Word Study for H4978 (מַתְּנָא)

mattᵉnâʼ /mat-ten-aw'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to מַתָּנָה

Meaning(a present; specifically (in a good sense), a sacrificial offering, (in a bad sense) a bribe)

KJV usagegift.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mattᵉnâʼ — 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 Aramaic word mattᵉnâʼ, represented by H4978, translates to gift. It appears 3 times in 3 unique verses, all within the book of Daniel. The term corresponds to the Hebrew word for a present and can denote a gift in a good sense, a sacrificial offering, or a bribe in a bad sense.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H4978 is used exclusively in the context of a king offering rewards. King Nebuchadnezzar promises "gifts and rewards and great honour" to any who could interpret his dream Daniel 2:6. After Daniel successfully does so, the king bestows upon him "many great gifts" as a sign of favor and promotion Daniel 2:48. Later, when faced with King Belshazzar's offer of reward, Daniel rejects the royal incentive, stating, "Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another" Daniel 5:17, choosing instead to deliver God's message without worldly compensation.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify the concept of gifts and rewards in the book of Daniel:

H5023 nᵉbizbâh (reward): This term, meaning "a largess; reward," appears alongside mattᵉnâʼ as part of the king's promised compensation, emphasizing the transactional nature of the offer (Daniel 2:6, Daniel 5:17).
H3052 yᵉhab (to give): As the verb for giving, this word is intrinsically linked to H4978. A king is the one who will give the gifts Daniel 5:17, and God is the ultimate giver of wisdom Daniel 2:23.
H3367 yᵉqâr (honour): Defined as "value," "dignity," or "glory," this word is often part of the package offered with gifts. The king's promise includes "gifts and rewards and great honour," indicating that gifts are a tangible expression of royal esteem Daniel 2:6.

Theological Significance

The significance of H4978 is found in the contrast between earthly and divine value.

Royal Favor: In the court of Babylon, gifts are a primary instrument of royal power and favor. They are used by the king to reward service, incentivize loyalty, and display wealth Daniel 2:48.
Worldly vs. Spiritual Motivation: Daniel's acceptance of gifts from Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 2:48 versus his rejection of them from Belshazzar Daniel 5:17 highlights a crucial distinction. When the gift is a reward for a completed divine task, it is accepted; when it is an incentive for a future one, it is rejected, emphasizing that his prophetic service is not for sale.
Source of Reward: The context shows that while earthly kings give material gifts, Daniel's ability comes from God, who gives wisdom and knowledge Daniel 2:23. Daniel's actions prioritize the source of his true ability over the temporary rewards of a human king.

Summary

In summary, H4978 is a specific term used to describe the material presents offered by a monarch. Its limited use in Daniel provides a powerful illustration of the dynamics within a royal court. More importantly, it serves as a narrative tool to contrast the value of transient, earthly rewards with the higher calling and divine endowment of a prophet of God.

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 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

מַתְּנָן
מַתְּנָתָ

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

3 verses, all in Daniel — 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, 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.