מָצָא
to find
‘to find’ is one of 27 main senses fuller range ↓
H4672
Strong's Hebrew
mâtsâʼ
Transliteration
/maw-tsaw'/
Pronunciation
Usage in the Hebrew Bible
457
appearances
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
BDB Definition
to find, attain to
- (Qal)
- to find
- to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought)
- to find (what is lost)
- to meet, encounter
- to find (a condition)
- to learn, devise
- to find out
- to find out
- to detect
- to guess
- to come upon, light upon
- to happen upon, meet, fall in with
- to hit
- to befall
- (Niphal)
- to be found
- to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered
- to appear, be recognised
- to be discovered, be detected
- to be gained, be secured
- to be, be found
- to be found in
- to be in the possession of
- to be found in (a place), happen to be
- to be left (after war)
- to be present
- to prove to be
- to be found sufficient, be enough
- (Hiphil)
- to cause to find, attain
- to cause to light upon, come upon, come
- to cause to encounter
- to present (offering)
Where this word appears
See every Qal verb in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Verb
- An action or state-of-being word.
Stem
- Qal
- The basic, simple active stem — the plain form of the verb (“he wrote”). Here: ‘find’
- Niphal
- Usually the simple passive or reflexive of the Qal (“he was written”). Here: ‘be found’
- Hiphil
- The causative active stem (“he caused / brought about”). Here: ‘i s. sf.’
Form
- Perfect
- A completed action or state — Hebrew marks aspect (completeness) more than strict tense (“he wrote”).
- Imperfect
- An incomplete, ongoing, or future action (“he will / would write”).
- Participle Active
- A verbal adjective expressing ongoing or characteristic action (“writing / one who writes”).
- Sequential Imperfect
- An imperfect with prefixed waw — the standard past-narrative form (waw-consecutive imperfect).
- Infinitive Construct
- A bound verbal noun, frequently with prepositions (“to write / in writing”).
- Sequential Perfect
- A perfect with prefixed waw continuing a preceding imperfect or command (waw-consecutive perfect).
- Imperative
- A direct command (“write!”).
- Participle Passive
- A verbal adjective expressing action received (“written”).
- Infinitive Absolute
- An unbound verbal noun, often intensifying or standing in for a finite verb.
- Cohortative
- A first-person volitional form expressing wish or resolve (“let me / let us write”).
- Jussive
- A third- or second-person volitional form expressing wish or command (“let him write”).
State
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
Person
- 1st Person
- The speaker (“I / we”).
- 3rd Person
- The one spoken about (“he / she / it / they”).
- 2nd Person
- The one addressed (“you”).
Gender
- Common
- Either gender — not distinguished for this form.
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
- Feminine
- Grammatically feminine.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
135 distinct verses where H4672 appears in the Niphal stem, across 26 books. Filtered view — show all forms. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Genesis 11 verses
- Genesis 18:29 יִמָּצְא֥וּ/ן Niphal impf 3mp + sfx n He spoke to him yet again, and said, "What if there are forty found there?" He said, "I will not do it for the forty's sake."
- Genesis 18:30 יִמָּצְא֥וּ/ן אֶמְצָ֥א Niphal impf 3mp + sfx n Qal impf 1cs He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?" He said, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there."
- Genesis 18:31 יִמָּצְא֥וּ/ן Niphal impf 3mp + sfx n He said, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake."
- Genesis 18:32 יִמָּצְא֥וּ/ן Niphal impf 3mp + sfx n He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. What if ten are found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the ten's sake."
- Genesis 19:15 הַ/נִּמְצָאֹ֔ת ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act fp When the morning arose, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, "Arise, take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city."
- Genesis 44:9 יִמָּצֵ֥א Niphal impf 3ms With whoever of your servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondservants."
- Genesis 44:10 יִמָּצֵ֤א Niphal impf 3ms He said, "Now also let it be according to your words: he with whom it is found will be my bondservant; and you will be blameless."
- Genesis 44:12 וַ/יִּמָּצֵא֙ conj + Niphal wimpf 3ms He searched, beginning with the eldest, and ending at the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
- Genesis 44:16 מָצָא֙ נִמְצָ֥א Qal pf 3ms Niphal pf 3ms Judah said, "What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? Or how will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Behold, we are my lord's bondservants, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found."
- Genesis 44:17 נִמְצָ֨א Niphal pf 3ms He said, "Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my bondservant; but as for you, go up in peace to your father."
- Genesis 47:14 הַ/נִּמְצָ֤א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.
Exodus 9 verses
- Exodus 9:19 יִמָּצֵ֣א Niphal impf 3ms Now therefore command that all of your cattle and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter. Every man and animal that is found in the field, and isn't brought home, the hail shall come down on them, and they shall die."'"
- Exodus 12:19 יִמָּצֵ֖א Niphal impf 3ms Seven days shall there be no yeast found in your houses, for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a foreigner, or one who is born in the land.
- Exodus 21:16 וְ/נִמְצָ֥א conj + Niphal wpf 3ms "Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
- Exodus 22:2 יִמָּצֵ֥א Niphal impf 3ms If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.
- Exodus 22:4 הִמָּצֵא֩ תִמָּצֵ֨א Niphal inf.abs Niphal impf 3fs If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.
- Exodus 22:7 יִמָּצֵ֥א Niphal impf 3ms "If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man's house; if the thief is found, he shall pay double.
- Exodus 22:8 יִמָּצֵא֙ Niphal impf 3ms If the thief isn't found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out if he hasn't put his hand to his neighbor's goods.
- Exodus 35:23 נִמְצָ֣א Niphal pf 3ms Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them.
- Exodus 35:24 נִמְצָ֨א Niphal pf 3ms Everyone who did offer an offering of silver and brass brought Yahweh's offering; and everyone, with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it.
Deuteronomy 9 verses
- Deuteronomy 17:2 יִמָּצֵ֤א Niphal impf 3ms If there be found in the midst of you, within any of your gates which Yahweh your God gives you, man or woman, who does that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh your God, in transgressing his covenant,
- Deuteronomy 18:10 יִמָּצֵ֣א Niphal impf 3ms There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices sorcery, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
- Deuteronomy 20:11 הַ/נִּמְצָא ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms It shall be, if it make you answer of peace, and open to you, then it shall be, that all the people who are found therein shall become tributary to you, and shall serve you.
