מַטְאֲטֵא
a broom (as removing dirt (compare English 'to dust', i.e. remove dust))
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַטְאֲטֵא (maṭʼăṭêʼ) refers specifically to a broom or besom, an implement used for sweeping away debris and dirt. Its sole biblical occurrence is in Isaiah 14:23, where it is used metaphorically as an instrument of divine judgment and thorough cleansing. The word carries the sense of complete removal, not just tidying, implying a forceful eradication of what is unwanted. This imagery connects the physical act of sweeping with God's decisive action against evil.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 14:23. It appears in a prophetic oracle of judgment against Babylon. The context is metaphorical: God declares, 'I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,' using the broom as a symbol of His agent that will utterly remove and devastate the proud kingdom. The usage is poetic and dramatic, emphasizing totality and finality.
Etymology
The noun מַטְאֲטֵא is apparently a denominative verb form derived from the root טִיט (ṭîṭ, H2916), meaning 'mud' or 'clay.' Thus, the word's core concept relates to the removal of mud or dirt. This etymological link highlights its fundamental purpose as a cleaning tool designed to deal with the grime and filth of an ancient environment.
Semantic Range
Though a simple household object, its single biblical use invests it with significant theological weight. In Isaiah 14:23, the 'broom of destruction' becomes an instrument of God's sovereign judgment, symbolizing His power to utterly sweep away arrogant human kingdoms that oppose Him (like Babylon). It illustrates God's role as a divine cleaner who purges evil from His world, connecting everyday imagery to profound themes of holiness, justice, and the reversal of human pride. Understanding this metaphor enriches the reading of prophetic literature by grounding God's actions in tangible, relatable concepts.
In ancient Israelite culture, a broom was a common household tool, typically made of bundled twigs or reeds, used for cleaning dirt floors and courtyards. Its action was not gentle but vigorous, meant to gather and remove all debris. The metaphorical use in Isaiah would have been immediately understood by the original audience: just as a broom leaves a space bare, God's judgment would leave Babylon desolate. This contrasts with some modern, lighter-weight brooms, emphasizing the thorough, harsh nature of the action described.
No direct synonyms for 'broom' are used in a similar metaphorical context. For the concept of sweeping or destruction, related verbs might include: סָחָה (sāḥâ, H5500) — to sweep away or scrape; כָּבַס (kāḇas, H3526) — to wash (a different cleaning action).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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