מַצּוּת (mats.tsut)
mats.tsut
strife
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun matsut describes a state of intense strife or contention. It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, found in Isaiah 41:12. In this specific context, it characterizes the hostility and conflict directed against God’s people by their adversaries.
The word is closely related to matsah, which typically means "strife" or "quarrel." While common synonyms like rib denote legal disputes or general contention, matsut carries a sharper tone of aggressive opposition. Its rare usage highlights the severity of the enemy's attack in Isaiah’s prophecy, emphasizing not just disagreement but active, hostile conflict.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels like a battlefield, it is easy to believe that your enemies have the upper hand. The word for strife here describes an intense, aggressive opposition that seeks to overwhelm God’s people. It captures the raw hostility and conflict directed against you when you stand for what is right.
Yet Isaiah 41:12 offers a powerful counter-truth. Even when those who contend with you seem formidable, they will ultimately be found as nothing. This rare word reminds us that no matter how fierce the opposition, it cannot stand against the Lord’s protection. Your faithfulness is secure in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- strife/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַצֻּתֶ֑/ךָ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 41:12
You will seek them, and won’t find them, even those who contend with you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing.
This single occurrence highlights that even intense hostile conflict directed at God's people will ultimately amount to nothing.