What does מֹתֶן (mōten) mean in the Bible?
מֹתֶן (mōten): Loins as seat of strength, virility, and procreative power; metaphorically, the core of physical vitality.
Hebrew · H4975
מֹתֶן
Properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
מֹתֶן H4975
Pronunciation mōten
What does מֹתֶן (mōten) mean in the Bible?
מֹתֶן (mōten): Loins as seat of strength, virility, and procreative power; metaphorically, the core of physical vitality.
Full entry for מֹתֶן (H4975) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4975?
The BSB source-word alignment has 47 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (8), around his waist (4), at his side (3), waist (3), and their backs (2).
Where does מֹתֶן (mōten) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 37:34. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (12), Jeremiah (6), 1 Kings (5), Isaiah (4).
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 . . . 8× 2 Samuel 20:8, Proverbs 30:31, Proverbs 31:17, Isaiah 45:1
around his waist 4× Genesis 37:34, 1 Kings 2:5, 2 Kings 1:8, Daniel 10:5
at his side 3× Ezekiel 9:2, Ezekiel 9:3, Ezekiel 9:11
waist 3× 1 Kings 12:10, 2 Chronicles 10:10, Jeremiah 13:11
and their backs 2× Psalms 69:23, Ezekiel 29:7
around their waists 2× 1 Kings 20:32, Job 12:18
to be His waist 2× Ezekiel 1:27
your waist 2× Isaiah 20:2, Jeremiah 13:1
and from His waist 1× Ezekiel 8:2
around His hips 1× Isaiah 11:5
around our waists 1× 1 Kings 20:31
bodies 1× Nahum 2:10
every waist 1× Jeremiah 48:37
From His waist 1× Ezekiel 8:2
from waist 1× Exodus 28:42
heart 1× Ezekiel 21:6
his side 1× Nehemiah 4:18
into his belt 1× 1 Kings 18:46
my body 1× Isaiah 21:3
my waist 1× Jeremiah 13:2
of his loins 1× Job 40:16
on our backs 1× Psalms 66:11
on their waists 1× Ezekiel 23:15
the loins 1× Deuteronomy 33:11
their waists 1× Ezekiel 44:18
under your belt 1× 2 Kings 9:1
waist-deep 1× Ezekiel 47:4
You must be fully dressed for travel 1× Exodus 12:11
your garment 1× 2 Kings 4:29
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 37:34 בְּמָתְנָ֑יו to around his waist Preposition-b | Noun - masculine dual construct | third person masculine singular Exodus 12:11 מָתְנֵיכֶ֣ם to You must be fully dressed for travel Noun - masculine dual construct | second person masculine plural Exodus 28:42 מִמָּתְנַ֥יִם to from waist Preposition-m | Noun - md Deuteronomy 33:11 מָתְנַ֧יִם to the loins Noun - md 2 Samuel 20:8 מָתְנָיו֙ to . . . Noun - masculine dual construct | third person masculine singular 1 Kings 2:5 בְּמָתְנָ֔יו to around his waist Preposition-b | Noun - masculine dual construct | third person masculine singular 1 Kings 12:10 מִמָּתְנֵ֥י to waist Preposition-m | Noun - masculine dual construct 1 Kings 18:46 מָתְנָ֑יו to into his belt Noun - masculine dual construct | third person masculine singular 1 Kings 20:31 בְּמָתְנֵ֜ינוּ to around our waists Preposition-b | Noun - masculine dual construct | first person common plural 1 Kings 20:32 בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֜ם to around their waists Preposition-b | Noun - masculine dual construct | third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 37:34
Aligned rows 47
Books represented 17
Genesis 1 Exodus 2 Deuteronomy 1 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 5 2 Kings 3 2 Chronicles 1 Nehemiah 1 Job 2 Psalms 2 Proverbs 2 Isaiah 4 Jeremiah 6 Ezekiel 12 Daniel 1 Amos 1 Nahum 2
Source forms
בְּמָתְנָ֑יו 3x bə·mā·ṯə·nāw Genesis 37:34, 2 Kings 1:8, Ezekiel 9:2
בְּמָתְנָ֔יו 2x bə·mā·ṯə·nāw 1 Kings 2:5, Ezekiel 9:11
מִמָּתְנֵ֥י 2x mim·mā·ṯə·nê 1 Kings 12:10, 2 Chronicles 10:10
מָתְנָיו֙ 2x mā·ṯə·nāw 2 Samuel 20:8, Ezekiel 1:27
מָתְנָ֑יו 2x mā·ṯə·nāw 1 Kings 18:46, Isaiah 11:5
מָתְנָ֖יו 2x mā·ṯə·nāw Nehemiah 4:18, Ezekiel 1:27
מָתְנֶ֗יךָ 2x mā·ṯə·ne·ḵā 2 Kings 4:29, 2 Kings 9:1
מָתְנֶ֔יךָ 2x mā·ṯə·ne·ḵā Isaiah 20:2, Jeremiah 1:17
Parsing patterns
Noun - md 9x Deuteronomy 33:11, Proverbs 30:31, Jeremiah 48:37, Ezekiel 21:6
Noun - masculine dual construct | third person masculine singular 7x 2 Samuel 20:8, 1 Kings 18:46, Nehemiah 4:18, Isaiah 11:5
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine dual construct | third person masculine singular 7x Genesis 37:34, 1 Kings 2:5, 2 Kings 1:8, Job 40:16
Noun - masculine dual construct | second person masculine singular 6x 2 Kings 4:29, 2 Kings 9:1, Isaiah 20:2, Jeremiah 1:17
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine dual construct | third person masculine plural 3x 1 Kings 20:32, Job 12:18, Ezekiel 23:15
Noun - masculine dual construct | first person common singular 2x Isaiah 21:3, Jeremiah 13:2
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine dual construct | first person common plural 2x 1 Kings 20:31, Psalms 66:11
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine dual construct 2x 1 Kings 12:10, 2 Chronicles 10:10
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Loins as seat of strength, virility, and procreative power; metaphorically, the core of physical vitality.
Source Gloss
properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Loins as seat of strength, virility, and procreative power; metaphorically, the core of physical vitality.
properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins BDB: loins Usage: greyhound, loins, side.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
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