STRONGS NUMBER H4672


Word Summary
matsa: to attain to, find
Original Word: מָצָא
Transliteration: matsa
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-tsaw')
Part of Speech: Verb
Short Definition: to attain to, find
Meaning: to come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present
Strong's Concordance
be able, befall, being, catch, certainly, cause to come on, to, to hand,

A primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. Appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. Find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present -- + be able, befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.

Brown-Driver-Briggs

H4672. matsa

מָצָא452 verb attain to, find (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian maƒû, DlHWB 421, Ethiopic come, arrive; Aramaic [ find], Passive participle able, powerful, and derivatives; compare NöZMG xl 1886, 736 Dr1 Samuel 23:17); —

Qal Perfect ׳מGenesis 2:20 +, suffix מְצָאוֺJob 31:29, 3feminine singular מָֽצְאָהGenesis 8:9 +, suffix מְצָאַתְנוּJudges 6:13; Nehemiah 9:32, מְצָאָ֫תַםExodus 18:18; 2masculine singular מָצָאתָGenesis 31:37 +; 1 singular מָצָאתִי18:3 +, מָצָתִיNumbers 11:11, suffix מְצָאתִיוSong of Solomon 3:1-2, מְצָאתִיהוּ5:6; 3plural מָֽצְאוּJudges 21:14 +; suffix מְצָאנֻהוּJob 37:23, etc.; Imperfect יִמְצָא1 Samuel 24:20 +, 3 feminine singular תִּמְצָא1:18 +; 3 masculine plural יִמְצְאוּJudges 5:30 +, suffix יִמְצָאֻהוּJob 20:8 יִמְצָאֻנְנִיProverbs 1:28; 8:17, יִמְצָאוּנְהָJeremiah 2:24; 3feminine plural תִּמְצֶאןָDeuteronomy 31:21 etc.; Imperative מְצָא1 Samuel 20:21, 36, וּמְצָאֿProverbs 3:4; masculine plural מִצְאוּJeremiah 6:16; feminine plural וּמְצֶאןָRuth 1:9; Infinitive מְצוֺא מְצאֹ,Psalm 32:6; Genesis 19:11 +, suffix בְּמֹצַאֲכֶם32:20 [= מָצְאֲכֶם‎ Ges§ 74, 3, R. 2]; Participle מוֺצֵאPsalm 119:162, מוֺצֶהEcclesiastes 7:26, suffix מֹצְאִיGenesis 4:14; Proverbs 8:35; feminine singular absolute מֹצֵאת2 Samuel 18:22, מוֺצֵאתSong of Solomon 8:10; masculine plural מֹצְאִיםNumbers 15:33, construct מֹצְאֵיProverbs 8:9; feminine plural absolute מֹצְאוֺתJoshua 2:23, etc.; —

1 find :