- Deuteronomy 21:1 יִמָּצֵ֣א Niphal impf 3ms If one be found slain in the land which Yahweh your God gives you to possess it, lying in the field, and it isn't known who has struck him;
- Deuteronomy 21:17 יִמָּצֵ֖א Niphal impf 3ms but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he has; for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
- Deuteronomy 22:20 נִמְצְא֥וּ Niphal pf 3cp But if this thing be true, that the tokens of virginity were not found in the young lady;
- Deuteronomy 22:22 יִמָּצֵ֨א Niphal impf 3ms If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman: so shall you put away the evil from Israel.
- Deuteronomy 22:28 יִמְצָ֣א וְ/נִמְצָֽאוּ Qal impf 3ms conj + Niphal wpf 3cp If a man find a lady who is a virgin, who is not pledged to be married, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;
- Deuteronomy 24:7 יִמָּצֵ֣א Niphal impf 3ms If a man be found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and he deal with him as a slave, or sell him; then that thief shall die: so shall you put away the evil from the midst of you.
Joshua 2 verses
- Joshua 10:17 נִמְצְאוּ֙ Niphal pf 3cp It was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.
- Joshua 17:16 יִמָּ֥צֵא Niphal impf 3ms The children of Joseph said, The hill-country is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are in Beth-shean and its towns, and they who are in the valley of Jezreel.
Judges 1 verse
1 Samuel 11 verses
- 1 Samuel 9:8 נִמְצָ֣א Niphal pf 3ms The servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
- 1 Samuel 9:20 נִמְצָ֑אוּ Niphal pf 3cp As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don't set your mind on them; for they are found. For whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you, and for all your father's house?
- 1 Samuel 10:2 וּ/מָצָאתָ֩ נִמְצְא֤וּ conj + Qal wpf 2ms Niphal pf 3cp When you are departed from me today, then you shall find two men by Rachel's tomb, in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will tell you, The donkeys which you went to seek are found; and, behold, your father has left off caring for the donkeys, and is anxious for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
- 1 Samuel 10:16 נִמְצְא֖וּ Niphal pf 3cp Saul said to his uncle, He told us plainly that the donkeys were found. But concerning the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he didn't tell him.
- 1 Samuel 10:21 נִמְצָֽא Niphal pf 3ms He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families; and the family of the Matrites was taken; and Saul the son of Kish was taken: but when they sought him, he could not be found.
- 1 Samuel 13:15 הַ/נִּמְצְאִ֣ים ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp Samuel arose, and got him up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.
- 1 Samuel 13:16 הַ/נִּמְצָ֣א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
- 1 Samuel 13:19 יִמָּצֵ֔א Niphal impf 3ms Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
- 1 Samuel 13:22 נִמְצָ֜א וַ/תִּמָּצֵ֣א Niphal pf 3ms conj + Niphal wimpf 3fs So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
- 1 Samuel 21:3 הַ/נִּמְצָֽא ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Now therefore what is under your hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever there is present.
- 1 Samuel 25:28 תִמָּצֵ֥א Niphal impf 3fs Please forgive the trespass of your handmaid: for Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of Yahweh; and evil shall not be found in you all your days.
2 Samuel 2 verses
- 2 Samuel 17:12 נִמְצָ֣א Niphal pf 3ms So shall we come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him we will not leave so much as one.
- 2 Samuel 17:13 נִמְצָ֥א Niphal pf 3ms Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there not be one small stone found there.
1 Kings 2 verses
- 1 Kings 1:52 תִמָּצֵא Niphal impf 3fs Solomon said, If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.
- 1 Kings 14:13 נִמְצָא Niphal pf 3ms All Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.
2 Kings 12 verses
- 2 Kings 12:5 יִמָּצֵ֥א Niphal impf 3ms let the priests take it to them, every man from his acquaintance; and they shall repair the breaches of the house, wherever any breach shall be found.
- 2 Kings 12:10 הַ/נִּמְצָ֥א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms It was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags and counted the money that was found in the house of Yahweh.
- 2 Kings 12:18 הַ/נִּמְצָ֛א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Jehoash king of Judah took all the holy things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own holy things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and of the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
- 2 Kings 14:14 הַ/נִּמְצְאִ֣ים ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
- 2 Kings 16:8 הַ/נִּמְצָא֙ ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.
- 2 Kings 18:15 הַ/נִּמְצָ֣א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Hezekiah gave [him] all the silver that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king's house.
- 2 Kings 19:4 הַ/נִּמְצָאָֽה ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act fs It may be Yahweh your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.
- 2 Kings 20:13 נִמְצָ֖א Niphal pf 3ms Hezekiah listened to them, and shown them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn't show them.
- 2 Kings 22:9 הַ/נִּמְצָ֣א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of Yahweh.
- 2 Kings 22:13 הַ/נִּמְצָ֖א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Go you, inquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.
- 2 Kings 23:2 הַ/נִּמְצָ֖א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms The king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Yahweh.
- 2 Kings 25:19 נִמְצְא֣וּ הַֽ/נִּמְצְאִ֖ים Niphal pf 3cp ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and five men of those who saw the king's face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the city.
1 Chronicles 6 verses
- 1 Chronicles 4:41 נִמְצְאוּ Niphal pf 3cp These written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents, and the Meunim who were found there, and destroyed them utterly to this day, and lived in their place; because there was pasture there for their flocks.
- 1 Chronicles 24:4 וַ/יִּמָּצְא֣וּ conj + Niphal wimpf 3mp There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and [thus] were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers' houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers' houses, eight.
- 1 Chronicles 26:31 וַ/יִּמָּצֵ֥א conj + Niphal wimpf 3ms Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers' [houses]. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 יִמָּ֣צֵא Niphal impf 3ms You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
- 1 Chronicles 29:8 וְ/הַ/נִּמְצָ֤א conj + ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms They with whom [precious] stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of Yahweh, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
- 1 Chronicles 29:17 הַ/נִּמְצְאוּ ptcl def.art + Niphal pf 3cp I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, that are present here, offer willingly to you.
