What does מַצֵּבָה (maṣēbāh) mean in the Bible?
מַצֵּבָה (maṣēbāh): Physical monument that marks a sacred place or commemorates a covenant; often polemically associated with idolatry
Hebrew · H4676
מַצֵּבָה
Something stationed , i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol
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מַצֵּבָהH4676
Pronunciationmaṣēbāh
What does מַצֵּבָה (maṣēbāh) mean in the Bible?
מַצֵּבָה (maṣēbāh): Physical monument that marks a sacred place or commemorates a covenant; often polemically associated with idolatry
Full entry for מַצֵּבָה (H4676) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4676?
The BSB source-word alignment has 32 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the sacred pillars (5), as a pillar (3), their sacred pillars (3), a pillar (2), pillars (2).
Where does מַצֵּבָה (maṣēbāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 28:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (9), 2 Kings (6), Deuteronomy (3), Exodus (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itthe sacred pillars5×2 Kings 18:4, 2 Chronicles 14:3, 2 Chronicles 31:1, Jeremiah 43:13
as a pillar3×Genesis 28:18, Genesis 28:22, Genesis 31:45
their sacred pillars3×Deuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy 12:3, Hosea 10:2
a pillar2×Genesis 35:14, Genesis 35:20
pillars2×Exodus 24:4, Ezekiel 26:11
the [sacred] pillar2×2 Kings 10:26, 2 Kings 10:27
[sacred] pillars1×2 Kings 17:10
a sacred pillar1×Deuteronomy 16:22
and [this] pillar1×Genesis 31:52
and a pillar1×Isaiah 19:19
and here is the pillar1×Genesis 31:51
and sacred pillars1×Micah 5:13
and smash their sacred stones1×Exodus 23:24
He smashed the sacred pillars1×2 Kings 23:14
or sacred pillar1×Leviticus 26:1
pillar1×Genesis 31:52
sacred pillar1×Hosea 3:4
sacred pillars1×1 Kings 14:23
the pillar1×Genesis 31:13
the sacred pillar1×2 Kings 3:2
their sacred stones1×Exodus 34:13
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 28:18מַצֵּבָ֑הtoas a pillarNoun - feminine singularGenesis 28:22מַצֵּבָ֔הtoas a pillarNoun - feminine singularGenesis 31:13מַצֵּבָ֔הtothe pillarNoun - feminine singularGenesis 31:45מַצֵּבָֽה׃toas a pillarNoun - feminine singularGenesis 31:51הַמַצֵּבָ֔הtoand here is the pillarArticle | Noun - feminine singularGenesis 31:52הַמַּצֵּבָ֑הtoand [this] pillarArticle | Noun - feminine singularGenesis 31:52הַמַּצֵּבָ֥הtopillarArticle | Noun - feminine singularGenesis 35:14מַצֵּבָ֗הtoa pillarNoun - feminine singularGenesis 35:20מַצֵּבָ֖הtoa pillarNoun - feminine singularExodus 23:24מַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃toand smash their sacred stonesNoun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 28:18
Aligned rows32
Books represented12
Genesis9Exodus3Leviticus1Deuteronomy31 Kings12 Kings62 Chronicles2Isaiah1Jeremiah1Ezekiel1Hosea3Micah1
Source forms
מַצֵּבָ֑ה3xmaṣ·ṣê·ḇāhGenesis 28:18, Deuteronomy 16:22, Hosea 3:4
מַצֵּבָ֔ה3xmaṣ·ṣê·ḇāhGenesis 28:22, Genesis 31:13, Exodus 24:4
הַמַּצֵּב֔וֹת2xham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·wṯ2 Kings 23:14, 2 Chronicles 14:3
מַצְּבַ֣ת2xmaṣ·ṣə·ḇaṯ2 Kings 3:2, 2 Kings 10:27
הַמַצֵּבָ֔ה1xha·maṣ·ṣē·ḇå̄hGenesis 31:51
הַמַּצֵּבָ֑ה1xham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇāhGenesis 31:52
הַמַּצֵּבָ֥ה1xham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇāhGenesis 31:52
הַמַּצֵּב֣וֹת1xham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·wṯ2 Chronicles 31:1
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular9xGenesis 28:18, Genesis 28:22, Genesis 31:13, Genesis 31:45
Article | Noun - feminine plural4x2 Kings 18:4, 2 Kings 23:14, 2 Chronicles 14:3, 2 Chronicles 31:1
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural4xExodus 23:24, Exodus 34:13, Deuteronomy 12:3, Hosea 10:2
Article | Noun - feminine singular3xGenesis 31:51, Genesis 31:52
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular2xLeviticus 26:1, Isaiah 19:19
Noun - feminine plural2x2 Kings 17:10, Hosea 10:1
Noun - feminine plural construct2x2 Kings 10:26, Jeremiah 43:13
Noun - feminine singular construct2x2 Kings 3:2, 2 Kings 10:27
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical monument that marks a sacred place or commemorates a covenant; often polemically associated with idolatry
Source Gloss
something stationed , i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical monument that marks a sacred place or commemorates a covenant; often polemically associated with idolatry
something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol BDB: pillar Usage: garrison, (standing) image, pillar.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
מַצֵּבָה 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.