English · KJV
H4680

מָצָה

mâtsâh /maw-tsaw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto suck out; by implication, to drain, to squeeze out
KJV usagesuck, wring (out).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâtsâh — 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 mâtsâh, represented by H4680, is a primitive root that means to suck out, drain, or squeeze out. It appears 7 times in 7 unique verses, conveying an action of thorough extraction or wringing. The term is applied both literally, such as wringing a wet object completely dry, and figuratively, to describe the complete consumption of divine judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H4680 appears in both literal and figurative contexts. Literally, it describes Gideon wringing dew from a fleece H1492 to confirm God's sign Judges 6:38. It is also used in Levitical law, where the blood H1818 of a sin offering is to be wrung out at the side of the altar H4196 (Leviticus 1:15, Leviticus 5:9). Figuratively, the word illustrates divine judgment. The wicked H7563 of the earth must wring out and drink the dregs from the LORD's cup H3563 Psalms 75:8. In a similar manner, Jerusalem H3389 is addressed as having wrung out the cup of God's fury H2534 Isaiah 51:17, and Ezekiel describes the experience as having to suck it out completely Ezekiel 23:34.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which H4680 is used:

  • H3563 kôwç (a cup (as a container), often figuratively, a lot (as if a potion)): The cup is a powerful symbol often associated with mâtsâh, representing a portion of divine fury H2534 that must be wrung out and drunk by the wicked Psalms 75:8 or by Jerusalem Isaiah 51:17.
  • H1818 dâm (blood): In the context of sacrifices, blood is the substance that is wrung out at the altar H4196, signifying the draining of life required for a sin offering H2403 Leviticus 1:15.
  • H1492 gâzzah (a fleece): This word is central to the account of Gideon, who tests God by wringing the dew H2919 from the fleece Judges 6:38. The action of wringing demonstrates the tangible and complete nature of the divine sign.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4680 is significant, highlighting the exhaustive nature of God's actions.

  • The Cup of Judgment: The most powerful theological use of mâtsâh is in the imagery of the cup of God's wrath. The act of wringing it out signifies that none of the judgment can be avoided; it must be consumed to the last drop by the wicked H7563 Psalms 75:8 and by God's people under discipline Isaiah 51:17.
  • Completeness in Ritual: In Levitical law, wringing out the blood H1818 of the sacrifice against the altar H4196 was a prescribed part of the ritual Leviticus 5:9. This emphasizes the thoroughness required in the sacrificial system, where the life of the offering is fully given over.
  • Thoroughness of Divine Action: Whether in judgment or in providing a sign, mâtsâh implies a complete and exhaustive action. Gideon wrings a bowl H5602 full of water H4325 from the fleece, leaving no doubt about God's message Judges 6:38. Likewise, those who drink the cup of judgment must suck it out, a graphic portrayal of utter desolation Ezekiel 23:34.

Summary

In summary, H4680 mâtsâh is a visceral term for completely draining or squeezing out a liquid. It moves from a literal, physical action seen in Gideon's fleece and Levitical sacrifices to a potent metaphor for the totality of an experience, particularly the exhaustive nature of divine judgment. The word consistently communicates a sense of finality and completeness, where nothing is left behind.

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 verb across 7 occurrences, inflected in 7 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.

  • נִמְצָה
  • יִמָּצוּ
  • יִמָּצֵה
  • יִּמֶץ
  • מָצִית
  • יִמְצוּ
  • מָצִית

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1492 גָּזַּה feminine from גַּזָז; a fleece; fleece. H1818 דָּם from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ from זָבַח; an altar; altar. H7563 רָשָׁע from רָשַׁע; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person; [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), tha H3563 כּוֹס from an unused root meaning to hold together; a cup (as a container), often figuratively, a lot (as if a potion); also s H3389 יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seem

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 7 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Leviticus and Psalms (2 verses each); never once in the other 34.

2
Leviticus
1
Judges
2
Psalms
1
Isaiah
1
Ezekiel

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.