What does מָתַק mean in the Bible?
מָתַק is a Hebrew word meaning "to suck , by implication, to relish , or (intransitively) be sweet".
Hebrew · H4985
מָתַק
To suck , by implication, to relish , or (intransitively) be sweet
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מָתַק H4985
What does מָתַק mean in the Bible?
מָתַק is a Hebrew word meaning "to suck , by implication, to relish , or (intransitively) be sweet".
Full entry for מָתַק (H4985) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4985?
The BSB source-word alignment has 6 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include is sweet (2), are sweet (1), feeds on them (1), shared sweet (1), were sweetened (1).
Where does מָתַק appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 15:25. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (3), Exodus (1), Proverbs (1), Psalms (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 is sweet 2× Job 20:12, Proverbs 9:17
are sweet 1× Job 21:33
feeds on them 1× Job 24:20
shared sweet 1× Psalms 55:14
were sweetened 1× Exodus 15:25
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 15:25 וַֽיִּמְתְּק֖וּ to were sweetened Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Job 20:12 תַּמְתִּ֣יק to is sweet Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Job 21:33 מָֽתְקוּ־ to are sweet Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Job 24:20 מְתָ֘ק֤וֹ to feeds on them Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Psalms 55:14 נַמְתִּ֣יק to shared sweet Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common plural Proverbs 9:17 יִמְתָּ֑קוּ to is sweet Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 15:25
Aligned rows 6
Books represented 4
Exodus 1 Job 3 Psalms 1 Proverbs 1
Source forms
וַֽיִּמְתְּק֖וּ 1x way·yim·tə·qū Exodus 15:25
יִמְתָּ֑קוּ 1x yim·tā·qū Proverbs 9:17
מְתָ֘ק֤וֹ 1x mə·ṯā·qōw Job 24:20
מָֽתְקוּ־ 1x mā·ṯə·qū- Job 21:33
נַמְתִּ֣יק 1x nam·tîq Psalms 55:14
תַּמְתִּ֣יק 1x tam·tîq Job 20:12
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Exodus 15:25
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common plural 1x Psalms 55:14
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 1x Job 20:12
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Proverbs 9:17
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 1x Job 21:33
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular 1x Job 24:20
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to suck , by implication, to relish , or (intransitively) be sweet
Source Gloss
to suck , by implication, to relish , or (intransitively) be sweet
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to suck, by implication, to relish, or (intransitively) be sweet BDB: become Usage: be (made, × take) sweet.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 4
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 2×
Imperfect Job 20:12 · Ps 55:15 2×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 2×
Perfect Job 21:33 1×
Imperfect Prov 9:17 1×
Word Origins
מָתַק is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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