patriarchs like Jacob and Joseph lie upon their beds in moments of profound transition, signaling the end of one life stage and the beginning of another.
The word carries significant narrative weight because it often marks a shift from health to sickness or from life to death. In 2 Kings, King Ahaziah’s inquiry about his recovery centers on whether he will rise from this bed, while in 2 Samuel, Joab finds Absalom dead on his own bed after the battle. The same term also appears for a bier carrying the dead, linking the place of rest with the finality of death.
Translators usually render mitṭâh as "bed," though context determines whether it implies comfort or vulnerability. Whether used for the luxurious couches of Amos’s wealthy elite or the simple sleeping mats of ordinary Israelites, the word grounds biblical stories in tangible, everyday reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mitṭâh refers to a bed or couch, a simple piece of furniture used for rest. Yet in Scripture, it often marks significant transitions. It is where Jacob blesses his sons before he dies, and where King Ahaziah lies ill, unaware that his fate has been spoken by God. This word grounds our faith in real life. Your daily rest is not just physical; it is a moment of trust.
When you lie down to sleep, you are following the rhythm of creation. Even in sickness or sorrow, this ordinary object becomes part of your story. The Bible does not shy away from vulnerability. It shows us that God meets us in our quietest moments, whether we are healthy or weak. Rest is a gift, not just a pause.
Let this word remind you that your life matters to God in every season. He sees you when you are strong and when you are tired. There is peace in knowing that the same Creator who ordered the stars also cares for your night. May your rest be deep and your heart be calm as you trust in His presence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 26 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ bed9×
- bed/ his7×
- the/ beds2×
- a bed2×
- the/ couch1×
- the/ bier1×
- on the/ bed1×
- couches of1×
- beds of1×
- [the] bed of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִטָּתֽ/וֹ\׃3×
- הַ/מִּטָּֽה\׃3×
- הַ/מִּטָּ֞ה3×
- מִטָּת/וֹ֙2×
- הַ/מִּטָּ֑ה2×
- הַ/מִּטּ֑וֹת2×
- מִטָּת֖/וֹ1×
- מִטָּת֔/וֹ1×
- מִטָּ֥ה1×
- מִטָּ֖ה1×
- מִטַּ֖ת1×
- מִטּ֣וֹת\׀1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 49:33
When Jacob finished charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, breathed his last breath, and was gathered to his people.
This verse shows Jacob gathering his feet into the bed as he dies, marking the final transition of a patriarch and the end of an era for Israel.
-
II Kings 1:4
Now therefore Yahweh says, “You will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.”’” Then Elijah departed.
Elijah uses the bed here as the specific location from which King Ahaziah will not rise, turning a place of rest into a site of divine judgment.
-
I Samuel 19:13
Michal took the teraphim and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head and covered it with clothes.
Michal places teraphim in the bed to deceive Saul, showing how this object can be used for protection and survival in times of danger.
-
II Kings 4:21
She went up and laid him on the man of God’s bed, and shut the door on him, and went out.
The Shunammite woman lays her dead son on Elisha’s bed, linking the place of rest with the hope of resurrection through the prophet of God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word mitṭâh mean?
Why is the word 'bed' important in Genesis 49?
How is mitṭâh used in the story of Elijah and Ahaziah?
Does this word always mean a place of comfort?
Every Occurrence (26 verses across 10 books)
Genesis 3 verses
Israel said, “Swear to me,” and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself on the bed’s head.
Genesis 48:2Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the…
Genesis 49:33When Jacob finished charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, breathed his last breath, and was gathered…