2 Chronicles 20 verses
- 2 Chronicles 2:17 וַ/יִּמָּצְא֗וּ conj + Niphal wimpf 3mp Solomon numbered all the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father had numbered them; and they were found one hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred.
- 2 Chronicles 5:11 הַֽ/נִּמְצְאִים֙ ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp It happened, when the priests were come out of the holy place, (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, and did not keep their divisions;
- 2 Chronicles 15:2 יִמָּצֵ֣א Niphal impf 3ms and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear you me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
- 2 Chronicles 15:4 וַ/יִּמָּצֵ֥א conj + Niphal wimpf 3ms But when in their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
- 2 Chronicles 15:15 וַ/יִּמָּצֵ֖א conj + Niphal wimpf 3ms All Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and Yahweh gave them rest round about.
- 2 Chronicles 19:3 נִמְצְא֣וּ Niphal pf 3cp Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.
- 2 Chronicles 21:17 הַ/נִּמְצָ֣א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms and they came up against Judah, and broke into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
- 2 Chronicles 25:24 הַ/נִּמְצְאִ֨ים ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp [He took] all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
- 2 Chronicles 29:29 הַ/נִּמְצְאִ֥ים ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp When they had made an end of offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.
- 2 Chronicles 30:21 הַ/נִּמְצְאִ֨ים ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp The children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day by day, [singing] with loud instruments to Yahweh.
- 2 Chronicles 31:1 הַֽ/נִּמְצְאִים֮ ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
- 2 Chronicles 34:17 הַ/נִּמְצָ֣א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of Yahweh, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen.
- 2 Chronicles 34:21 נִמְצָ֑א Niphal pf 3ms Go you, inquire of Yahweh for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of Yahweh, to do according to all that is written in this book.
- 2 Chronicles 34:30 הַ/נִּמְצָ֖א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms The king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, both great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of Yahweh.
- 2 Chronicles 34:32 הַ/נִּמְצָ֥א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand [to it]. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
- 2 Chronicles 34:33 הַ/נִּמְצָא֙ ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God. All his days they didn't depart from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
- 2 Chronicles 35:7 הַ/נִּמְצָ֗א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all of them for the Passover offerings, to all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bulls: these were of the king's substance.
- 2 Chronicles 35:17 הַֽ/נִּמְצְאִ֛ים ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp The children of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
- 2 Chronicles 35:18 הַ/נִּמְצָ֔א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms There was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did any of the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- 2 Chronicles 36:8 וְ/הַ/נִּמְצָ֣א conj + ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
Ezra 3 verses
- Ezra 2:62 נִמְצָ֑אוּ Niphal pf 3cp These sought their register [among] those who were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.
- Ezra 8:25 הַ/נִּמְצָאִֽים ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.pass mp and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:
- Ezra 10:18 וַ/יִּמָּצֵא֙ conj + Niphal wimpf 3ms Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: [namely], of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
Nehemiah 2 verses
- Nehemiah 7:64 נִמְצָ֑א Niphal pf 3ms These sought their register [among] those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.
- Nehemiah 13:1 וְ/נִמְצָא֙ conj + Niphal pf 3ms On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,
Esther 4 verses
- Esther 1:5 הַ/נִּמְצְאִים֩ ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp When these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast to all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
- Esther 2:23 וַ/יִּמָּצֵ֔א conj + Niphal wimpf 3ms When inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
- Esther 4:16 הַֽ/נִּמְצְאִ֣ים ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast you for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in to the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
- Esther 6:2 וַ/יִּמָּצֵ֣א conj + Niphal wimpf 3ms It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, of those who kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
Job 4 verses
- Job 19:28 נִמְצָא Niphal pf 3ms If you say, 'How we will persecute him!' Because the root of the matter is found in me,
- Job 28:12 תִּמָּצֵ֑א Niphal impf 3fs "But where shall wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding?
- Job 28:13 תִ֝מָּצֵ֗א Niphal impf 3fs Man doesn't know its price; Neither is it found in the land of the living.
- Job 42:15 נִמְצָ֜א Niphal pf 3ms In all the land were no women found so beautiful as the daughters of Job. Their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
Psalms 2 verses
Proverbs 3 verses
- Proverbs 6:31 וְ֭/נִמְצָא conj + Niphal wpf 3ms But if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
- Proverbs 10:13 תִּמָּצֵ֣א Niphal impf 3fs Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, But a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
- Proverbs 16:31 תִּמָּצֵֽא Niphal impf 3fs Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
Isaiah 10 verses
- Isaiah 13:15 הַ/נִּמְצָ֖א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms Everyone who is found shall be thrust through; and everyone who is taken shall fall by the sword.
- Isaiah 22:3 נִמְצָאַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ Niphal ptcp.act mp cs + sfx pers 2fs All your rulers fled away together, they were bound by the archers; all who were found of you were bound together; they fled afar off.
- Isaiah 30:14 יִמָּצֵ֤א Niphal impf 3ms He shall break it as a potter's vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing; so that there shall not be found among the pieces of it a broken piece with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern."
- Isaiah 35:9 תִמָּצֵ֖א Niphal impf 3fs No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous animal go up thereon; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk [there]:
- Isaiah 37:4 הַ/נִּמְצָאָֽה ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act fs It may be Yahweh your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.
- Isaiah 39:2 נִמְצָ֖א Niphal pf 3ms Hezekiah was glad of them, and shown them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn't show them.
- Isaiah 51:3 יִמָּ֣צֵא Niphal impf 3ms For Yahweh has comforted Zion; he has comforted all her waste places, and has made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Yahweh; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
- Isaiah 55:6 בְּ/הִמָּצְא֑/וֹ prep + Niphal inf.cs + sfx pers 3ms Seek you Yahweh while he may be found; call you on him while he is near:
- Isaiah 65:1 נִמְצֵ֖אתִי Niphal pf 1cs I am inquired of by those who didn't ask; I am found by those who didn't seek me: I said, See me, see me, to a nation that was not called by my name.
- Isaiah 65:8 יִמָּצֵ֤א Niphal impf 3ms Thus says Yahweh, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, Don't destroy it, for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sake, that I may not destroy them all.
