Word Study for H4668 (מַפְתֵּחַ)

maphtêach /maf-tay'-akh/ Ask about this word

Meaningan opener, i.e. a key

KJV usagekey.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of maphtêach — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word maphtêach, represented by H4668, is the term for a key. It is derived from the root word pâthach H6605, meaning to open. Despite its significance, it is a rare word, appearing only 3 times in 3 unique verses of the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H4668 is used in both literal and symbolic contexts. Its most straightforward use is in Judges 3:25, where servants take a physical key to open the doors H1817 of a parlour. In 1 Chronicles 9:27, the word is translated as "the opening" and refers to the responsibility of the Levites for the house H1004 of God, a charge that pertained to them each morning. The most symbolic usage is found in Isaiah 22:22, where God places the key of the house of David on a servant's shoulder, granting him the authority to open H6605 and shut H5462.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the function and context of H4668:

H6605 pâthach (to open wide): As the root of maphtêach, this verb is central to the key's function. It is used in direct connection with the key in Isaiah 22:22, where having the key grants the power to open.
H5462 çâgar (to shut up): This word is the direct opposite of pâthach and highlights the dual authority granted by the key. In Isaiah 22:22, the power to shut is paired with the power to open.
H1004 bayith (house): This term defines the domain the key controls. The key is for the house of David Isaiah 22:22 or the house of God 1 Chronicles 9:27, signifying authority over a family, dynasty, or sacred space.
H1817 deleth (door): This word refers to the physical barrier that a key is designed to operate. A key is used to open the doors of the parlour in Judges 3:25.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4668 is most evident in its symbolic usage.

Delegated Authority: The key is a symbol of authority that is not inherent but is given by God. In Isaiah 22:22, God states, "the key... will I lay upon his shoulder," indicating that the power to open and shut is a divine delegation.
Irrevocable Power: The authority represented by the key is absolute. The one who holds it "shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open" Isaiah 22:22. This signifies complete control and finality in decision-making.
Sacred Stewardship: In the context of the house of God, the responsibility of "the opening" H4668 is a sacred "charge" entrusted to the Levites 1 Chronicles 9:27. This links the key to faithful service and stewardship over what belongs to God.

Summary

In summary, H4668 is a powerful concept that develops from a simple, tangible object into a profound symbol. It begins as a literal key Judges 3:25, progresses to represent an entrusted duty 1 Chronicles 9:27, and culminates as the ultimate emblem of divinely-delegated authority over the house of David Isaiah 22:22. Though it appears infrequently, maphtêach demonstrates how a common tool can signify absolute power, access, and sacred responsibility within the biblical narrative.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מַּפְתֵּחַ
מַפְתֵּחַ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Judges, 1 Chronicles, and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

Judges

1 Chronicles

Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.