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.
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 ׳מ Genesis 2:20 +, suffix מְצָאוֺ Job 31:29, 3feminine singular מָֽצְאָה Genesis 8:9 +, suffix מְצָאַתְנוּ Judges 6:13; Nehemiah 9:32, מְצָאָ֫תַם Exodus 18:18; 2masculine singular מָצָאתָ Genesis 31:37 +; 1 singular מָצָאתִי 18:3 +, מָצָתִי Numbers 11:11, suffix מְצָאתִיו Song of Solomon 3:1-2, מְצָאתִיהוּ 5:6; 3plural מָֽצְאוּ Judges 21:14 +; suffix מְצָאנֻהוּ Job 37:23, etc.; Imperfect יִמְצָא 1 Samuel 24:20 +, 3 feminine singular תִּמְצָא 1:18 +; 3 masculine plural יִמְצְאוּ Judges 5:30 +, suffix יִמְצָאֻהוּ Job 20:8 יִמְצָאֻנְנִי Proverbs 1:28; 8:17, יִמְצָאוּנְהָ Jeremiah 2:24; 3feminine plural תִּמְצֶאןָ Deuteronomy 31:21 etc.; Imperative מְצָא 1 Samuel 20:21, 36, וּמְצָאֿ Proverbs 3:4; masculine plural מִצְאוּ Jeremiah 6:16; feminine plural וּמְצֶאןָ Ruth 1:9; Infinitive מְצוֺא מְצאֹ, Psalm 32:6; Genesis 19:11 +, suffix בְּמֹצַאֲכֶם 32:20 [= מָצְאֲכֶם Ges§ 74, 3, R. 2]; Participle מוֺצֵא Psalm 119:162, מוֺצֶה Ecclesiastes 7:26, suffix מֹצְאִי Genesis 4:14; Proverbs 8:35; feminine singular absolute מֹצֵאת 2 Samuel 18:22, מוֺצֵאת Song of Solomon 8:10; masculine plural מֹצְאִים Numbers 15:33, construct מֹצְאֵי Proverbs 8:9; feminine plural absolute מֹצְאוֺת Joshua 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 צִמּוֺר Psalm 84:4; Jeremiah 45:3; Lamentations 1:3; of marriage Ruth 1:9; of finding place for temple Psalm 132:5; figurative לְנַפְשְׁכֶם מַרְגּוֺעַ וּמִצְאוּ Jeremiah 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 בְּשׂוֺרָה 2 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 ׳חֵן find ( = 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 ׳חֵן 8:5; שָׁלָוֺם כְּמוֺצֵאת בְעֵינָיו הָיִתִי אָז Song of Solomon 8:10; absolute חֵן מָצָא Jeremiah 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 ׳י Amos 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 ׳י Hosea 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 וַיִּלְאוּ 19:11 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 ׳י Lamentations 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 לָהּ Deuteronomy 22:14 compare 22:17; 24:1; ׳וַיִּמ נִלְחָם ֗֗֗ אֶתמֶֿלָךְ 2 Kings 19:8 and he found the king of Assyria warring against Lachish = Isaiah 37:8; ׳וּמ נֶאֱמָן אֶתלְֿבָבוֺ Nehemiah 9:8; ׳מ בספר כָּתוּב 7:5; 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 כְּיָדִי 1 Samuel 12:5; detect evil in God Jeremiah 2:5; subject God 2:34; 23:11; ׳מ עֲבָדֶיךָ עֲוֺן Genesis 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 ׳י Psalm 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 כֹּל Ecclesiastes 9:10; sin (i.e. its punishment) will light upon you Numbers 32:23.
d. subject fire, וּמָֽצְאָה אֵשׁ תֵצֵא כִּי קֹצִים Exodus 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 תְּלָאָה Exodus 18:8 (E), Numbers 20:14 (JE), Nehemiah 9:32.
4 noteworthy phrases are: תִּמ ׳כַּאֲשֶׁר יָדֶ֑ךָ Judges 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 כְלִי Numbers 31:50 (P); יִמְצָאֻהוּ וְלֹא Job 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 אֶתלִֿבּוֺ 2 Samuel 7:27 he found the heart (took courage) to pray = 1 Chronicles 17:25 (omit אתלֿבו, perhaps ancient textual error); יְדֵיהֶם מָֽצְאוּ לֹא Psalm 76:6 they did not find their hands, were not able to use them, were paralyzed; מָצָאתְ יָדֵךְ חַיַּת Isaiah 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 כְּדֵי Leviticus 25:26 = and he find (that he has) enough for its redemption (compare דַּי), so יָדוֺ מָֽצְאָה הָשִׁיב דֵּי 25:28, ׳תִּמ שֶׂה דֵּי יָדָהּ 12:8 (compare תַּגִּיעַ 5:7); 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 וּמָצָא Numbers 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 נִמְצָא 1 Samuel 13:22 +; 3 feminine singular נמצאה Jeremiah 48:27 Kt Gf; < נִמְצָא Qr Gie; 2 feminine singular נִמְצֵאת 50:24; 1singular נִמְצֵאתִי Isaiah 65:1, וְנִמְצֵאתִי consecutive Jeremiah 29:14; 3plural נִמְצְאוּ Deuteronomy 22:30 +, הַנִּמְצְאוּ 1 Chronicles 29:17 (הַּ = rel., compare DaSynt. § 22 R. 4 KöSynt. § 52); Imperfect יִמָּצֵא Genesis 44:9 +; 3 feminine singular תִּמָּצֵא Exodus 22:3 +;
2 feminine singular תִּמּצְאִי Ezekiel 26:21; 3masculine plural יִמּצְאוּן Genesis 18:29-30, 31, 32, וַיִּמָּֽצְאוּ 1 Chronicles 24:4; 2 Chronicles 4:16; 3 feminine plural תִּמָּצֶ֑אינָה Jeremiah 50:20; Infinitive הִמָּצֵא Exodus 22:3 ( = Infinitive absolute compare BaNB 74), suffix הִמָּֽצְאוֺ Isaiah 55:6; Participle נִמְצָא Judges 20:48 +, feminine singular נִמְצָאָ֑ה 2 Kings 19:4 = Isaiah 37:4; plural נִמְצְאִים 1 Samuel 13:15 11t.; נִמְצָאִים only Ezra 8:25; suffix
2 feminine singular נִמְצָאַיִךְ Isaiah 22:3; נִמְצָאוֺת Genesis 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 טוֺב 1 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 ׳י Jeremiah 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 מִמֶּנִּי Hosea 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 בְּיַד be 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 לֹא Joshua 17:16 (JE), compare Zechariah 10:10 (also Qal Numbers 11:22; Judges 21:14).
Hiph`il Perfect1singular suffix הִמְצִיתִךָ 2 Samuel 3:8; 3masculine plural הִמְצִיאוּ Leviticus 9:13; Imperfect3masculine singular suffix 3 masculine singular יַמְצִאֶנּוּ Job 34:11, יַמְצִאֵהוּ 37:13; 3masculine plural וַיַמְצִאוּ Leviticus 9:12, 18; Participle מַמְצִיא Zechariah 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, + בְּיַד 2 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.