Jeremiah 12 verses
- Jeremiah 2:26 יִמָּצֵ֔א Niphal impf 3ms As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets;
- Jeremiah 2:34 נִמְצְא֔וּ מְצָאתִ֖י/ם Niphal pf 3cp Qal pf 2fs + sfx pers 3mp Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: you did not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.
- Jeremiah 5:26 נִמְצְא֥וּ Niphal pf 3cp For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men.
- Jeremiah 11:9 נִֽמְצָא Niphal pf 3ms Yahweh said to me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah 15:16 נִמְצְא֤וּ Niphal pf 3cp Your words were found, and I ate them; and your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, Yahweh, God of hosts.
- Jeremiah 29:14 וְ/נִמְצֵ֣אתִי conj + Niphal wpf 1cs I will be found by you, says Yahweh, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, says Yahweh; and I will bring you again to the place from where I caused you to be carried away captive.
- Jeremiah 41:3 נִמְצְאוּ Niphal pf 3cp Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with him, [to wit], with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war.
- Jeremiah 41:8 נִמְצְאוּ Niphal pf 3cp But ten men were found among those who said to Ishmael, Don't kill us; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he stopped, and didn't kill them among their brothers.
- Jeremiah 48:27 נמצאה נִמְצָ֑א Niphal pf 3fs Niphal pf 3ms For wasn't Israel a derision to you? was he found among thieves? for as often as you speak of him, you wag the head.
- Jeremiah 50:20 תִמָּצֶ֑אינָה Niphal impf 3fp In those days, and in that time, says Yahweh, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.
- Jeremiah 50:24 נִמְצֵאת֙ Niphal pf 2fs I have laid a snare for you, and you are also taken, Babylon, and you weren't aware: you are found, and also caught, because you have striven against Yahweh.
- Jeremiah 52:25 נִמְצְא֣וּ הַֽ/נִּמְצְאִ֖ים Niphal pf 3cp ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act mp and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and seven men of those who saw the king's face, who were found in the city; and the scribe of the captain of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the midst of the city.
Ezekiel 2 verses
- Ezekiel 26:21 תִמָּצְאִ֥י Niphal impf 2fs I will make you a terror, and you shall no more have any being; though you are sought for, yet shall you never be found again, says the Lord Yahweh.
- Ezekiel 28:15 נִמְצָ֥א Niphal pf 3ms You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you.
Daniel 3 verses
- Daniel 1:19 נִמְצָא֙ Niphal pf 3ms The king talked with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
- Daniel 11:19 יִמָּצֵֽא Niphal impf 3ms Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.
- Daniel 12:1 הַ/נִּמְצָ֖א ptcl def.art + Niphal ptcp.act ms "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book.
Hosea 1 verse
Micah 1 verse
Zephaniah 1 verse
Zechariah 1 verse
Malachi 1 verse
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
מצא — transliterated mâtsâʼ — is a Hebrew verb carrying the sense “to find.” It first appears in Genesis 2:20. With 425 verses in 34 books, it is a common word in the Hebrew Bible. Read the stem: it spans 3 stems, including Qal and Niphal. From the same root come מטא and מצביה. See the sense tree, 425-verse concordance, and the renderings breakdown below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
Strong's · 1890
be able
Modern gloss
to find
Strong's 1890 sometimes compressed multiple senses — or homonymous roots — under one number, and used 19th-century English phrasing that no longer carries the same connotation. The modern gloss reflects current BDB scholarship; open the Lexicon Entry tab for the full sense breakdown.
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About this word
Strong's H4672 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 425
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 425 distinct verses.
- 34 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 34 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #109
- by frequency
- Top 250 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 109 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 425 occurrences in the concordance →
Most concentrated in
- Genesis 54 verses 13%
- 1 Samuel 34 verses 8%
- 2 Chronicles 28 verses 7%
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 425 distinct verses.
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 160 verses · 38%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 151 verses · 36%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 114 verses · 27%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
- King James Version: Found 50×, Find 19×, They found 19×
- American Standard Version: Found 45×, Find 17×, They found 15×
- Berean Standard Bible: Found 34×, Find 26×, I have found 23×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text: Found 48×, Find 45×, I have found 26×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H4672 across 455 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 152 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 1 further occurrence.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H4672 across 454 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 169 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H4672 across 436 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 141 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 19 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H4672 across 560 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 102 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
42 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
Hebrew verbs can shift meaning by stem (binyan): Qal is the basic action, Niphal is often passive or reflexive, Piel often intensifies or makes it factitive, and Hiphil is typically causative. The senses below are grouped under the stem BDB assigns to each.
