from an unused root meaning to extend; properly, extent (of time); but used only adverbially (especially with other particle prefixes), when (either relative or interrogative); long, when.
Transliteration:mâthay
Pronunciation:maw-thah'ee
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew adverbial particle `{{H4970}}` *mâthay* derives from an unused root meaning "to extend," thus properly denoting "extent of time." Its primary function in biblical Hebrew is interrogative or relative, conveying the sense of "when" or "how long." While its etymological root points to duration, its usage is almost exclusively temporal, inquiring about the point in time or the duration of an event or state. It is a fundamental word for expressing temporal questions, ranging from simple inquiries about future actions to profound laments about the perceived delay of divine intervention. Often, `{{H4970}}` is prefixed by the preposition `{{H5704}}` *'ad* ("until"), forming the common phrase *'ad-mâthay* (עַד־מָתַי), meaning "until when?" or "how long?" This compound phrase significantly amplifies the sense of duration and often carries an emotional undertone of impatience, suffering, or fervent plea.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H4970}}` occurs frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, primarily in interrogative clauses. Its usage can be broadly categorized into several contexts:
1. **Inquiries about Future Events or Actions:** This is the most straightforward use, seeking to ascertain the timing of an anticipated event. For example, Laban asks Jacob, "When shall I provide for my own household also?" [[Genesis 30:30]]. Pharaoh asks Moses and Aaron, "How long will you refuse to humble yourselves before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me." [[Exodus 10:3]]. Similarly, God asks the Israelites, "How long will this wicked congregation grumble against me?" [[Numbers 14:27]]. These instances reflect a genuine desire for temporal information or a rhetorical question expressing exasperation.
2. **Expressions of Lament, Impatience, or Despair:** This is a particularly poignant use of `{{H4970}}`, especially in the form *'ad-mâthay*. The question "How long?" often articulates the suffering, weariness, or perceived abandonment felt by the speaker. The Psalms are replete with such cries: "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?" [[Psalm 13:1]]. "How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, 'Violence!' but you do not save?" [[Habakkuk 1:2]]. This usage underscores the human experience of waiting and yearning for divine intervention in times of distress or injustice.
3. **Rhetorical Questions:** Sometimes, `{{H4970}}` is used to pose a rhetorical question, not necessarily expecting a temporal answer but rather emphasizing a point or expressing strong emotion. For instance, "How long will you love delusion and seek after lies?" [[Psalm 4:2]]. This serves to rebuke or challenge the audience's current state or behavior.
The contextual nuances of `{{H4970}}` reveal much about the speaker's state of mind—whether it is simple curiosity, profound anguish, or moral indignation. The frequent pairing with `{{H5704}}` *'ad* highlights a deep human concern with the passage of time and the duration of challenging circumstances.
### Related Words & Concepts
The temporal nature of `{{H4970}}` connects it to several other Hebrew words and concepts related to time, duration, and interrogation:
* **`{{H5704}}` *'ad* (עַד):** As noted, this preposition meaning "until" or "as far as" is almost inextricably linked with `{{H4970}}` to form *'ad-mâthay* ("until when?"). This compound phrase is crucial for expressing duration and often implies a limit or an end point that is eagerly anticipated or desperately sought.
* **`{{H3651}}` *kēn* (כֵּן):** While primarily meaning "thus" or "so," *kēn* can sometimes appear in temporal contexts, though less directly related to "when." Its connection is more conceptual, pertaining to the manner or state of affairs.
* **`{{H4100}}` *mah* (מַה):** This is a general interrogative pronoun/adverb meaning "what" or "why." While it can inquire about circumstances, it lacks the specific temporal focus of `{{H4970}}`.
* **`{{H6256}}` *'ēth* (עֵת):** This noun denotes a specific "time" or "season." While `{{H4970}}` asks "when," *'ēth* refers to the "time" itself, often in the context of divine appointment or human opportunity, as seen in Ecclesiastes 3.
* **`{{H3117}}` *yôm* (יוֹם):** The common word for "day," representing a unit of time. While not directly related to the interrogative "when," it is the very fabric of the "extent of time" that `{{H4970}}` queries.
The most significant relationship is undoubtedly with `{{H5704}}` *'ad*, as their combination forms one of the most powerful expressions of temporal longing in the biblical text.
### Theological Significance
The frequent use of `{{H4970}}`, particularly in the form *'ad-mâthay*, carries profound theological significance, revealing much about the human-divine relationship and the nature of God's sovereignty over time.
1. **Human Frailty and Dependence:** The cry "How long?" is a stark expression of human limitation, impatience, and suffering. It highlights humanity's inability to control circumstances or dictate divine timing. It is a recognition of utter dependence on God for deliverance, justice, or relief from affliction. This plea underscores the reality of living in a fallen world where pain and injustice persist.
2. **God's Sovereignty and Patience:** While humans desperately ask "when," the biblical narrative consistently affirms God's perfect timing and sovereign control over all events. The unanswered "how long?" often serves to emphasize that God's ways are higher than human ways, and His timing is not subject to human demands. God's "delay" is often portrayed as an act of divine patience, allowing for repentance, the full measure of sin, or the maturation of His redemptive plan.
3. **The Call for Divine Intervention:** The question "How long?" is not merely a complaint but often a fervent prayer, a call for God to act. It is an act of faith, believing that God *can* intervene and *will* intervene, even if the timing is unknown. It expresses a deep conviction in God's justice and faithfulness, even when His actions seem delayed from a human perspective.
4. **Eschatological Longing:** In prophetic and apocalyptic contexts, "How long?" can express an eschatological longing for the end of the present age, the coming of God's kingdom, or the final judgment and vindication of the righteous. This question bridges the gap between present suffering and future hope, anchoring the believer's expectation in God's ultimate fulfillment of His promises.
### Summary
`{{H4970}}` *mâthay* is a crucial Hebrew adverbial particle primarily meaning "when" or "how long," derived from a root signifying "extent of time." Its usage in the Hebrew Bible is predominantly interrogative, inquiring about the timing or duration of events. While it can serve as a simple temporal query, its most impactful appearances are in expressions of lament and impatience, particularly when combined with `{{H5704}}` *'ad* to form *'ad-mâthay* ("until when?"). This powerful phrase articulates human suffering, the longing for divine intervention, and the tension between human desire for immediate resolution and God's sovereign, often mysterious, timing. Theologically, `{{H4970}}` highlights human dependence, God's patience and sovereignty, the persistent call for divine action, and the eschatological hope for future fulfillment. It is a word that encapsulates the human experience of waiting in faith before a God who governs all time.
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