מַטָּרָה
mat.ta.rah
guardhouse
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredIn the Hebrew language of the Bible, the word "mat.tara" (H4307) refers to a guardhouse or a place of confinement. Its short definition emphasizes its physical purpose as a secure enclosure. As part of the semantic domain of Construction & Crafts, this word demonstrates a focus on the practical aspects of building design and function. The 15 occurrences of "mat.tara" in the Bible suggest that it played a significant role in the ancient Israelite society. These occurrences indicate that guardhouses were an essential part of various settings, such as castles, cities, or other fortified locations. The repetition of this word underscores its importance in biblical narratives and accounts. The significance of "mat.tara" lies in its representation of a physically secure environment, which served as a central aspect of ancient Jewish architecture and administration. Its consistency across the biblical texts highlights the attention given to the role of security, surveillance, and control in medieval biblical societies.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
15 total occurrences across the text
Palal the son of Uzai made repairs opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs.
Job 16:12I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
Jeremiah 32:2Now at that time the king of Babylon’s army was besieging Jerusalem. Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the king of Judah’s house.
Jeremiah 32:8“So Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to Yahweh’s word, and said to me, ‘Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours. Buy it for yourself.’ “Then I knew that this was Yahweh’s word.
Jeremiah 32:12and I delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of the purchase, before all the Jews who sat in the court of the guard.
Jeremiah 33:1Moreover Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still locked up in the court of the guard, saying,
Jeremiah 37:21Then Zedekiah the king commanded, and they committed Jeremiah into the court of the guard. They gave him daily a loaf of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
Jeremiah 37:21Then Zedekiah the king commanded, and they committed Jeremiah into the court of the guard. They gave him daily a loaf of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
Jeremiah 38:6Then they took Jeremiah and threw him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king’s son, that was in the court of the guard. They let down Jeremiah with cords. In the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.
Jeremiah 38:13So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon; and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
Jeremiah 38:28So Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken.
Jeremiah 39:14they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home. So he lived among the people.
Jeremiah 39:15Now Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the guard, saying,
Lamentations 3:12He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
1 Samuel 20:20I will shoot three arrows on its side, as though I shot at a mark.