מְטָא
to arrive, extend or happen
Definition
The Aramaic verb מְטָא (mᵉṭâʼ) primarily means 'to arrive, come to, or reach' a specific point, whether in space or time. In Daniel 4:11, 20, 22, it describes the growth of a tree 'reaching' to the sky, conveying extension. In Daniel 4:24, 28 and 6:24, it refers to events or decrees 'coming' or 'happening,' emphasizing fulfillment. In its most significant theological use, it describes the arrival of a divine figure: 'one like a son of man' coming to the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13) and the time when the saints 'possessed' (i.e., the kingdom arrived for them) in Daniel 7:22.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel. It appears in two main contexts: describing physical extension or growth (Daniel 4:11, 20, 22) and describing the arrival or occurrence of events, particularly divine judgments and the decisive moment in God's eschatological plan (Daniel 4:24, 28; 6:24; 7:13, 22). The pattern shows a movement from literal 'reaching' to the figurative 'arrival' of God's sovereign decrees.
Etymology
This is an Aramaic verb, corresponding in sense to the Hebrew verb מָצָא (H4672, māṣāʼ), which means 'to find.' מְטָא carries the intransitive sense of 'being found present' or 'attaining to.' Its derivation points to the concept of something coming to a point where it is encountered or realized.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is used for the 'arrival' of the 'one like a son of man' in Daniel 7:13, a key messianic and eschatological vision. It frames divine sovereignty, showing that God's decrees and the establishment of His kingdom are events that definitively 'arrive' or 'come to pass' in history. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the reading of Daniel by highlighting the certainty and appointed timing of God's judgment and redemption.
In its Aramaic context, the term was used in imperial administration and visionary literature to denote the certain fulfillment of royal decrees and prophetic dreams. The concept of a decree 'reaching' or 'coming upon' someone (Daniel 4:24) reflects the absolute authority of the king's word, a cultural reality that Daniel applies to the ultimate authority of God's word.
מָצָא (H4672, māṣāʼ) — The primary Hebrew counterpart meaning 'to find,' often used in an active sense, whereas מְטָא focuses on the intransitive sense of arriving or being present. בּוֹא (H935, bôʼ) — A common Hebrew verb for 'to come' or 'to go in,' with a broader semantic range than the more specific 'arrival at a point' conveyed by מְטָא.
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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