מַתְבֵּן
straw in the heap
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַתְבֵּן (mathbên) refers specifically to straw that has been gathered and stored in a heap or pile, as opposed to loose or scattered straw. It is a derivative of the more common word for straw, תֶּבֶן (teben), emphasizing its state as a collected resource. In its single biblical occurrence in Isaiah 25:10, it describes straw that is trampled down in a dunghill or manure pile, symbolizing complete humiliation and defeat. The word highlights not just the material (straw) but its condition and location as a gathered, often trodden-down, mass.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 25:10. In this prophetic context, it appears in a vivid metaphor: 'For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.' The usage is entirely figurative, employing the image of trampled heap-straw to depict the utter subjugation and disgrace of Moab under God's judgment. No other biblical books use this specific term.
Etymology
מַתְבֵּן is a denominative noun derived from the root תֶּבֶן (teben, H8401), meaning 'straw.' The prefix מַת- (mat-) is a nominal pattern often indicating the place or product of an action. Thus, mathbên essentially means 'that which is made of straw' or, more precisely, 'the straw in its heaped-up state.' It is a specialized, rarer form of the common word for straw.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, מַתְבֵּן carries significant theological weight in its context. In Isaiah 25:10, it is a powerful symbol within a chapter celebrating God's ultimate victory and the establishment of His kingdom. The trampled straw heap represents the fate of God's enemies—complete, contemptuous destruction—contrasting with the security and feast He provides for His people on Mount Zion. Understanding this specific Hebrew term enriches the reading by sharpening the metaphor: it's not just any straw, but straw gathered only to be utterly defiled and crushed, underscoring the totality of divine judgment against pride and opposition.
In ancient Israelite agriculture, straw (תֶּבֶן) was a vital multi-purpose resource. It was used as fodder for livestock, mixed with mud for brickmaking (as seen in Exodus 5), and as a binder in clay for pottery and construction. Straw gathered into a heap (מַתְבֵּן) represented a stored supply. The image in Isaiah 25:10 of straw being trampled into a 'dunghill' (madmenah) would have been culturally potent: it depicts the deliberate and wasteful degradation of a valuable commodity, transforming it into filth, which powerfully communicates utter ruin and shame.
תֶּבֶן (teben, H8401) — The general, common term for 'straw,' used in various contexts (e.g., Exodus 5:7, Genesis 24:25). מַתְבֵּן is a specific form of teben. קַשׁ (qash, H7179) — Refers to 'chaff' or 'stubble,' the dry, worthless husks separated from grain, often used as a metaphor for what is fleeting or destroyed (e.g., Isaiah 40:24).
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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