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 42 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
Qal
- Pf. מ׳ Gn 2:20 +, sf. מְצָאוֹ Jb 31:29, 3 fs. מָֽצְאָה Gn 8:9 +, sf. מְצָאַתְנוּ Ju 6:13 Ne 9:32, מְצָאָ֫תַם Ex 18:18; 2 ms. מָצָאתָ Gn 31:37 +; i s. מָצָאתִי Gn 18:3 +, מָצָתִי Nu 11:11, sf. מְצָאתִיו Ct 3:1, 2, מְצָאתִיהוּ Ct 5:6; 3 pl. מָֽצְאוּ Ju 21:14 +; sf. מְצָאנֻהוּ Jb 37:23, etc.; Impf. יִמְצָא 1 S 24:20 +, 3 fs. תִּמְצָא 1 S 1:18 +; 3 mpl. יִמְצְאוּ Ju 5:30 +, sf. יִמְצָאֻהוּ Jb 20:8, יִמְצָאֻנְנִי Pr 1:28; 8:17, יִמְצָאוּנְהָ Je 2:24; 3 fpl. תִּמְצֶאןָ Dt 31:21 etc.; Imv. מְצָא 1 S 20:21, 36, וּמְצָא־ Pr 3:4; mpl. מִצְאוּ Je 6:16; fpl. וּמְצֶאןָ Ru 1:9; Inf. מְצֹא, מְצוֹא ψ 32:6 Gn 19:11 +, sf. בְּמֹצַאֲכֶם Gn 32:20 [= מָצְאֲכֶם Ges§ 74, 3, R. 2]; Pt. מוֹצֵא ψ 119:162, מוֹצֶה Ec 7:26, sf. מֹצְאִי Gn 4:14 Pr 8:35; fs. abs. מֹצֵאת 2 S 18:22, מוֹצֵאת Ct 8:10; mpl. מֹצְאִים Nu 15:33, cstr. מֹצְאֵי Pr 8:9; fpl. abs. מֹצְאוֹת Jos 2:23, etc.;— e.g. Genesis 2:20
- 1. find:
- a. thing sought, c. acc. rei, straw Ex 5:11 (J), water Gn 26:32 (J), cf. v 19, Ex 15:22 (J), grass 1 K 18:5, help, consort, Gn 2:20 (J), cf. Pr 18:22 +; with idea of attaining to, arrivig at, a resting-place Gn 8:9 (J) Is 34:14 cf. צִפּוֹר מָֽצְאָה בַּיִת ψ 84:4, Je 45:3 La 1:3; of marriage Ru 1:9; of finding place for temple ψ 132:5; fig. וּמִצְאוּ מַרְגּוֹעַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶם JE 6:16 and find quiet for yourselves; find grave Jb 3:22; reach cities 2 S 20:6 (where read יִמְצָא Vrss Th Dr Kit Bu), cf. ψ 107:4; find=secure prey, booty, plunder Gn 27:20 (J), Ju 5:30; 21:12 1 S 14:30 cf. 2 Ch 20:25 Pr 1:13 ψ 119:162; of securing gain Ho 12:9 (+ לִי; ‖ עשׁר), Jb 31:25; so perhaps also abs. אֵין בְּשׂוֹרָה מֹצֵאת 2 S 18:22 there is no news securing gain i.e. such as to bring you a reward (cf. Th Dr; but text dub.); secure as crop Gn 26:12 (J), cf. Ec 11:1;=acquire, get wounds and dishonour Pr 6:33; מ׳ הֵן בְּעֵינֵי פ׳ find (=gain, secure) favour in the eyes of any one: of י׳, †Gn 6:8 Ex 33:12, 13(×2), 16, 17; 34:9 (all J), Nu 11:11, 15 (JE), Ju 6:17 2 S 15:25†; oftener of men Gn 18:3; 19:19; 30:27; 32:6 + 8 times Gn (all J), Nu 32:5 (JE), Dt 24:1 1 S 1:18 + 7 times S, 1 K 11:19 Ru 2:2, 10, 13 Est 5:8; 7:3; מ׳ חֵן לִפְנֵי פ׳ †Est 8:5; אָז הָיִיתִי בְעֵינָיו כְּמוֹצֵאת שָׁלוֹם †Ct 8:10; abs. מָצָא הֵן †Je 31:2 Pr 3:4; 28:23 †:=seek and find 1 S 20:21 (arrows), so v 36; fig. of grounds of accusation Jb 33:10 he succeeds in finding; so also Is 58:3, 13; find knowledge of God Pr 2:5 cf. 8:9, word of י׳ Am 8:12, words of wisdom Pr 4:22, wisdom Jb 32:13 Pr 24:14 (v. also infr.); ransom Jb 33:24; life Pr 8:35 (Qr מָצָא; > Kt מצאי, i.e. מֹצְאֵי De Str Wild), 21:21; c. acc. pers. Gn 18:26, 28, 30 (J), 41:38 (E), 1 S 9:13(×2) 1 K 1:3; 13:14 cf. v 28, +; of pursuit Jos 2:22 (J); find י׳ †Ho 5:6 Dt 4:29 Je 29:13 Jb 23:3 ψ 32:6 + Ho 6:3 (read כְּשַׁחֲרֵנוּ כֵן נִמְצָאֵהוּ, for MT כְּשַׁחַר נָכוֹן מֹצָאוֹ GieBeitr. z. Jes Krit. 208 We Now); so poss. also (obj. om.) Je 10:18 (so Gf; 𝔙 Or read Niph.; Gie יֶאְשָׁ֑מוּ), (Jb 37:23; 11:7(×2) v. infr.); find wisdom (personif.) Pr 1:28; 8:17, 35 cf. 3:13. e.g. Exodus 5:11
- b. what is lost, missed, c. acc. rei, Gn 31:32, 33, 34, 35, 37 (E), 1 S 9:4(×2) Dt 22:3 Lv 5:22, 23 (P), Gn 36:24 (P) +; וַיִּלְאוּ לִמְצֹא הַפָּ֑תַח Gn 19:11 and they grew weary in finding the door; find a word (to say) Ne 5:8 Ec 12:10, answer Jb 32:3, vision from י׳ La 2:9; c. acc. pers. Gn 38:20, 22, 23 (J), 2 S 17:20 1 K 18:10, 12; 21:20(×2) 2 K 2:17 Ez 22:30 Pr 7:15 Ct 3:1, 2, 4; 5:6 +. e.g. Genesis 31:32
- c. meet, encounter, c. acc. pers. (one expected), Gn 32:20 (E), 2 K 9:21 Je 41:12 2 Ch 20:16; cf. also Nu 35:27 (P). e.g. Genesis 32:20
- d. find a condition, find one in a situation; וְלֹא מ׳ לָהּ בְּתוּלִים Dt 22:14 cf. v 17 24:1; וַיִּמ׳ אֶת־מֶלֶךְ … נִלְחָם 2 K 19:8 and he found the king of Assyria warring against Lachish=Is 37:8; וּמ׳ אֶת־לְבָבוֹ נֶאֱמָן Ne 9:8; מ׳ כָּתוּב בספר Ne 7:5; 8:14; especially late, 1 Ch 20:2 2 Ch 25:5 Dn 1:20 Ec 7:26. e.g. Deuteronomy 22:14