a. thing sought, with accusative of thing, straw Exodus 5:11 (J), water Genesis 26:32 (J), compare 26:19, Exodus 15:22 (J), grass 1 Kings 18:5, help, consort, Genesis 2:20 (J), compare Proverbs 18:22 +; with idea of attaining to, arriving at, a resting-place Genesis 8:9 (J) Isaiah 34:14 compare בַּיִת מָֽצְאָה צִמּוֺרPsalm 84:4; Jeremiah 45:3; Lamentations 1:3; of marriage Ruth 1:9; of finding place for temple Psalm 132:5; figurative לְנַפְשְׁכֶם מַרְגּוֺעַ וּמִצְאוּJeremiah 6:16 and find quiet for yourselves; find grave Job 3:22; reach cities 2 Samuel 20:6 (where read יִמְצָא‎ Vrss Th Dr Kit Bu), compare Psalm 107:4; find = secure prey, booty, plunder Genesis 27:20 (J), Judges 5:30; 21:12; 1 Samuel 14:30 compare 2 Chronicles 20:25; Proverbs 1:13; Psalm 119:162; of securing gain Hosea 12:9 ( + לִי‎; "" עשׁר‎), Job 31:25; so perhaps also absolute אֵין מֹצֵאת בְּשׂוֺרָה2 Samuel 18:22 there is no news securing i.e. such as to bring you a reward (compare Th Dr; but text dubious); secure as crop Genesis 26:12 (J), compare Ecclesiastes 11:1; = acquire, get wounds and dishonour Proverbs 6:33; ׳מ פ בְּעֵינֵי ׳חֵןfind ( = gain, secure) favour in the eyes of any one: of ׳י‎, Genesis 6:8; Exodus 33:12-13, (twice in verse); 33:16-17, 34:9 (all J), Numbers 11:11, 15 (JE), Judges 6:17; 2 Samuel 15:25 ; oftener of men Genesis 18:3; 19:19; 30:27; 32:6 8t. Genesis (all J), Numbers 32:5 (JE), Deuteronomy 24:1; 1 Samuel 1:18 7t. Samuel; 1 Kings 11:19; Ruth 2:2, 10, 13; Esther 5:8; 7:3; ׳מ פ לִפְנֵי ׳חֵן8:5; שָׁלָוֺם כְּמוֺצֵאת בְעֵינָיו הָיִתִי אָזSong of Solomon 8:10; absolute חֵן מָצָאJeremiah 31:2; Proverbs 3:4; 28:23 : = seek and find 1 Samuel 20:21 (arrows), so 20:36; figurative of grounds of accusation Job 33:10 he succeeds in finding; so also Isaiah 58:3, 13; find knowledge of God Proverbs 2:5; compare 8:9, word of ׳יAmos 8:12, words of wisdom Proverbs 4:22, wisdom Job 32:13; Proverbs 24:14 (see also below); ransom Job 33:24; life Proverbs 8:35 (Qr מָצָא‎; > Kt מצאי‎, i.e. מֹצְאֵי‎ De Str Wild), 21:21; with accusative of person Genesis 18:26, 28, 30 (J), 41:38 (E), 1 Samuel 9:13 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 1:3; 13:14 compare 13:28, +; of pursuit Joshua 2:22 (J); find ׳יHosea 5:6; Deuteronomy 4:29; Jeremiah 29:13; Job 23:3; Psalm 32:6 + Hosea 6:3 (read כְּשַׁחֲרֵנוּ נִמְצָאֵהוּ כֵן‎, for מֹצָאוֺ נָכוָֺן כְּשַׁחַר ᵑ0‎ GieBeitr. z. Jes. Krit. 208 We Now); so possibly also (object omitted) Jeremiah 10:18 (so Gf.; ᵑ9‎ Or read Niph`al; Gie יֶאְשָׁ֑מוּ‎), (Job 37:23; 11:7 (twice in verse) see below); find wisdom (personified) Proverbs 1:28; 8:17, 35; compare 3:13.

b. what is lost, missed, with accusative of thing, Genesis 31:32-33, 34, 35, 37 (E), 1 Samuel 9:4 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 22:3; Leviticus 5:22; Leviticus 5:23 (P), Genesis 36:24 (P) +; הַמָּ֑תַח לִמְצֹא וַיִּלְאוּ19:11 and they grew weary in finding the door; find a word (to say) Nehemiah 5:8; Ecclesiastes 12:10, answer Job 32:3, vision from ׳יLamentations 2:9; with accusative of person Genesis 38:20, 22, 23 (J), 2 Samuel 17:20; 1 Kings 18:10, 12; 21:20 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 2:17; Ezekiel 22:30; Proverbs 7:15; Song of Solomon 3:1-2, 4; 5:6 +.

c. meet, encounter, with accusative of person (one expected), Genesis 32:20 (E), 2 Kings 9:21; Jeremiah 41:12; 2 Chronicles 20:16 compare also Numbers 35:27 (P).

d. find a condition, find one in a situation; מ ׳וְלֹא בְּתוּלִים לָהּDeuteronomy 22:14 compare 22:17; 24:1; ׳וַיִּמ נִלְחָם ֗֗֗ אֶתמֶֿלָךְ2 Kings 19:8 and he found the king of Assyria warring against Lachish = Isaiah 37:8; ׳וּמ נֶאֱמָן אֶתלְֿבָבוֺNehemiah 9:8; ׳מ בספר כָּתוּב7:5; 8:14; especially late, 1 Chronicles 20:2; 2 Chronicles 25:5; Daniel 1:20; 7:26.

e. = learn, devise Ecclesiastes 7:27 (twice in verse); 7:29.

f. = experience sorrow Psalm 116:3, compare Ecclesiastes 7:14.

