Lexical Definition

‎מַטֶּה‎ maṭṭeh (mat-teh') tribe: rod ^H:N-M
or (feminine) מַטָּה maṭṭâh (mat-taw'); from ‎נָטָה‎

rod, staff, tribe.

• a branch (as extending)
• figuratively, a tribe
• also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff
• figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread)

1) staff, branch, tribe
1a) staff, rod, shaft
1b) branch (of vine)
1c) tribe
1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

See Greek: ζυγός · θυμός · πληγή · ῥάβδος · φυλή

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎מַטֶּה‎₂₅₁ noun masculine^{Exod 4:17} (feminine Mic 6:9 according to ᵑ0, but dubious, see below)

1. staff, rod, shaft.

2. branch.

3. tribe (Eccl 48:2 staff, Eccl 45:6; Eccl 45:25 tribe); — absolute ‎׳‎‎מ‎ Gen 38:25 +; construct ‎מַטַּה‎ Exod 4:20 +; suffix ‎מַטְּךָ‎ Gen 38:18 + 5 t., ‎מַטֶּ֑ךָ‎ Exod 8:1*, ‎מַטֵּ֫הוּ‎ Isa 10:24 + 10 t.; plural ‎מַטּוֺת‎ 1Kgs 8:1 +, etc.; suffix ‎מַטּוֺחָם‎ Exod 7:12; Num 17:21* also ‎מַטָּיו‎ Hab 3:14 (but read ‎מַטֶּיךָ‎ or — Gr — ‎מַטֹּתֶיךָ‎); —

1. (compare ‎מַקֵּל‎, ‎שֵׁבֶט‎) staff of traveller Gen 38:18; Gen 38:25 (J); in general Isa 10:15 (simile; || ‎שֵׁבֶט‎); from staff as support comes figurative ‎מַטֵּהלֶֿחֶם‎ staff of bread (food supply) Ezek 4:16; Ezek 5:16; Ezek 14:13; Lev 26:26; Ps 105:16 of staff or rod, Moses as shepherd Exod 4:2; Exod 4:4; Exod 7:15 (J), Exod 4:17; Exod 7:17; Exod 7:20; Exod 9:23; Exod 10:13; Exod 17:5 (all E); compare also Isa 10:26; Exod 14:16; Num 20:8; Num 20:9; Num 20:11 (all P); called ‎הָאֱלֹהִים‎ ‎׳‎‎מ‎ Exod 4:20; Exod 17:9 (both E), because of miraculous power connected with it; compare mirac. rod of Aaron Exod 7:9; Exod 7:10; Exod 7:12; Exod 7:19; Exod 8:1*; Exod 8:12*; Exod 8:13* (all P), and of Egyptian magicians Exod 7:12 (twice in verse) (P); compare Aaron's rod that budded Num 17:18*; Num 17:21*; Num 17:23*; Num 17:25* (compare RS^{Semitic i. 180; 2d ed. 197}); carried even by warrior 1Sam 14:27; 1Sam 14:43 ‎מַטֵּה שִׁכְמוֺ‎ Isa 9:3* i.e. rod that strikes his shoulder, task-master's rod (|| ‎שֵׁבֶט הַנֹּגֵשׂ בּוֺ‎), compare Isa 10:5 and vIsa 10:24; Isa 14:5 (|| ‎שֵׁבֶט‎), all figurative of oppression; ‎מַטֵּה מוּסָדָה‎ Isa 30:32 appointed rod (of punishment); compare ‎׳‎‎מ‎ Ezek 7:10; Ezek 7:11 (but text obscure, Co — q. v. — sceptre), also Mic 6:9 according to ᵑ0, but see below 3; used in beating out (‎חבט‎) fennel Isa 28:27 staff as badge of leader or ruler ‎מַטֵּהעֹֿז‎ Jer 48:17 (|| ‎מַקֵּל‎), compare Ps 110:2 so Num 17:17* (4 t. in verse) + 10 t. Num 17 apparently shafts, i.e. arrows or spears, Hab 3:9; Hab 3:14 (compare Now Da GASm).

2. branch of vine Ezek 19:11; Ezek 19:12; Ezek 19:14 (twice in verse).

3. tribe (183 t.), originally company led by chief with staff: specifically of tribes of Israel in both singular and plural, 1Kgs 7:14; 1Kgs 8:1 = 2Chr 5:2; Exod 31:2 + 5 t. Exodus; Lev 24:11; Num 1:4 + 89 t. Numbers; Josh 7:1 + 56 t. Joshua (all P); 1Chr 6:45* + 21 t. 1Chr 6; 1Chr 12:31* probably also Mic 6:9 (vocative; so ᵐ5 We Now GASm). — compare ‎שֵׁבֶט‎, and on relation of these two words for tribe Hebrew usage Dr^{JPhoenician xi. (1882), 213 f}.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References