מַטְוֶה (mat.veh)
mat.veh
yarn
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 matveh refers specifically to spun thread or yarn. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Exodus 35:25, within the detailed account of contributions for the Tabernacle. The women who offered their gifts are described as spinning this material with their hands, highlighting a personal and skilled labor that transformed raw fibers into usable textile components.
This word distinguishes the processed thread from raw wool or flax. Its presence in the priestly narrative underscores the value placed on domestic craftsmanship in the construction of sacred space. The term points to the tangible effort involved in preparing materials for the holy garments and curtains, bridging the gap between everyday household skills and divine worship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word matveh describes spun yarn, a material transformed from raw fiber through careful, skilled hands. In Exodus, this simple thread becomes part of the Tabernacle’s sacred fabric. It reminds us that ordinary work, when offered with wisdom and devotion, participates in God’s holy purposes. Your daily efforts, no matter how small, can be woven into something eternal.
Consider the women who spun this yarn with their hands. They did not wait for a grand stage; they used what was at hand to contribute to God’s dwelling place. This shows that holiness is not reserved for the extraordinary alone. It is found in faithful, consistent labor done with a willing heart.
When you feel your contributions are insignificant, remember this yarn. It was humble thread, yet it helped cover the presence of God. Your quiet acts of service, prayer, and kindness are like that spun fiber—essential, valuable, and seen by Him. Let your hands be ready to work for His glory.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- that which was spun1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַטְוֶ֗ה1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 35:25
All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun: the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen.
This verse highlights how skilled domestic labor, specifically spinning yarn, was directly contributed to the construction of the Tabernacle, showing that everyday skills have sacred value.