2 find out:

a. find out thoroughly, explore: object God Job 11:7 (twice in verse); 37:23; God's works Ecclesiastes 3:11; 8:17 (3 t. in verse), compare 7:24.

b. = detect sin, crime, usually in (ב‎) one, 2 Kings 17:4; 1 Samuel 29:3, 6, 8; Hosea 12:9; מ ׳לֹא מְאוּמָה כְּיָדִי1 Samuel 12:5; detect evil in God Jeremiah 2:5; subject God 2:34; 23:11; ׳מ עֲבָדֶיךָ עֲוֺןGenesis 44:16 (J), compare Psalm 36:3; absolute 10:15; 17:3 .

c. = guess, solve riddle Judges 14:12, 18 compare Proverbs 8:12.

3 = come upon, light upon:

a. often unexpectedly = happen upon, with accusative of thing, money Genesis 44:8 (J), book 2 Kings 22:8; 23:24 2 Chronicles 34:14-15, compare Nehemiah 7:5; honey Proverbs 25:16, ship Jonah 1:3; a plain Genesis 11:2 (J), jawbone Judges 15:15; ark of ׳יPsalm 132:6 (according to some, but dubious; Bae proposes הוֺצֵאנוּהָ‎); indefinite Ezekiel 3:1 (strike out ᵐ5‎ Co); with accusative of person = meet, fall in with Genesis 4:14-15, compare Jeremiah 50:7; Genesis 37:15, 17 (all J), 1 Samuel 9:11; 30:11; Deuteronomy 22:23, 25, 27, 28; 1 Kings 13:24; 20:36; 2 Kings 4:29; 10:13, 15; Song of Solomon 3:3; 5:7-8, 8:1; come upon = discover, Numbers 15:22, 33; of ׳י‎ meeting (finding) Israel in desert Hosea 9:10; compare 12:5; Deuteronomy 32:10; angel finding Hagar Genesis 16:7 (J); ׳י‎ finding David Psalm 89:21.

b. hit, with accusative of person, subject bowmen 1 Samuel 31:3 = 1 Chronicles 10:3; subject axe Deuteronomy 19:5.

c. subject hand Isaiah 10:14 (figurative, in metaphor, of reaching nests), compare 10:10, 1 Samuel 23:17 (of Saul's taking David), Psalm 21:9 (followed by לְ‎), 21:9 (c, accusative); לַעֲשׂוֺת יָָֽדְךָ תִּמְצָא אֲשֶׁר כֹּלEcclesiastes 9:10; sin (i.e. its punishment) will light upon you Numbers 32:23.

d. subject fire, וּמָֽצְאָה אֵשׁ תֵצֵא כִּי קֹצִיםExodus 22:5 (E).

e. befal, with accusative of person Joshua 2:23 (JE); of evil Genesis 44:34 (J), Deuteronomy 4:30; 31:17 (twice in verse); 31:21; Judges 6:13; 2 Kings 7:9; Job 31:29; Psalm 116:3; 119:143; Esther 8:6; subject תְּלָאָהExodus 18:8 (E), Numbers 20:14 (JE), Nehemiah 9:32.

4 noteworthy phrases are: תִּמ ׳כַּאֲשֶׁר יָדֶ֑ךָJudges 9:33 according to what thy hand findeth, i.e. as the occasion may demand, so 1 Samuel 10:7 (with accusative; compare Ecclesiastes 9:10

