מַטְעָם (mat.am)
mat.am
delicacy
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mat’am refers to a specific kind of food: something tasty, savory, or delicately prepared. It appears eight times in the Old Testament, primarily in Genesis and Proverbs, where it denotes more than just basic sustenance. Instead, it points to food that is refined, enjoyable, or considered a treat.
In Genesis 27:4 and 27:9, Isaac asks his son Esau to prepare mat’am for him. This context highlights the word’s association with special occasions or personal preference rather than daily bread. The sources emphasize that this term captures the sensory pleasure of eating well-prepared dishes, distinguishing it from words that simply mean "food" or "meat."
The usage in Proverbs further illustrates its value. When wisdom is described as sweet or desirable, the imagery often draws on the experience of fine food. This connection helps readers understand how ancient Hebrew speakers linked moral and intellectual goodness with physical delight, using the language of taste to describe spiritual truths.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mat’am points to something more than basic survival. It describes savory, carefully prepared food that brings genuine pleasure. In Genesis, Isaac asks Esau for this kind of meal before he dies. This shows that enjoying good food is a natural part of human life, not something to be ashamed of.
However, the book of Proverbs offers a different perspective. It warns against craving delicacies from those who are stingy or deceitful. The text suggests that while the taste itself is fine, the heart behind it matters more. We are invited to seek satisfaction in truth rather than empty promises wrapped in tasty packages.
This balance helps us understand our own desires. We can enjoy a good meal without letting it control us. The Bible does not forbid pleasure; it guides us toward what truly sustains the soul. Let your table be a place of gratitude, not greed.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- savory food<s>5×
- for/ dainties/ his2×
- the/ savory food<s>1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַטְעַמִּ֔ים2×
- מַטְעַמִּ֜ים1×
- מַטְעַמִּ֛ים1×
- מַטְעַמִּ֖ים1×
- לְ/מַטְעַמּוֹתָ֑י/ו1×
- לְ/מַטְעַמֹּתָֽי/ו\׃1×
- הַ/מַּטְעַמִּ֛ים1×
Key Verses
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Genesis 27:4
Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die.”
Isaac’s request for savory food highlights how specific tastes can become central to family bonds and final blessings.
-
Proverbs 23:6
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
This verse warns that craving delicacies from a stingy person leads to spiritual discomfort, not physical satisfaction.
-
Genesis 27:14
He went, and got them, and brought them to his mother. His mother made savory food, such as his father loved.
Rebekah’s preparation of the meal shows how mat’am was used in pivotal moments of deception and family transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mat’am mean in the Bible?
Why is this word important in Genesis 27?
Does the Bible condemn enjoying good food?
Every Occurrence (8 verses across 2 books)
Genesis 6 verses
Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die.”
Genesis 27:7‘Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before Yahweh before my death.’
Genesis 27:9Go now to the flock and get me two good young goats from there. I will make them savory food for your father, such as…
Genesis 27:14He went, and got them, and brought them to his mother. His mother made savory food, such as his father loved.
Genesis 27:17She gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
Genesis 27:31He also made savory food, and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father arise, and eat of his…