מַטָּרָא
a jail (as a guard-house); also an aim (as being closely watched)
Definition
The Hebrew word מַטָּרָא (maṭṭârâʼ) primarily means a 'guardhouse' or 'prison,' a place of confinement under watch, as seen in Nehemiah 3:25 and Jeremiah 32:2. It also carries the metaphorical sense of a 'target' or 'mark' at which something is aimed, derived from the idea of being closely watched or singled out, as in Job 16:12 where Job describes God setting him up as a target. In 1 Samuel 20:20, it refers to a specific landmark or target used in a secret signal. The dual meaning connects physical confinement with the concept of being a focused object of attention.
Biblical Usage
This word is used 15 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in historical and prophetic books. Its literal sense as a prison appears in Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3:25, 12:39) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:2, 32:8, 32:12, 33:1), describing actual places of detention. The metaphorical sense as a target or mark is found in Job 16:12, where it conveys being singled out for suffering. In 1 Samuel 20:20, it denotes a specific stone heap or landmark used as a sign. The usage shows a pattern where context determines whether it refers to a physical location or a figurative aim.
Etymology
Derived from the root נָטַר (nāṭar, H5201), meaning 'to guard, keep, watch, or preserve.' This root conveys the idea of close observation or protection. מַטָּרָא is a noun form that developed to mean a place of guarding (a prison) or, by extension, something that is watched or aimed at (a target). The alternate form מַטָּרָה shares the same derivation. The semantic range from 'guarding' to 'target' reflects the concept of focused attention.
Semantic Range
This word theologically enriches understanding of divine judgment and human suffering. In Job 16:12, it depicts Job's perception of God targeting him, highlighting themes of innocent suffering and God's sovereignty. In Jeremiah, its use in prison contexts (e.g., Jeremiah 32:2) underscores the prophet's confinement during national crisis, symbolizing Israel's spiritual imprisonment. The dual meaning bridges physical restraint with the idea of being under God's watchful eye, whether for discipline or purpose, reminding readers that God's attention can be both protective and corrective.
In ancient Israel, prisons like מַטָּרָא were often guardhouses or detention areas rather than long-term penitentiaries, used for holding prisoners awaiting trial or punishment, as seen in Jeremiah's imprisonment by the king (Jeremiah 32:2). The concept of a 'target' or 'mark' would relate to archery or hunting, where precision and focus were valued. This cultural backdrop helps modern readers appreciate how confinement and being singled out were intertwined in a society where watchfulness and aim had practical, everyday significance.
בֵּית הָאֲסוּרִים (bêṯ hāʾăsûrîm, H1004) — a more general term for 'prison' or 'house of bonds.' מִשְׁמָר (mišmār, H4929) — 'guard, watch, prison,' emphasizing the act of guarding. סֹגֶר (sōḡer, H5468) — 'prison, enclosure,' focusing on confinement. רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ, H7568) — 'net,' used metaphorically for a trap or snare, differing as it implies entrapment rather than a guarded place.
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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