- e. =learn, devise Ec 7:27(×2), 29. e.g. Ecclesiastes 7:27
- f. =experience sorrow ψ 116:3, cf. Ec 7:14. e.g. Psalms 116:3
- 2. find out:
- a. find out thoroughly, explore: obj. God Jb 11:7(×2); 37:23; God’s works Ec 3:11; 8:17(×3), cf. 7:24. e.g. Job 11:7
- b. =detect sin, crime, usually in (ב) one, 2 K 17:4 1 S 29:3, 6, 8 Ho 12:9; לֹא מ׳ בְּיָדִי מְאוּמָה 1 S 12:5; detect evil in God Je 2:5; subj. God Je 2:34; 23:11; מ׳ עֲוֹן עֲבָדֶיךָ Gn 44:16 (J), cf. ψ 36:3; abs. ψ 10:15; 17:3†. e.g. 2 Kings 17:4
- c. =guess, solve riddle Ju 14:12, 18 cf. Pr 8:12. e.g. Judges 14:12
- 3. = come upon, light upon:
- a. often unexpectedly=happen upon, c. acc. rei, money Gn 4:8 (J), book 2 K 22:8; 23:24=2 Ch 34:14, 15, cf. Ne 7:5; honey Pr 25:16, ship Jon 1:3; a plain Gn 11:2 (J), jawbone Ju 15:15; ark of י׳ ψ 132:6 (according to some, but dub.; Bae proposes הוֹצֵאנוּהָ); indef. Ez 3:1 (del. 𝔊 Co); c. acc. pers.=meet, fall in with Gn 4:14, 15 cf. Je 50:7 Gn 37:15, 17 (all J), 1 S 9:11; 30:11 Dt 22:23, 25, 27, 28 1 K 13:24; 20:36 2 K 4:29; 10:13, 15 Ct 3:3; 5:7, 8; 8:1; come upon=discover, Nu 15:22, 33; of י׳ meeting (finding) Isr. in desert Ho 9:10 cf. 12:5 Dt 32:10; angel finding Hagar Gn 16:7 (J); י׳ finding David ψ 89:21. e.g. Genesis 4:8
- b. hit, c. acc. pers. subj. bowmen 1 S 31:3=1 Ch 10:3; subj. axe Dt 19:5. e.g. 1 Samuel 31:3
- c. subj. hand Is 10:14 (fig., in metaph., of reaching nests), cf. v 10, 1 S 23:17 (of Saul’s taking David), ψ 21:9 (sq. לְ), v 9 (c. acc.); כֹּל אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא יָֽדְךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת Ec 9:10; sin (i.e. its punishment) will light upon you Nu 32:23. e.g. Isaiah 10:14
- d. †subj. fire, כִּי תֵצֵא אֵשׁ וּמָצְאָה קֹצִים Ex 22:5 (E). e.g. Exodus 22:5
- e. befal, c. acc. pers. Jos 2:23 (JE); of evil Gn 44:34 (J), Dt 4:30; 31:17(×2), 21 Ju 6:13 2 K 7:9 Jb 31:29 ψ 116:3; 119:143 Est 8:6; subj. תְּלָאָה Ex 18:8 (E), Nu 20:14 (JE), Ne 9:32†. e.g. Joshua 2:23
- 4. noteworthy phrases are: כַּאֲשֶׁר תִּמ׳ יָדֶ֑ךָ Ju 9:33 according to what thy hand findeth, i.e. as the occasion may demand, so 1 S 10:7 (c. acc.; cf. Ec 9:10 3 c); but 25:8=what thou chancest to have, cf. אֲשֶׁר מ׳ כְלִי זָהָב Nu 31:50 (P); וְלֹא יִמְצָאֻהוּ Jb 20:8=and he shall not be, shall no longer exist, cf. Is 41:12; Ec 9:15 they found in it=there happened to be in it; מ׳ אֶת־לִבּוֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל 2 S 7:27 he found the heart (took courage) to pray=1 Ch 17:25 (om. לבו את־; cf. מָצָא לְ׳ + inf., Ecclus 12:11); לֹא מָֽצְאוּ יְדֵיהֶם ψ 76:6 they did not find their hands, were not able to use them, were paralyzed; חַיַּת יָרֵךְ מָצָאתְ Is 57:10=(perhaps) experience renewal of thy strength (cf. i. חַיָּה p. 312 supr. CheComm.; for other interpr. of ח׳, ידך, v. Ew Di Du CheHpt.); וּמָצָא כְּדֵי גְאֻלָּתוֹ Lv 25:26=and he find (that he has) enough for its redemption (cf. דַּי), so מָֽצְאָה יָדוֹ דֵּי הָשִׁיב v 28, תִּמ׳ יָדָהּ דֵּי שֶׂה 12:8 (cf. תַּגִּיעַ 5:7); without דַּי, וְלֹא מָֽצְאוּ לָהֶם כֵּן Ju 21:14=(prob.) and they (the Israelites) did not find enough for them, even so (cf. GFM); also וּמָצָא לָהֶם Nu 11:22(×2) (JE) and so one find (=there be found) enough for them (cf. Niph. Jos 17:16 Zc 10:10). e.g. Judges 9:33
Niphal
- Pf. נִמְצָא 1 S 13:22 +; 3 fs. נמצאה Je 48:27 Kt Gf; נִמְצָא Qr Gie; 2 fs. נִמְצֵאת Je 50:24; i s. נִמְצֵאתִי Is 65:1, וְנִמְצֵאתִי consec. Je 29:14; 3 pl. נִמְצְאוּ Dt 22:20 +, הַנִּמְצְאוּ 1 Ch 29:17 (הַ·=rel., cf DaSynt. § 22 R. 4 KöSynt. § 52); Impf. יִמָּצֵא Gn 44:9 +; 3 fs. תִּמָּצֵא Ex 22:3 +; 2 fs. תִּמָּֽצְאִי Ez 26:21; 3 mpl. יִמָּֽצְאוּן Gn 18:29, 30, 31, 32, וַיִּמָּֽצְאוּ 1 Ch 24:4 2 Ch 4:16; 3 fpl. תִּמָּצֶ֑אינָה Je 50:20; Inf. הִמָּצֵא Ex 22:3 (=Inf. abs. cf. BaNB 74), sf. הִמָּֽצְאוֹ Is 55:6; Pt. נִמְצָא Ju 20:48 +, fs. נִמְצָאָ֑ה 2 K 19:4=Is 37:4; pl. נִמְצְאִים 1 S 13:15 + 11 times; נִמְצָאִים only Ezr 8:25; sf. 2 fs. נִמְצָאַיִךְ Is 22:3; נִמְצָאוֹת Gn 19:15 Ju 20:48;—pass. of Qal, be found: e.g. 1 Samuel 13:22
- 1.
- a. of a thing lost (asses) 1 S 9:20; 10:2, 16; stolen Gn 44:9, 10, 12, 16, 17 (J), Ex 21:16 (all c. בְּיַד); sought, wisdom Jb 28:12, 13 Pr 10:13. e.g. 1 Samuel 9:20
- b. of thing found unexpectedly, book 2 K 22:13; 23:2=2 Ch 34:21, 30; of corpse Dt 21:1. e.g. 2 Kings 22:13
- c. =be lighted upon, encountered; of breaches in temple 2 K 12:6; of cities Ju 20:48 b; of persons in captured city 2 K 25:19(×2)=Je 52:25(×2), Dt 20:11, cf. Ex 9:19 (J), Ju 20:48a Is 13:15; 22:3 Je 41:8; be discovered, of a condition, situation Dt 22:20 (בתולים); נִמְצָא־בוֹ דָּבָר טוֹב 1 K 14:13, cf. 2 Ch 19:3. e.g. 2 Kings 12:6
- d. be found written (בתוב), Ne 13:1 Est 6:2; of persons Dn 12:1. e.g. Nehemiah 13:1
- e. =appeared, were recognised, of words of י׳ Je 15:16. e.g. Jeremiah 15:16
- f. of persons sought Gn 18:29, 30, 31, 32 (J), Jos 10:17 (JE), 1 S 10:21 2 S 7:12 1 Ch 26:31; in geneal. register Ezr 2:62=Ne 7:64; of י׳, specif., let himself be found of (by) any one: sq. לְ pers. Is 65:1 Je 29:14 1 Ch 28:9 2 Ch 15:2, 4, 15, abs. Is 55:6. e.g. Genesis 18:29
- g. =be discovered, detected: (1) of iniquity, crime: Ex 22:3(×2) (E), 1 S 25:28 1 K 1:52 Je 2:34 Ez 28:15 Jb 19:28 Mal 2:6, cf. Mi 1:13, 2 Ch 36:8 Est 2:23. (2) of wrong-doers Ex 22:1, 6, 7 (E), Dt 22:22, 28; 24:7 Je 2:26; 48:27; 50:24 (‖ נִלְכַּדְתְּ, נִתְפַּשְׂתְּ), Pr 6:31 Ezr 10:18. e.g. Exodus 22:3
- h. =be gained, secured, as a crop, of fruit, fig. מִמֶּנִּי פֶּרְיְךָ נִמְצָא Ho 14:9 (cf. Qal Gn 26:12 Ec 11:1). e.g. Hosea 14:9
- i. =be discoverable to be found Jb 42:15 Dn 1:19 (cf. Is 55:6 supr. 1 f). e.g. Job 42:15
- 2. be found=be:
- a. c. בְּיַד be found in one’s hand=one happens to have 1 S 9:8; 13:22a cf. (without ביד) 13:22b; 21:4. e.g. 1 Samuel 9:8
- b. c. לְ pers.,=be in the possession of: Dt 21:17, c. אֶת־ (prep.) pers. Ex 35:23, 24 1 Ch 29:8. e.g. Deuteronomy 21:17
- c. be found in (ב) a place, especially of wealth, treasure, Gn 47:14 (J), 2 K 12:11, 19; 14:14; 16:8; 18:15; 20:13=Is 39:2, 2 K 22:9 2 Ch 21:17; 25:24; 34:17; cf. Ex 12:19 Je 41:3 1 Ch 4:41;=happen to be, be, Dt 17:2; 18:10 Je 5:26 Is 35:9; 51:3; 65:8; c. neg.=be no more Zp 3:13 Ez 26:21 ψ 37:36 (‖ אֵינֶנּוּ), Dn 11:19. e.g. Genesis 47:14
- d. =be left after war, violence, etc., 1 S 13:19 2 S 17:13 Is 30:14 2 K 19:4=Is 37:4. e.g. 1 Samuel 13:19
- e. =be present Gn 19:15 (J), 1 S 13:15, 16; 21:4; especially late, 1 Ch 29:17 2 Ch 5:11; 29:29; 30:21; 31:1; 34:32, 33; 35:7, 17, 18 Ezr 8:25 Est 1:5; 4:16. e.g. Genesis 19:15
- f. =prove to be, after numbering, 1 Ch 24:4 2 Ch 2:16; of י׳, עֶזְרָה בְצָרוֹת נִמְצָא ψ 46:2. e.g. 1 Chronicles 24:4
- 3. be (found) sufficient: לֹא יִמָּצֵא לָנוּ הָהָר Jos 17:16 (JE), cf. Zc 10:10 (also Qal Nu 11:22 Ju 21:14). e.g. Joshua 17:16
Hiphil
- Pf. i s. sf. הִמְצִיתִךָ 2 S 3:8; 3 mpl. הִמְצִיאוּ Lv 9:13; Impf. 3 ms. sf. 3 ms. יַמְצִאֶנּוּ Jb 34:11, יַמְצִאֵהוּ Jb 37:13; 3 mpl. וַיַּמְצִאוּ Lv 9:12, 18; Pt. מַמְצִיא Zc 11:6;— e.g. 2 Samuel 3:8
- 1. cause to find, attain, c. acc. pers. Jb 34:11 (subj. God). e.g. Job 34:11
- 2. cause to light upon, come upon, come c. acc. of cloud Jb 37:13 (dub.) e.g. Job 37:13
- 3. cause to encounter, deliver up to, c. acc. pers., + בְּיַד 2 S 3:8 (subj. man), Zc 11:6 (subj. God). e.g. 2 Samuel 3:8
- 4. present unto (אֶל־), of Aaron’s sons ministering unto him, c. acc. of offering, and of blood, Lv 9:12, 13, 18. e.g. Leviticus 9:12
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
vb. attain to, find (NH id.; Assyrian maṣû, DlHWB421, Ethiopic መጽአ come, arrive; Aramaic [ܡܨܳܐ find], Pt. pass. ܡܨܶܐ able, powerful, and deriv.; cf. NöZMG xl. 1886, 736 Dr 1 S 23:17);—
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Origin: a primitive root
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
מֹץ
- , v. מוֹץ, מוֹצָא.
