What does מַטָּרָא (maṭārāʾ) mean in the Bible?
מַטָּרָא (maṭārāʾ): Confinement space where close observation enforces control; figuratively, any closely-watched target or aim.
Hebrew · H4307
מַטָּרָא
A jail (as a guard-house); also an aim (as being closely watched)
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מַטָּרָא H4307
Pronunciation maṭārāʾ
What does מַטָּרָא (maṭārāʾ) mean in the Bible?
מַטָּרָא (maṭārāʾ): Confinement space where close observation enforces control; figuratively, any closely-watched target or aim.
Full entry for מַטָּרָא (H4307) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4307?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of the guard (13), as the target (1), at a target (1), target (1).
Where does מַטָּרָא (maṭārāʾ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 20:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (11), Nehemiah (2), 1 Samuel (1), Job (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It of the guard 13× Nehemiah 3:25, Nehemiah 12:39, Jeremiah 32:2, Jeremiah 32:8
as the target 1× Lamentations 3:12
at a target 1× 1 Samuel 20:20
target 1× Job 16:12
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 20:20 לְמַטָּרָֽה׃ to at a target Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Nehemiah 3:25 הַמַּטָּרָ֑ה to of the guard Article | Noun - feminine singular Nehemiah 12:39 הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ to of the Guard Article | Noun - feminine singular Job 16:12 לְמַטָּרָֽה׃ to target Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Jeremiah 32:2 הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה to of the guard Article | Noun - feminine singular Jeremiah 32:8 הַמַּטָּרָה֒ to of the guard Article | Noun - feminine singular Jeremiah 32:12 הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ to of the guard Article | Noun - feminine singular Jeremiah 33:1 הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה to of the guard Article | Noun - feminine singular Jeremiah 37:21 הַמַּטָּרָה֒ to of the guard Article | Noun - feminine singular Jeremiah 37:21 הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ to of the guard Article | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 1 Samuel 20:20
Aligned rows 16
Books represented 5
1 Samuel 1 Nehemiah 2 Job 1 Jeremiah 11 Lamentations 1
Source forms
הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה 3x ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh Jeremiah 32:2, Jeremiah 38:6, Jeremiah 38:28
הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ 3x ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh Nehemiah 12:39, Jeremiah 32:12, Jeremiah 37:21
הַמַּטָּרָה֒ 2x ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh Jeremiah 32:8, Jeremiah 37:21
הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה 2x ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh Jeremiah 33:1, Jeremiah 39:15
לְמַטָּרָֽה׃ 2x lə·maṭ·ṭā·rāh 1 Samuel 20:20, Job 16:12
הַמַּטָּרָ֑ה 1x ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh Nehemiah 3:25
הַמַּטָּרָ֗ה 1x ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh Jeremiah 39:14
הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ס 1x ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh Jeremiah 38:13
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - feminine singular 13x Nehemiah 3:25, Nehemiah 12:39, Jeremiah 32:2, Jeremiah 32:8
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular 2x 1 Samuel 20:20, Job 16:12
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine singular 1x Lamentations 3:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Confinement space where close observation enforces control; figuratively, any closely-watched target or aim.
Source Gloss
a jail (as a guard-house); also an aim (as being closely watched)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Confinement space where close observation enforces control; figuratively, any closely-watched target or aim.
a jail (as a guard-house); also an aim (as being closely watched) BDB: guard Usage: mark, prison.
Word Origins
מַטָּרָא is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain