Word Study for H4962 (מַת) | Strong's Concordance

math /math/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom the same as מָתַי

Meaningproperly, an adult (as of full length); by implication, a man (only in the plural)

KJV usagemen, persons

Idioms & phrasesphrase few · idiom friends · idiom small.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of math — 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 math, represented by H4962, properly refers to an adult man, but is only used in the plural. It appears 22 times across 21 unique verses and often carries the implication of a small group, translating as men, persons, or idiomatically as few. This term is frequently used to quantify a group, highlighting their smallness or vulnerability.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H4962 is often used to describe the humble beginnings or diminished state of a people. When Jacob's family lived among the Canaanites, he feared destruction because his household was "few in number" Genesis 34:30. This theme is repeated in the description of Israel's origins, where Jacob went down to Egypt with "a few" people before becoming a great nation Deuteronomy 26:5. Conversely, being reduced to a "few in number" is presented as a consequence of disobedience and scattering Deuteronomy 28:62. The term also describes specific groups, such as the "honourable men" of Judah who are famished in judgment Isaiah 5:13 or the "inward friends" who abhorred Job Job 19:19.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning and scope of H4962:

H4592 mᵉʻaṭ (a little or few): This term directly emphasizes the small quantity often associated with math. It is used alongside H4962 to stress the smallness of the group, as when the Israelites first sojourned in Egypt "with a few" Deuteronomy 26:5.
H802 ʼishshâh (woman): This word provides a direct contrast to the masculine focus of math. They appear together in accounts of total conquest, where the destruction encompasses "the men, and the women, and the little ones" Deuteronomy 2:34.
H5971 ʻam (people): While math often denotes a small, countable group of men, ʻam refers to a people as a larger, congregated unit or nation. This contrast is seen when God's judgment falls upon his "people" H5971, causing their "honourable men" H4962 to become famished Isaiah 5:13.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4962 is significant, often highlighting themes of vulnerability, judgment, and divine preservation.

Humility and Dependence: The description of Israel's ancestors as "a few men in number" Psalms 105:12 underscores their initial weakness and total dependence on God for protection and growth. God reassures his people by addressing them as "ye men of Israel," promising to help them in their vulnerable state Isaiah 41:14.
Consequence of Sin: A reduction to a few men is a recurring sign of divine judgment. Disobedience leads to being "left few in number among the heathen" Deuteronomy 4:27, and iniquity leads to the "honourable men" facing famine and thirst Isaiah 5:13.
The Remnant: The term is used to describe the small group that survives judgment. After the destruction of Judah, only "a small number that escape the sword" H4962 are prophesied to return from Egypt Jeremiah 44:28, pointing to God's preservation of a remnant.

Summary

In summary, H4962 is a specific term for men or persons that often carries a crucial nuance of smallness and vulnerability. It effectively portrays the humble beginnings of the Israelite nation, the severe consequences of divine judgment, and the hope of a preserved remnant. From describing Jacob's "few" family members Genesis 34:30 to the "vain persons" one should avoid Psalms 26:4, math illustrates how God works through the weak and judges the proud, providing a stark reminder of humanity's dependence on Him.

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 23 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

מְתֵי
מְתִים
מְתֹם

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 21 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Deuteronomy and Job (6 verses each); never once in the other 32.

Genesis

Deuteronomy

1 Chronicles

Job

Psalms

Isaiah

Jeremiah

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.