Lexical Definition

‎מַת‎ math (math) man ^H:N-M
from the same as ‎מָתַי‎

[phrase] few, [idiom] friends, men, persons, [idiom] small.

• properly, an adult (as of full length)
• by implication, a man (only in the plural)

1) male, man
1a) males, men
1b) few men (in prose)
1b1) less emphasis on sex
1c) men (poetic)
1c1) less emphasis on sex

See Greek: ἔχω · σύμφωνος

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Also see: מְתֹם

[‎מַת‎] noun masculine male, man (‎מְתוּֿ‎ in proper name; Zinjirli ‎מת‎ collective males, male offspring; Assyrian mutu, husband; Ethiopic id.; compare Egyptian m-t, phallus, male, Steind in Ba^{NB § 2b}, δ); — only plural ‎מְתִים‎ Job 11:3 + 3 t., ‎מְתִם‎ Deut 2:34; Deut 3:6 + Judg 20:48 (probably), for ᵑ0 ‎מְתֹם‎, so GFM; construct ‎מְתֵי‎ Gen 34:30 + 13 t.; suffix 2 feminine singular ‎מְתַיִךְ‎; Isa 3:25 3 masculine singular ‎מְתָיו‎ Deut 33:6 —

1. males, men, Isa 3:25 (|| ‎גְּבוּרָתֵךְ‎); more distinctly, ‎וְהַטָּף‎ ‎(וְ)הַנָּשִׁים‎ ‎מְתִם‎ ‎עִיר‎ Deut 2:34; Deut 3:6 every city of males (male population, compare Dr), and the women, etc.; Judg 20:48 (see above; opposed to ‎בְּהֵמָה‎).

2. usually less emphasis on sex, in prose only phrase:
a. ‎מְתֵי מִסְפָּר‎ men of number (numerable, i.e. few) Gen 34:30 (J; apposition of ‎אֲנִי‎ = Jacob, representing his family), Deut 4:27; Jer 44:28, also Ps 105:12 = 1Chr 16:19 compare ‎וִיהִי מְתָיו מִסְפָּר‎ Deut 33:6 and (but) let his men be few.
b. ‎בִּמְתֵי מְעָ֑ט‎ = consisting of a few men Deut 26:5; Deut 28:62

3. elsewhere only in poetry, sex usually not emphasized:
a. Job 11:3; Job 24:12; Ps 17:14 (twice in verse) (but text probably corrupt, of. Bae We; at least omit ‎ממתים ידך‎ Ol Bi Che, compare Hup-Now); ‎מְתֵי ישׂראל‎ Isa 41:14.
b. poetic phrase: ‎מְתֵי שָׁוְא‎ men of false-hood Job 11:11; Ps 26:4 ‎אָוֶן‎ ‎׳‎‎מ‎ Ps 22:15* men of wickedness; ‎סוֺדִי‎ ‎׳‎‎מ‎ Ps 19:19 men of my cycle; ‎אָהֳלִי‎ ‎׳‎‎מ‎ Job 31:31 men of my tent (household); ‎רָעָב‎ ‎׳‎‎מ‎ Isa 5:13 men of hunger, but read probably ‎׳‎‎מְזֵי ר‎ sucked out, empty from hunger (as Deut 32:24) Ew De Che Di Du (compare ‎מָזֶה‎).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References