מָצָא (ma.tsa)
ma.tsa
to find
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 394 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb matsa means to attain, acquire, or come upon something. It covers the simple act of locating a lost item and the broader experience of encountering a person or circumstance. In Genesis 26:12, Isaac “found” a hundredfold harvest, showing the word’s sense of securing a gain rather than merely spotting an object.
Its range extends to abstract conditions. Proverbs frequently uses it to describe finding wisdom or favor, implying that these are attained through effort and discernment. The passive form, niphal, indicates being discovered or proven true, as when a person’s character is revealed in difficult situations. Translators often render it as “find,” but the Hebrew carries a weight of achievement.
The root suggests coming into possession or presence. It is not passive luck but an active reaching toward what was sought. This distinction matters in theological contexts where finding God or wisdom is presented as a deliberate pursuit, not a random occurrence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word matsa carries a sense of active discovery rather than passive luck. When Genesis records that Noah found favor in God's eyes, it describes a relational standing earned through faithfulness, not random chance. This distinction invites us to see our spiritual lives as a pursuit where God meets those who seek Him with genuine hearts.
Proverbs extends this idea to wisdom and character. Finding understanding requires effort and discernment, much like digging for water in dry land. The text suggests that what matters most is not accidental success but the deliberate choice to align our lives with divine truth. This process shapes us over time.
Even in moments of loss or fear, as seen when Cain worried about being found, the word retains its weight. It reminds us that no one escapes God's knowledge. Yet for those who walk in integrity, this same awareness brings comfort. We are known, and in that knowing, we find our place.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 394 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I have found28×
- and/ he found16×
- and/ they found13×
- it will be found12×
- it was found11×
- they were found10×
- who/ were found9×
- which/ was found9×
- I will find8×
- they found7×
- it will find7×
- he has found7×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָצָ֨אתִי8×
- מָצָ֤אתִי8×
- מָצָ֥אתִי7×
- יִמְצָ֑א6×
- אֶמְצָא\־6×
- נִמְצָ֣א5×
- יִמָּצֵ֣א5×
- וַ/יִּמְצָא֙5×
- הַ/נִּמְצָ֣א5×
- הַ/נִּמְצָ֖א5×
- נִמְצָ֑א4×
- מָצָ֣א4×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 6:8
But Noah found favor in Yahweh’s eyes.
This verse uses the word to describe Noah's unique standing before God, showing it refers to a relational favor secured through faithfulness rather than mere chance.
-
Genesis 26:19
Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of flowing water.
Here the term describes the physical act of discovering a resource after persistent labor, illustrating how divine blessing often accompanies human effort.
-
Genesis 18:32
He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”
Abraham uses this word to negotiate with God, highlighting that finding righteousness in others is the basis for mercy and protection in judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word matsa mean?
Is finding God in the Bible considered random?
How is matsa different from simply seeing something?
Every Occurrence (394 verses across 33 books)
Genesis 52 verses
The man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there…
Genesis 4:14Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a…
Genesis 4:15Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign…
Genesis 6:8But Noah found favor in Yahweh’s eyes.
Genesis 8:9but the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned into the ship to him, for the waters were on the surface…
Genesis 11:2As they traveled east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.
Genesis 16:7Yahweh’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.
Genesis 18:3and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
Genesis 18:26Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
Genesis 18:28What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will…
Genesis 18:29He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s…
Genesis 18:30He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not…
Genesis 18:31He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I…
Genesis 18:32He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I…
Genesis 19:11They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied…
Genesis 19:15When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are…
Genesis 19:19See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown…
Genesis 26:12Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Yahweh blessed him.
Genesis 26:19Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of flowing water.
Genesis 26:32The same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have…
Genesis 27:20Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He said, “Because Yahweh your God gave me…
Genesis 30:14Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother, Leah. Then…
Genesis 30:27Laban said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that Yahweh has blessed me…
Genesis 31:32Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For…
Genesis 31:33Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them.…
Genesis 31:34Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but…
Genesis 31:35She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He…
Genesis 31:37Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my…
Genesis 33:8Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” Jacob said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.”
Genesis 33:10Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have…
Genesis 33:15Esau said, “Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me.” He said, “Why? Let me find favor in the…
Genesis 34:11Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you will tell me I will…
Genesis 36:24These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed…
Genesis 37:15A certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. The man asked him, “What are you looking for?”
Genesis 37:17The man said, “They have left here, for I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” Joseph went after his brothers, and…
Genesis 37:32They took the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, “We have found this. Examine it,…
Genesis 38:20Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but…
Genesis 38:22He returned to Judah, and said, “I haven’t found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute…
Genesis 38:23Judah said, “Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you haven’t found her.”
Genesis 39:4Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he…
Genesis 41:38Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Genesis 44:8Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again to you out of the land of Canaan. How then…
Genesis 44:9With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”
Genesis 44:10He said, “Now also let it be according to your words. He with whom it is found will be my slave; and you will be…
Genesis 44:12He searched, beginning with the oldest, and ending at the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
Genesis 44:16Judah said, “What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? How will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity…
Genesis 44:17He said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my slave; but as…
Genesis 44:34For how will I go up to my father, if the boy isn’t with me?—lest I see the evil that will come on my father.”
Genesis 47:14Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which…
Genesis 47:25They said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”
Genesis 47:29The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in…
Genesis 50:4When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to Pharaoh’s staff, saying, “If now I have found favor in your…