English · KJV
H4966

מָתוֹק

mâthôwq /maw-thoke'/ Ask about this word
Rootor מָתוּק · from מָתַק
Meaningsweet
KJV usagesweet(-er, -ness).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâthôwq — 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 mâthôwq, represented by H4966, describes that which is sweet. It appears 12 times in 11 unique verses, and its meaning extends from a literal taste to a metaphorical sense of pleasantness and goodness. The word can be translated as sweet, sweeter, or sweetness, depending on the context.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical application, H4966 is used both literally and figuratively. It is frequently associated with honey, as seen when God's word in Ezekiel's roll was in his mouth as honey H1706 for sweetness Ezekiel 3:3. Samson's riddle asks what is sweeter than honey Judges 14:18. The word also describes the sweet fruit of the apple tree Song of Solomon 2:3 and the sweet sleep of a labouring man Ecclesiastes 5:12. In a critical moral teaching, Isaiah pronounces woe H1945 on those who put bitter H4751 for sweet H4966, using the term to represent what is good and true Isaiah 5:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illustrate the concept of sweetness and its counterparts:

  • H1706 dᵉbash (honey): This is the most common substance described as sweet. The land promised to Israel is described as flowing with milk and honey Exodus 3:8.
  • H4751 mar (bitter): This word is the direct antonym to mâthôwq. It is used in contexts of great sorrow or discontent, and in Isaiah 5:20 it is contrasted with sweet to define moral opposites.
  • H2441 chêk (taste): This refers to the palate or mouth and is the faculty through which sweetness is perceived. The fruit of the beloved was sweet to the taste Song of Solomon 2:3.
  • H5278 nôʻam (pleasantness): This describes an agreeable quality. Pleasant words are compared to a honeycomb, sweet H4966 to the soul Proverbs 16:24.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H4966 lies in its metaphorical use to describe divine things.

  • The Goodness of God's Word: The commandments of the Lord are more desirable than fine gold H6337 and sweeter than honey H1706 and the honeycomb Psalms 19:10. This elevates the experience of God's law to the highest form of pleasure.
  • The Nature of Wisdom: Pleasant words, a product of wisdom, are described as sweet H4966 to the soul and bring health H4832 to the bones Proverbs 16:24, linking spiritual sweetness to physical well-being.
  • Moral and Spiritual Truth: The term defines moral goodness in stark contrast to evil. Isaiah warns against the corruption of calling good evil or putting sweet for bitter Isaiah 5:20, establishing sweetness as a metaphor for divine order and truth.
  • The Experience of God's Blessings: The experience of God's creation, such as light, is described as sweet Ecclesiastes 11:7, and a hungry soul finds even a bitter thing to be sweet Proverbs 27:7, illustrating how need and perspective shape one's experience of what is good.

Summary

In summary, H4966 mâthôwq transcends its simple definition of a physical taste. While it literally describes the flavor of honey and fruit, it is elevated in Scripture to represent the pleasantness of God's words, the value of wisdom, the nature of moral good, and the joy of divine blessings. The word illustrates how a basic sensory experience can be used to communicate deep spiritual and theological truths.

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 an adjective across 12 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.

  • מָתוֹק
  • מְתוּקִים
  • מְתוּקָה

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.

H1706 דְּבַשׁ from an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup; honey(-comb). H1945 הוֹי a prolonged form of הוֹ (akin to אוֹי); oh!; ah, alas, ho, O, woe. H4751 מַר or (feminine) מָרָה; from מָרַר; bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterl H2441 חֵךְ probably from חָנַךְ in the sense of tasting; properly, the palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as t H5278 נֹעַם from נָעֵם; agreeableness, i.e. delight, suitableness, splendor or grace; beauty, pleasant(-ness). H6337 פָּז from פָּזַז; pure (gold); hence, gold itself (as refined); fine (pure) gold.

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 11 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (3 verses); never once in the other 32.

2
Judges
1
Psalms
3
Proverbs
2
Ecclesiastes
1
Song of Solomon
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.