English · KJV
H4969

מָתַח

mâthach /maw-thakh'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto stretch out
KJV usagespread out.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâthach — 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 mâthach, represented by H4969, is a primitive root meaning to stretch out; spread out. It is a highly specific term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. Its singular use powerfully illustrates an act of divine creation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole appearance of H4969 is in Isaiah 40:22, a passage describing God's majesty and power over creation. The verse depicts God as the one who "spreadeth them out" in reference to the heavens, comparing this action to spreading a tent to live in. This imagery emphasizes not only the vastness of God's creative act but also its purpose: to establish a habitation. The word is used in parallel with "stretcheth out" H5186 to reinforce the scale of this cosmic act.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words in the same passage expand upon the concept of God's creative authority:

  • H5186 nâṭâh (to stretch or spread out): This word is used immediately before H4969 in Isaiah 40:22, creating a powerful parallel description of God shaping the heavens. It is also used elsewhere to describe God's creative power, as in his "outstretched arm" Jeremiah 27:5.
  • H3427 yâshab (to sit down... to dwell, to remain): The purpose of spreading out H4969 the heavens as a tent is explicitly "to dwell in" H3427. This same word is used at the beginning of Isaiah 40:22 to describe God as the one who "sitteth" above the earth, linking his creative act to his sovereign position.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4969 is derived from its unique and powerful context.

  • Divine Creatorship: The word is used exclusively to portray God as the architect of the cosmos. Spreading out the heavens like a tent is an image of effortless and absolute power over the created order Isaiah 40:22.
  • Purposeful Creation: The act of spreading is not arbitrary but is done to create a tent "to dwell in" H3427. This highlights the biblical theme that God's creation is purposeful, intended as a place of habitation.
  • God's Sovereignty: The one who spreads out the heavens H4969 is the same one who "sitteth" H3427 enthroned above them. The word, therefore, contributes to the overall picture of God's supreme authority and rule over all that He has made.

Summary

In summary, H4969 is a rare but significant word that captures a specific aspect of God's creative power. In its single biblical use, it conveys the immense scale and intentionality of God's work in forming the heavens. It functions as a vivid metaphor for divine might, showing how God establishes the universe not only as a display of his majesty but also as a purposeful space over which He reigns.

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 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
Singular
One.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").

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.

H5186 נָטָה a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great v H3427 יָשַׁב a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remai

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

1 verse, all in Isaiah — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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, 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.