מַטֶּה

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}.