from מָצַץ in the sense of greedily devouring for sweetness; properly, sweetness; concretely, sweet (i.e. not soured or bittered with yeast); specifically, an unfermented cake or loaf, or (elliptically) the festival of Passover (because no leaven was then used); unleaved (bread, cake), without leaven.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **matstsâh**, represented by `{{H4682}}`, refers to an **unfermented cake or loaf**, also known as **unleavened bread**. It appears **53 times** across **42 unique verses** in the Bible. Derived from a root suggesting sweetness, it describes bread made without yeast, meaning it is not soured or bittered. The term can refer to the bread itself or, by extension, the festival of Passover, during which it was exclusively consumed.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H4682}}` is central to both sacred rituals and historical commemoration. Its most prominent context is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a seven-day observance commanded by God ([[Exodus 23:15]], [[Leviticus 23:6]]). This feast was one of three major annual festivals requiring the presence of all males before the Lord [[Deuteronomy 16:16]]. The bread is explicitly linked to the Exodus, where the Israelites baked unleavened cakes because they departed Egypt in haste and had no time for their dough to rise [[Exodus 12:39]]. It is called the "bread of affliction" to serve as a lifelong reminder of this rapid deliverance [[Deuteronomy 16:3]]. Beyond the festival, **matstsâh** was also used in daily life and hospitality, as when Lot baked it for his guests [[Genesis 19:3]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the meaning and context of **matstsâh**:
* `{{H2557}}` **châmêts** (leaven, leavened (bread)): This is the direct counterpart to **matstsâh**. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the consumption of **châmêts** was strictly forbidden, and it was to be entirely removed from Israelite houses [[Exodus 12:15]].
* `{{H3899}}` **lechem** (food, bread): This is the general term for bread. **Matstsâh** is a specific type of **lechem**, and the terms are often used together to specify "unleavened **bread**" in sacrificial contexts [[Exodus 29:2]].
* `{{H2471}}` **challâh** (cake): This term describes a specific form of bread, often appearing alongside **matstsâh** in instructions for offerings, such as "unleavened **cakes** of fine flour" [[Leviticus 2:4]].
* `{{H7550}}` **râqîyq** (cake, wafer): This refers to a thin cake or wafer, another specific form of **matstsâh** used in offerings and often described as being "anointed with oil" [[Numbers 6:15]].
* `{{H4503}}` **minchâh** ((meat) offering): The context in which **matstsâh** is frequently required. It was a mandatory component of certain grain or meat offerings presented to the Lord [[Leviticus 2:5]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4682}}` is significant and multifaceted.
* **Commemoration of Deliverance:** The primary role of **matstsâh** is to serve as a memorial. Eating it was a perpetual ordinance to remember the day God brought Israel's armies out of Egypt [[Exodus 12:17]]. Its connection to the haste of their departure reinforces God's powerful and sudden intervention [[Deuteronomy 16:3]].
* **Purity in Offerings:** The absence of leaven (`{{H7603}}` **sᵉʼôr**) was a requirement for certain offerings brought to the LORD. **Matstsâh** represented this purity and was part of the holy portion given to the priests from the offerings made by fire, to be eaten in a holy place ([[Leviticus 6:16]], [[Leviticus 10:12]]).
* **A Central Element of Worship:** Its mandated inclusion in the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread establishes it as a cornerstone of Israel's liturgical life. The observance was commanded to be kept with joy and gladness, celebrating God's deliverance and provision ([[Ezra 6:22]], [[2 Chronicles 30:21]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4682}}` **matstsâh** transcends its simple definition as unleavened bread. It is a powerful symbol embedded in Israel's history, identity, and worship. From a simple meal baked in haste by fleeing slaves [[Exodus 12:39]] to a required element in sacred offerings [[Leviticus 2:4]] and the centerpiece of a national festival [[Deuteronomy 16:16]], **matstsâh** illustrates how a physical object can carry profound spiritual and historical weight in the biblical account.
TRV