denominative from תֶּבֶן; straw in the heap; straw.
Transliteration:mathbên
Pronunciation:math-bane'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term מַתְבֵּן (mathbên), Strong's `{{H4963}}`, is a denominative noun derived from the more common word תֶּבֶן (teben), Strong's `{{H8401}}`, which means "straw." The prefix "ma-" often indicates a place or state, thus *mathbên* literally signifies "a place of straw" or, more precisely, "straw in a heap." It refers to the dry stalks of grain after threshing, often collected and piled. While *teben* can denote straw generally, *mathbên* specifically emphasizes the collected, perhaps discarded, mass of straw. Its semantic range is narrow, focusing on this specific form or accumulation of straw.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word *mathbên* appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the prophetic book of Isaiah:
* **[[Isaiah 25:10]]**: "For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab will be trodden down in his place, as straw is trodden down in the water of a dunghill."
In this singular occurrence, *mathbên* is employed in a vivid and powerful simile describing the complete humiliation and destruction of Moab. The imagery is stark: Moab, a nation often characterized by its pride, is compared to a "heap of straw" (mathbên) being trampled. The context is crucial:
1. **Divine Agency**: "The hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain" (Zion, symbolizing God's protective presence and ultimate victory). This establishes divine sovereignty over the judgment.
2. **Location of Destruction**: Moab is "trodden down *in his place*," indicating utter defeat within their own territory.
3. **Method of Destruction**: The straw is "trodden down in the water of a dunghill" (מַדְמֵנָה - madmenah, `{{H4092}}`). A dunghill is a place of refuse, decay, and filth, signifying ultimate degradation and worthlessness. The act of "treading down" (דּוּשׁ - dush, `{{H1758}}`) implies complete subjugation, pulverization, and the reduction of something to nothing.
The use of *mathbên* here, rather than simply *teben*, might emphasize the sheer quantity or the accumulated, discarded nature of the straw, making the image of its complete and repulsive destruction even more potent. It is not just a few scattered stalks, but a heap, a substantial mass, being utterly annihilated in the most demeaning manner.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is תֶּבֶן (teben, `{{H8401}}`), the root from which *mathbên* is derived. *Teben* is much more frequently attested in the Hebrew Bible, notably in the narrative of the Exodus, where the Israelites were forced to make bricks without straw ([[Exodus 5:7-18]]). This highlights straw's role as a humble but essential material for construction and as fodder.
Concepts related to *mathbên* through its usage and the broader understanding of straw include:
* **Worthlessness and Fragility**: Straw is inherently light, easily scattered by wind, trampled, or consumed by fire. It symbolizes that which is insignificant, transient, and easily destroyed.
* **Humiliation and Degradation**: The specific imagery in [[Isaiah 25:10]] of being trodden in a dunghill powerfully conveys extreme abasement, disgrace, and complete loss of dignity.
* **Judgment and Destruction**: As an object of divine judgment, *mathbên* represents the fate of the wicked or those who oppose God, signifying their utter annihilation.
* **Contrast with Solidity/Permanence**: Straw stands in stark contrast to enduring materials like stone or metal, emphasizing its ephemeral nature.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of *mathbên* in [[Isaiah 25:10]] carries profound theological weight, primarily illustrating aspects of divine judgment and sovereignty:
1. **Divine Justice and Judgment**: The destruction of Moab serves as a powerful demonstration of God's righteous judgment against nations and peoples characterized by pride, idolatry, or opposition to His purposes. The imagery of being "trodden down as straw in the water of a dunghill" underscores the totality, severity, and ignominy of this judgment. It is a divine act that reduces the proud to utter worthlessness.
2. **God's Sovereignty over Nations**: The phrase "the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain" juxtaposes God's protective presence over Zion (His people) with His active judgment against Moab. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty over the destinies of nations, demonstrating His power to exalt and to abase.
3. **Humiliation of Pride**: Moab was known for its arrogance and defiance ([[Isaiah 16:6]]). The fate described for them—being reduced to a heap of straw trampled in filth—is the ultimate reversal of their self-exaltation. It serves as a stark reminder that God opposes the proud and brings them low ([[Proverbs 16:18]]).
4. **Eschatological Fulfillment**: Isaiah 25 is a chapter rich in eschatological hope, depicting the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom and the feast for all peoples on Mount Zion. The destruction of Moab, symbolized by *mathbên*, is part of this larger divine plan, where all enemies are subdued, making way for God's righteous reign and the deliverance of His people.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מַתְבֵּן (mathbên, `{{H4963}}`), meaning "a heap of straw," is a unique and potent term found only once in the biblical text, at [[Isaiah 25:10]]. Derived from the more common word for "straw" (תֶּבֶן, `{{H8401}}`), *mathbên* specifically emphasizes a collected mass of this common material. In its singular biblical occurrence, it functions as a vivid metaphor for the complete and utter humiliation, worthlessness, and destruction of Moab under divine judgment. The imagery of a "heap of straw trodden down in the water of a dunghill" conveys the extreme degradation and annihilation facing those who oppose God. Theologically, *mathbên* powerfully illustrates God's sovereign judgment, His opposition to human pride, and the ultimate, ignominious fate of those who stand against His divine will in the unfolding of His eschatological plan.
TRV