Lexicon :: Strong's H4294 - maṭṭê

1. staff, rod, shaft.

2. branch.

3. tribe (Ecclus 48:2 staff, Ecclesiasticus 45:6; Ecclesiasticus 45:25 tribe); — absolute מ׳ Genesis 38:25 +; construct מַטַּה Exodus 4:20 +; suffix מַטְּךָ Genesis 38:18 + 5 times, מַטֶּ֑ךָ Exodus 8:1, מַטֵּ֫הוּ Isaiah 10:24 + 10 times; plural מַטּוֺת 1 Kings 8:1 +, etc.; suffix מַטּוֺחָם Exodus 7:12; Numbers 17:21; also מַטָּיו Habakkuk 3:14 (but read מַטֶּיךָ or — Gr — מַטֹּתֶיךָ); —

1. (compare מַקֵּל, שֵׁבֶט) staff of traveller Genesis 38:18, 25 (J); in general Isaiah 10:15 (simile; || שֵׁבֶט); from staff as support comes figurative מַטֵּהלֶֿחֶם staff of bread (food supply) Ezekiel 4:16; Ezekiel 5:16; Ezekiel 14:13; Leviticus 26:26; Psalm 105:16; of staff or rod, Moses as shepherd Exodus 4:2, 4; Exodus 7:15 (J), Exodus 4:17; Exodus 7:17, 20; Exodus 9:23; Exodus 10:13; Exodus 17:5 (all E); compare also Isaiah 10:26; Exodus 14:16; Numbers 20:8, 9, 11 (all P); called הָאֱלֹהִים מ׳ Exodus 4:20; Exodus 17:9 (both E), because of miraculous power connected with it; compare mirac. rod of Aaron Exodus 7:9, 10, 12, 19; Exodus 8:1; Exodus 8:12; Exodus 8:13 (all P), and of Egyptian magicians Exodus 7:12 (twice in verse) (P); compare Aaron's rod that budded Numbers 17:18 [Numbers 17:3]; Numbers 17:21 [Numbers 17:6]; Numbers 17:23 [Numbers 17:8]; Numbers 17:25 [Numbers 17:10] (compare RS^{Semitic i. 180; 2d ed. 197}); carried even by warrior 1 Samuel 14:27, 43; מַטֵּה שִׁכְמוֺ Isaiah 9:3 i.e. rod that strikes his shoulder, task-master's rod (|| שֵׁבֶט הַנֹּגֵשׂ בּוֺ), compare Isaiah 10:5 and Isaiah 10:24; Isaiah 14:5 (|| שֵׁבֶט), all figurative of oppression; מַטֵּה מוּסָדָה Isaiah 30:32 appointed rod (of punishment); compare מ׳ Ezekiel 7:10, 11 (but text obscure, Co — which see — sceptre), also Micah 6:9 according to MT, but see below 3; used in beating out (חבט) fennel Isaiah 28:27; staff as badge of leader or ruler מַטֵּהעֹֿז Jeremiah 48:17 (|| מַקֵּל), compare Psalm 110:2; so Numbers 17:17 [Numbers 17:2] (4 times in verse) + 10 times Numbers 17; apparently shafts, i.e. arrows or spears, Habakkuk 3:9, 14 (compare Now Da GASm).

†2. branch of vine Ezekiel 19:11, 12, 14 (twice in verse).

3. tribe (183 times), originally company led by chief with staff: specifically of tribes of Israel in both singular and plural, 1 Kings 7:14; 1 Kings 8:1 2 Chronicles 5:2; Exodus 31:2 + 5 times Exodus; Leviticus 24:11; Numbers 1:4 + 89 times Numbers; Joshua 7:1 + 56 times Joshua (all P); 1 Chronicles 6:45 + 21 times 1 Chronicles 6; 1 Chronicles 12:31; probably also Micah 6:9 (vocative; so We Now GASm). — compare שֵׁבֶט, and on relation of these two words for tribe Hebrew usage Dr^{JPhoenician xi. (1882), 213 f}.