4307. mattara or mattarah

Strong's Lexicon

mattara or mattarah: Target, mark, guard, prison

Original Word: מַטָּרָא
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mattara'
Pronunciation: mat-taw-RAW
Phonetic Spelling: (mat-taw-raw')
Definition: Target, mark, guard, prison
Meaning: a jail, an aim

Word Origin: Derived from the root נָטַר (natar), meaning "to guard" or "to watch."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G4649: σκοπός (skopos) - meaning "mark" or "goal"

- G5087: τίθημι (tithēmi) - meaning "to set" or "to place"

Usage: The Hebrew word "mattara" primarily refers to a target or mark, often used in the context of aiming or focusing on a specific point. It can also denote a place of confinement or a guard post, indicating a location that is watched or protected. The term is used metaphorically to describe goals or objectives, as well as literal places of imprisonment.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the concept of a "target" or "mark" was significant in both military and civilian life. Archery and other forms of projectile weaponry required precision and focus, making the idea of a target central to training and warfare. Additionally, the notion of guarding or watching over something was crucial in a society where cities and valuable assets needed protection from external threats. The dual meaning of "mattara" as both a target and a place of confinement reflects the broader cultural emphasis on vigilance and security.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from natar
Definition
a guard, ward, prison, target, mark
NASB Translation
guard (6), guardhouse (7), target (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מַטָּרָה and (Lamentations 3:12) מַטָּרָא noun feminine 1. guard, ward, prison Nehemiah 3:25.

2 target, mark (as kept in the eye, watched, compare נָצַר Proverbs 23:26, and σκόπος (watcher, mark) from σκέπτομαι; perhaps Nabataean [רתא]מט Lzb³²³); — always absolute: —

1 guard, ward, prison, usually ׳חֲצַר הַמּ court of gaurd (see I. ׳חָצֵ) Jeremiah 32:2,8,12; Jeremiah 33:1; Jeremiah 37:21 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 38:6,13,28; Jeremiah 39:14,15; ׳שַׁעַר הַמּ Nehemiah 12:39.

2 target, mark Job 16:12 (figurative of ׳יs chastisement), כַּמַּטָּרָא לַחֵץ Lamentations 3:12 (simile id.); literally only 1 Samuel 20:20.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

mark, prison

Or mattarah {mat-taw-raw'}; from natar; a jail (as a guard-house); also an aim (as being closely watched) -- mark, prison.

see HEBREW natar

Forms and Transliterations

הַמַּטָּרָ֑ה הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה הַמַּטָּרָ֗ה הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ הַמַּטָּרָה֒ המטרה המטרה׃ כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א כמטרא לְמַטָּרָֽה׃ למטרה׃ ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh hammattaRah hammaṭṭārāh kam·maṭ·ṭā·rā kammattaRa kammaṭṭārā lə·maṭ·ṭā·rāh lemattaRah ləmaṭṭārāh

Englishman's Concordance

1 Samuel 20:20
HEB: לְשַֽׁלַּֽח־ לִ֖י לְמַטָּרָֽה׃
NAS: as though I shot at a target.
KJV: [thereof], as though I shot at a mark.
INT: will shoot shot A target

Nehemiah 3:25
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֖ר לַחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֑ה אַחֲרָ֖יו פְּדָיָ֥ה
NAS: is by the court of the guard. After
KJV: that [was] by the court of the prison. After
INT: which the court of the guard After Pedaiah

Nehemiah 12:39
HEB: וְעָ֣מְד֔וּ בְּשַׁ֖עַר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃
NAS: at the Gate of the Guard.
KJV: and they stood still in the prison gate.
INT: stopped the Gate of the Guard

Job 16:12
HEB: וַיְקִימֵ֥נִי ל֝֗וֹ לְמַטָּרָֽה׃
NAS: He has also set me up as His target.
KJV: and set me up for his mark.
INT: to pieces set his target

Jeremiah 32:2
HEB: כָלוּא֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בֵּֽית־
NAS: up in the court of the guard, which
KJV: in the court of the prison, which [was] in the king
INT: was shut the court of the guard which the house

Jeremiah 32:8
HEB: אֶל־ חֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָה֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֡י
NAS: to me in the court of the guard according to the word
KJV: to me in the court of the prison according to the word
INT: to me the court of the guard and said to me

Jeremiah 32:12
HEB: הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃
NAS: in the court of the guard.
KJV: that sat in the court of the prison.
INT: were sitting the court of the guard

Jeremiah 33:1
HEB: עָצ֔וּר בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
NAS: in the court of the guard, saying,
KJV: in the court of the prison, saying,
INT: confined the court of the guard saying

Jeremiah 37:21
HEB: יִרְמְיָהוּ֮ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָה֒ וְנָתֹן֩ ל֨וֹ
NAS: to the court of the guardhouse and gave
KJV: into the court of the prison, and that they should give
INT: Jeremiah to the court of the guardhouse and gave A loaf

Jeremiah 37:21
HEB: יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ בַּחֲצַ֖ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃
NAS: in the court of the guardhouse.
KJV: remained in the court of the prison.
INT: Jeremiah the court of the guardhouse

Jeremiah 38:6
HEB: אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה וַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ אֶֽת־
NAS: was in the court of the guardhouse; and they let
KJV: that [was] in the court of the prison: and they let down
INT: which the court of the guardhouse let Jeremiah

Jeremiah 38:13
HEB: יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ בַּחֲצַ֖ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ ס
NAS: stayed in the court of the guardhouse.
KJV: remained in the court of the prison.
INT: and Jeremiah the court of the guardhouse

Jeremiah 38:28
HEB: יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה עַד־ י֖וֹם
NAS: in the court of the guardhouse until
KJV: in the court of the prison until the day
INT: Jeremiah the court of the guardhouse until the day

Jeremiah 39:14
HEB: יִרְמְיָ֜הוּ מֵחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֗ה וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙
NAS: out of the court of the guardhouse and entrusted
KJV: out of the court of the prison, and committed
INT: Jeremiah of the court of the guardhouse and entrusted to

Jeremiah 39:15
HEB: עָצ֔וּר בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
NAS: in the court of the guardhouse, saying,
KJV: in the court of the prison, saying,
INT: was confined the court of the guardhouse saying

Lamentations 3:12
HEB: קַשְׁתּוֹ֙ וַיַּצִּיבֵ֔נִי כַּמַּטָּרָ֖א לַחֵֽץ׃ ס
NAS: And set me as a target for the arrow.
KJV: and set me as a mark for the arrow.
INT: his bow and set A target the arrow

16 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4307
16 Occurrences

ham·maṭ·ṭā·rāh — 13 Occ.
kam·maṭ·ṭā·rā — 1 Occ.
lə·maṭ·ṭā·rāh — 2 Occ.