מָתַי (ma.tay)
ma.tay
how
H:IntgQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 35 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Intg
Word Overview
The Hebrew word matay functions as an adverb asking "when," but its emotional weight often leans toward impatience or distress. Derived from a root meaning to extend, it originally pointed to the extent of time before translating into questions about duration. In the Psalms and Prophets, it frequently appears with prepositions like le- or ad-matay, shifting the meaning from a simple "when" to a plaintive "how long?"
This usage is most striking in lamentations where the speaker feels abandoned by God. For instance, Psalm 13 asks "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?" and Psalm 89 cries out, "How long, O Lord? Will your wrath burn like fire?" The word captures the tension between waiting and despair, marking a period of suffering that feels endless to the petitioner.
While it can serve as a neutral relative clause meaning "when," such as in Proverbs 23:35 where one wonders when they will awake from thirst, its power lies in its interrogative force. It does not merely seek information about time; it expresses the human experience of waiting for justice or relief, framing the passage of time as a burden rather than a neutral fact.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word matay often translates as "when," but its heart beats with the rhythm of waiting. It is not a neutral query about time, but a cry from the soul that feels stretched thin by delay. When you find yourself asking God for relief, this word gives voice to your honest longing. It acknowledges that some seasons feel endless, yet it places that burden directly before the One who hears.
In Scripture, this question appears in moments of deep distress and sharp correction alike. Whether it is a psalmist pleading for comfort or a prophet challenging a stubborn people, matay reminds us that God can handle our impatience. He does not dismiss the ache of waiting; He invites us to bring it into His presence. Your tears and your questions are seen.
Even when the wait feels heavy, this word points toward a future resolution. It is an expression of hope disguised as a complaint, trusting that God will eventually answer. You are not alone in your vigil. The same God who hears the cry of "how long" is faithful to bring peace to every weary heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 35 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- when?37×
- and/ when?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָתַ֖י8×
- מָתַי֙5×
- מָתַ֥י4×
- מָתַ֣י3×
- מָתַ֞י3×
- מָתַ֛י3×
- מָתַ֗י3×
- מָתַ֕י2×
- מָ֝תַ֗י2×
- מָתָ֑י1×
- מָתַ֬י1×
- מָתַ֣י\׀1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 10:3
Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, “This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Here the word challenges Pharaoh’s stubbornness, serving as a divine ultimatum that demands humility and action from those who resist God's will.
-
Psalms 94:3
Yahweh, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph?
The repetition of matay emphasizes the psalmist's anguish over the temporary triumph of the wicked, highlighting a deep desire for divine justice.
-
Isaiah 6:11
Then I said, “Lord, how long?” He answered, “Until cities are waste without inhabitant, houses without man, the land becomes utterly waste,
Isaiah uses this word to ask about the duration of judgment, showing how even prophets seek clarity on the timeline of God's corrective actions.