3c); but Eccl 25:8 = what thou chancest to have, compare מ ׳אֲשֶׁר זָהָב כְלִיNumbers 31:50 (P); יִמְצָאֻהוּ וְלֹאJob 20:8 = and he shall not be, shall no longer exist, compare Isaiah 41:12; Ecclesiastes 9:15 they found in it = there happened to be in it; ׳מ לְהִתְמַּלֵּל אֶתלִֿבּוֺ2 Samuel 7:27 he found the heart (took courage) to pray = 1 Chronicles 17:25 (omit אתלֿבו‎, perhaps ancient textual error); יְדֵיהֶם מָֽצְאוּ לֹאPsalm 76:6 they did not find their hands, were not able to use them, were paralyzed; מָצָאתְ יָדֵךְ חַיַּתIsaiah 57:10 +?experience renewal of thy strength (compare I. חַיָּה‎ above CheComm.; for other interpretations of ידך ׳ח,‎, see Ew Di Du CheHpt); וּמָצָא נְאֻלָּתוֺ כְּדֵיLeviticus 25:26 = and he find (that he has) enough for its redemption (compare דַּי‎), so יָדוֺ מָֽצְאָה הָשִׁיב דֵּי25:28, ׳תִּמ שֶׂה דֵּי יָדָהּ12:8 (compare תַּגִּיעַ5:7); without כֵּן לָהֶם מָֽצְאוּ וְלֹא דַּי,Judges 21:14 +?and they (the Israelites) did not find enough for them, even so (compare GFM); also לָהֶם וּמָצָאNumbers 11:22 (twice in verse) (JE) and so one find (= there be found) enough for them (compare Niph`al Joshua 17:16; Zechariah 10:10).

Niph`al Perfect נִמְצָא1 Samuel 13:22 +; 3 feminine singular נמצאהJeremiah 48:27 Kt Gf; < נִמְצָא‎ Qr Gie; 2 feminine singular נִמְצֵאת50:24; 1singular נִמְצֵאתִיIsaiah 65:1, וְנִמְצֵאתִי‎ consecutive Jeremiah 29:14; 3plural נִמְצְאוּDeuteronomy 22:30 +, הַנִּמְצְאוּ1 Chronicles 29:17 (הַּ‎ = rel., compare DaSynt. § 22 R. 4Synt. § 52); Imperfect יִמָּצֵאGenesis 44:9 +; 3 feminine singular תִּמָּצֵאExodus 22:3 +;

2 feminine singular תִּמּצְאִיEzekiel 26:21; 3masculine plural יִמּצְאוּןGenesis 18:29-30, 31, 32, וַיִּמָּֽצְאוּ1 Chronicles 24:4; 2 Chronicles 4:16; 3 feminine plural תִּמָּצֶ֑אינָהJeremiah 50:20; Infinitive הִמָּצֵאExodus 22:3 ( = Infinitive absolute compare BaNB 74), suffix הִמָּֽצְאוֺIsaiah 55:6; Participle נִמְצָאJudges 20:48 +, feminine singular נִמְצָאָ֑ה2 Kings 19:4 = Isaiah 37:4; plural נִמְצְאִים1 Samuel 13:15 11t.; נִמְצָאִים‎ only Ezra 8:25; suffix

2 feminine singular נִמְצָאַיִךְIsaiah 22:3; נִמְצָאוֺתGenesis 19:15; Judges 20:48; — passive of Qal, be found:

1. a. of a thing lost (asses) 1 Samuel 9:20; 10:2, 16; stolen Genesis 44:9-10, 12, 16, 17 (J); Exodus 21:16 (all with בְּיַד‎); sought, wisdom Job 28:12-13, Proverbs 10:13

b. of thing found unexpectedly, book 2 Kings 22:13; 23:2 2 Chronicles 34:21, 30; of corpse Deuteronomy 21:1.

c. = be lighted upon, encountered; of breaches in temple 2 Kings 12:6; of cities Judges 20:48b; of persons in captured city 2 Kings 25:19 (twice in verse) = Jeremiah 52:25 (twice in verse), Deuteronomy 20:11, compare Exodus 9:19 (J), Judges 20:48a Isaiah 13:15; 22:3; Jeremiah 41:8; be discovered, of a condition, situation Deuteronomy 22:20 (בתולים‎); דָּבָר נִמְצָאבֿוֺ טוֺב1 Kings 14:13, compare 2 Chronicles 19:3.

d. be found written (כתוב‎), Nehemiah 13:1; Esther 6:2; of persons Daniel 12:1.

e. = appeared, were recognized, of words of ׳יJeremiah 15:16.

f. of persons sought Genesis 18:29-30, 21, 32 (J), Joshua 10:17 (JE), 1 Samuel 10:21; 2 Samuel 7:12; 1 Chronicles 26:31; in Geneal. register Ezra 2:62 = Nehemiah 7:64; of ׳י‎, specifically, let himself be found of (by) any one: followed by לְ‎ person Isaiah 65:1; Jeremiah 29:14; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 15:2, 4, 15, absolute Isaiah 55:6.

