English · KJV
H4985

מָתַק

mâthaq /maw-thak'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto suck, by implication, to relish, or (intransitively) be sweet
KJV usagebe (made
Idioms & phrasesidiom take) sweet.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâthaq — 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 mâthaq, represented by H4985, is a primitive root that means to be or become sweet. It can also imply relishing or sucking. Appearing 5 times in 5 unique verses, this term is used both literally and metaphorically to describe experiences ranging from divine miracles to the deceptive allure of sin.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the Bible, H4985 is applied in several distinct contexts. Its most literal use is found in the account of the exodus, where God turns bitter waters sweet through a miraculous intervention Exodus 15:25. The word also takes on a metaphorical quality to describe the nature of human relationships, as seen in the memory of taking "sweet counsel" with a close companion Psalms 55:14. In the wisdom literature, it is used to illustrate the deceptive nature of sin, where "Stolen waters are sweet" Proverbs 9:17 and wickedness can be sweet in one's mouth Job 20:12. Uniquely, it also describes the state of the dead, where "The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him" Job 21:33.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide contrast and context to the meaning of sweetness:

  • H5276 nâʻêm (to be agreeable... be pleasant, be sweet): This word often appears in parallel with H4985 to emphasize a sense of delight. In Proverbs 9:17, stolen waters are described as sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
  • H7451 raʻ (bad or (as noun) evil): This term stands in direct contrast to the concept of sweetness. Its connection is clear in Job 20:12, where it is evil or wickedness that is described as being deceptively sweet in the mouth of a sinner.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H4985 lies in its ability to describe both divine goodness and the nature of temptation.

  • Divine Transformation: The primary example of God's power is in making the bitter waters sweet, demonstrating His ability to redeem and restore a situation from negative to positive Exodus 15:25.
  • The Deception of Sin: The term is used powerfully to illustrate that sin can appear desirable and pleasant. Both Job and Proverbs warn that what is sweet to the taste, like wickedness or stolen things, is ultimately harmful (Job 20:12, Proverbs 9:17).
  • Godly Fellowship: The concept of "sweet counsel" highlights the value of close, godly relationships. This kind of fellowship is presented as a treasured experience, especially when shared while walking together toward the house of God Psalms 55:14.

Summary

In summary, H4985 conveys much more than a simple taste. While it has a literal foundation, its biblical usage explores the duality of experience. It can represent the blessings and miraculous power of God, who makes bitter things sweet, and the profound value of good fellowship. At the same time, it serves as a powerful metaphor for the tempting and deceptive nature of sin, which may seem sweet for a moment but leads to ruin.

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 6 occurrences, inflected in 6 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.

  • נַמְתִּיק
  • תַּמְתִּיק
  • יִּמְתְּקוּ
  • יִמְתָּקוּ
  • מָתְקוּ
  • מְתָק

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.

H5276 נָעֵם a primitive root; to be agreeable (literally or figuratively); pass in beauty, be delight, be pleasant, be sweet. H7451 רַע from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), di

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 5 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (2 verses); never once in the other 35.

1
Exodus
2
Job
1
Psalms
1
Proverbs

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.