מַצָּע (mats.tsa)
mats.tsa
bed
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun matsa refers to a bed or couch, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible at Isaiah 28:20. In this specific context, it describes a place of rest that is too short to lie down on and too narrow to cover oneself. The image evokes a sense of discomfort and inability to find peace, contrasting sharply with the security God offers.
While the word itself simply denotes furniture for sleeping, its sole usage carries significant poetic weight. It illustrates how human attempts at protection or comfort can fail when they are not grounded in divine truth. The brevity of the occurrence highlights how a single, vivid metaphor can convey complex spiritual truths about trust and refuge.
Translators typically render matsa as "bed" or "couch," preserving the concrete nature of the object while allowing the surrounding context to provide its deeper meaning. This approach ensures that readers understand the physical reality behind the metaphor without losing the emotional impact of the prophet's warning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Isaiah 28:20, the prophet uses a simple word for 'bed' to describe a place of deep discomfort. The text says the bed is too short and the blanket too narrow. This image captures the feeling of trying to rest when your plans are failing or your security feels fragile. It is a reminder that human solutions often leave us stretched thin and uncovered.
When life feels unstable, this verse invites us to look beyond our own limited resources. We might try to build our own safety nets, but they can feel insufficient. True peace comes from trusting in God’s protection, which is always wide enough and long enough for our needs. This metaphor encourages us to lay down our anxiety and rest in His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ bed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מַּצָּ֖ע1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 28:20
For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.
This verse uses the word to illustrate how human efforts at security can feel inadequate, leaving one unable to find true rest.