g. = be discovered, detected: (1) of iniquity, crime: Exodus 22:3 (twice in verse) (E), 1 Samuel 25:28; 1 Kings 1:52; Jeremiah 2:34; Ezekiel 28:15; Job 19:28; Malachi 2:6, compare Micah 1:13; 2 Chronicles 36:8; Esther 2:23. (2) of wrong-doers Exodus 22:1; 22:6; 22:7 (E), Deuteronomy 22:22, 28; 24:7; Jeremiah 2:26; 48:27; 50:24 ("" נִתְמַּשְׂתְּ נִלְבַּדְתְּ,‎), Proverbs 6:31; Ezra 10:18.

h. = be gained, secured, as a crop, of fruit, figurative נִמְצָא מֶּדְיְךָ מִמֶּנִּיHosea 14:9 (compare Qal Genesis 26:12; Ecclesiastes 11:1)

i. = be discoverable, to be found Job 42:15; Daniel 1:19 (compare Isaiah 55:6 above 1f).

2 be found = be:

a. with בְּיַדbe found in one's hand = onehappens to have 1 Samuel 9:8; 13:22 (twice in verse), compare (without ביד‎) 23:4.

b. with לְ‎ person, = be in the possession of: Deuteronomy 21:17, with אֶתֿ‎ (preposition) person Exodus 35:23-24, 1 Chronicles 29:8.

c. be found in (ב‎) a place, especially of wealth, treasure, Genesis 47:14 (J), 2 Kings 12:11; 12:19; 14:14; 16:8; 18:15; 20:13 = Isaiah 39:2; 2 Kings 22:9; 2 Chronicles 21:17; 25:24; 34:17; compare Exodus 12:19; Jeremiah 41:3; 1 Chronicles 4:41; = happen to be, be, Deuteronomy 17:2; 18:10; Jeremiah 5:26; Isaiah 35:9; 51:3; 65:8; with negative = be no more Zephaniah 3:13; Ezekiel 26:21; Psalm 37:36 ("" אֵינֶנּוּ‎), Daniel 11:19.

d. = be left after war, violence, etc., 1 Samuel 13:19; 2 Samuel 17:13; Isaiah 30:14; 2 Kings 19:4 = Isaiah 37:4.

e. = be present Genesis 19:15 (J), 1 Samuel 13:15-16, 21:4; especially late, 1 Chronicles 29:17; 2 Chronicles 5:11; 29:29; 30:21; 31:1; 34:32-33, 35:7, 17, 18; Ezra 8:25; Esther 1:5; 4:16.

f. = prove to be, after numbering, 1 Chronicles 24:4; 2 Chronicles 2:16; of נִמְצָא בְצָדוֺת עֶזְדָה ׳י,Psalm 46:2.

3 be (found) sufficient: הָהָד לָנוּ יִמָצֵא לֹאJoshua 17:16 (JE), compare Zechariah 10:10 (also Qal Numbers 11:22; Judges 21:14).

Hiph`il Perfect1singular suffix הִמְצִיתִךָ2 Samuel 3:8; 3masculine plural הִמְצִיאוּLeviticus 9:13; Imperfect3masculine singular suffix 3 masculine singular יַמְצִאֶנּוּJob 34:11, יַמְצִאֵהוּ37:13; 3masculine plural וַיַמְצִאוּLeviticus 9:12, 18; Participle מַמְצִיאZechariah 11:6; —

1 cause to find, attain, with accusative of person Job 34:11 (subject God).

2 cause to light upon, come upon, come with accusative of cloud Job 37:13 (dubious)

3 cause to encounter, deliver up to, with accusative of person, + בְּיַד2 Samuel 3:8 (subject man), Zechariah 11:6 (subject God).

4 present unto (אֶלֿ‎), of Aaron's sons ministering unto him, with accusative of offering, and of blood, Leviticus 9:12-13, 18.

מֹצָא‎ see מוֺוצָא‎ below יצא‎. p. 425f

מַצֶּ֫בֶת מַצֵּבָה מַצָּבָה, נֻצָּב, מַצָּב,‎ see נצב‎.