מַתְכֹנֶת
proportion (in size, number or ingredients)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַתְכֹנֶת (mathkôneth) refers to a measured proportion, standard, or prescribed amount. It describes a specific, fixed quantity or ratio, whether in ingredients (as in the holy anointing oil of Exodus 30:32, 37), in work quotas (as in the bricks required of the Israelites in Exodus 5:8), or in standardized dry and liquid measures (as in Ezekiel 45:11). In 2 Chronicles 24:13, it refers to the 'state' or 'condition' of the restored temple, implying a measured, orderly arrangement. The core idea is that of a predetermined, established measure.
Biblical Usage
This word is used five times in the Old Testament, primarily in contexts of divine instruction and regulation. In Exodus, it specifies the exact proportions for sacred items (the anointing oil and incense) and the oppressive daily quota of bricks. In Ezekiel's vision of restoration (Ezekiel 45:11), it defines the standardized measures for trade. In 2 Chronicles 24:13, it describes the repaired temple being restored to its proper 'state' or specification. Its usage spans law (Exodus), history (Chronicles), and prophecy (Ezekiel), always concerning an established standard.
Etymology
Derived from the root תָּכַן (tākhan, H8505), meaning 'to be or become fixed, established, or measured.' מַתְכֹנֶת is a noun form indicating the result or product of that action—a fixed measure, standard, or proportion. The root conveys ideas of stability, planning, and precise arrangement.
Semantic Range
This word highlights God's nature as a God of order, precision, and holiness. The prescribed 'proportions' for the anointing oil and incense (Exodus 30) were not arbitrary but reflected the sacredness of what they consecrated, teaching that approach to God requires adherence to His revealed standards. In Ezekiel's vision, standardized measures (Ezekiel 45:11) point to God's desire for justice and equity in society. Understanding this term enriches the reading of these passages by emphasizing that God's instructions often include specific, measurable requirements for worship and communal life.
In the ancient Near East, standardized measures were crucial for fairness in trade, taxation, and construction, but often lacked universal consistency. God's command to use a single 'מַתְכֹנֶת' (Ezekiel 45:11) was a radical call for justice, countering the common practice of using different measures to cheat buyers or sellers. In priestly rituals, exact proportions (Exodus 30) distinguished holy mixtures from common ones, embedding the concept of sacred order into tangible substances.
מִדָּה (middâ, H4060) — a more general term for measurement, dimension, or extent. חֹק (ḥōq, H2706) — a statute or decree, often a prescribed portion or limit, focusing more on the enacted rule than the measured quantity itself.
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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