מָצָא
- , v. מצי I
מצי
- to reach; to find. B. Mets. I, 1 אניּ מְצָאתִיהָ I found it. Ib. 2ᵃ הואי אמינא מאי מצאתיה ראיתיה וכ׳ I might have thought ‘I found it’ meant ‘I discovered it’, although he had not taken it up &c. Ib., a. e. וּמְצָאתָהּ דאתאי לידיה וכ׳ ‘and which thou hast found’ (Deut. XXII, 3) means that it came into his possession. Gitt. IX, 10 מ׳ בה דבר ערוה he discovered in her something disgraceful (infidelity); מ׳ אחרת וכ׳ he found another woman handsomer than she; a. fr.—מה מָצִינוּ ב־ … אף וכ׳ what do we find with regard to—? So also &c., i.e. as in the case of—, so &c. Sifra Vayikra, N’dab., ch. VIII, Par. 7 מה מצינו בהקטרה … אף מליקה וכ׳ as when burning (the sacrifice on the altar) the head is separated from the trunk, so when pinching the neck of the bird the head must be severed &c.; a. fr.—Part. pass. מָצוּי, f. מְצוּיָה; pl. מְצוּיִין; מְצוּיוֹת accessible, frequent; likely. Arakh. 30ᵇ ומצא פרט למ׳ ‘and he find the means’ (Lev. XXV, 26), this excludes the case of the means being accessible, i.e. of one who had the means at the time being. B. Mets. 27ᵃ (ref. to Deut. XXII, 3, v. supra) מי שאבודה הימנו ומ׳ אצל וכ׳ that which is lost to him but accessible to any body else; אבודה הימנו ואינה מ׳ אצל וכ׳ lost to him and inaccessible to every one else (e. g. swept away by a flood). Sabb. 151ᵇ עשה עד שאתה מוֹצֵא ומ׳ לך וכ׳ do good while thou findest (an opportunity), and it is possible to thee (thou hast the means), and thou art yet in thy own power (possessest thy faculties). Snh. 86ᵃ כי ימצא פרט למ׳ ‘if one be found stealing &c.’ (Deut. XXIV, 7), this excludes the case when the abducted and sold person was in his power (his own child &c.). Ib. כמצויין בידו דמי the case is to be judged as if they (the children) had been in his possession. Gen. R. s. 85 השטר מ׳ להגבות the note can be produced for collection, i.e. evidence can be found against us. Gitt. 2ᵇ אין עדים מ׳ לקיימו no witnesses are to be had to identify it. B. Mets. 18ᵃ במקום שהשיירות מ׳ where caravans pass frequently. Esth. R. to I, 1, v. דִּידְכֵי. Ib. (ref. to Ps. XXI, 9) תהא ידך מ׳ ליפרע מאויביך thou shalt have the opportunity of punishing thy enemies. B. Kam. 4ᵃ הזיקה מ׳ the damage through it is frequent. Ib. 60ᵃ רוח מ׳ an ordinary wind, רוח שאינה מ׳ an extraordinary wind; a. v. fr. e.g. Deuteronomy 22:3
- to be found. Gen. R. s. 85 שנִמְצְאוּ בגניבה who are caught at a theft; a. fr.—Esp. to turn out, to follow, to result. Ḥull. I, 4 נ׳ כשר וכ׳ the result is, what is legal in slaughtering is illegal in pinching. Pes. 25ᵇ ונ׳ למד, v. לָמֵד II. Sifré Deut. 210 נִמְצִּינוּ למדים from which we can consequently derive.—Y. Pes. V, beg. 31ᶜ, a. fr. נִמְצֵאתָ אומר thou turnest out saying, i.e. the result is, consequently.—אם תִּימָּצֵי (תִּמָּצֵא) לומר (abbr. את"ל) if you will say. Gitt. 82ᵇ אם תמצא לומר איתא וכ׳ if you will adopt the opinion of &c. Sabb. 136ᵃ את"ל פליגי וכ׳ if you assume that they differ &c.; a. fr.—Tosef. Ohol. IV, 12 כשתמצא לומר וכ׳ if you assume &c.
- to furnish, provide with. Gen. R. l. c. נאבדו וה׳ הקב"ה וכ׳ they (the tokens) had been lost, and the Lord provided others instead. Ḥag. 5ᵃ (ref. to תמצאן, Deut. XXXI, 21) עבד שרבו מַמְצִיא וכ׳ what remedy is there for a slave for whom his master invents evils and troubles? Ib. הממציא לו מעות לעני וכ׳ he who is ready to furnish the means (of his delivery) to the poor man in distress (by which the persecutor’s greed is increased); [Rashi: he who has money ready for the poor man in extreme distress, instead of helping him to a livelihood in due time]. Arakh. 30ᵇ (ref. to Deut. XIX, 5) ומצא פרט לממציא את עצמו ‘and it strikes’, this excludes the case of one who brings himself within the range of the missile (after it is started); Macc. 8ᵃ; a. e. e.g. Deuteronomy 31:21
מְצִי I
- , to reach, be able; to master. B. Mets. 114ᵇ בארבעה לא מָצִינָא וכ׳ I could not master four orders of the Talmud, how could I master six?—Ib. 14ᵃ, a. fr. מָצֵי אמר ליה he may say to him. B. Bath. 84ᵃ לא (הוה) מָצִית הדרת בך (v. Rabb. D. S. a. l.) thou wouldst not have had the right to retract; השתא … מצית וכ׳ now that thou hast overreached me, canst thou retract?; a. fr.
- [to find one’s self,] to succeed. Keth. 62ᵃ לא אי׳ נכרי וכ׳ the gentile did not succeed in keeping pace with him. Ned. 89ᵇ רהיט … ולא אמ׳ למיתנא he tried his utmost (v. גַּפָּא I), but had no success in his studies; a. e.
- (with נפשיה, or without) to place one’s self within sight of an enemy so as to give him a chance for reconciliation, to be ready for reconciliation. Yoma 87ᵃ הוה מַמְצִיא נפשיה (v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note; ed. וממציא ליה).—[Keth. 60ᵇ מְמַצְּיָא, v. מְצִי II.]
מצי ²
- (b. h.) to squeeze, wring, esp. to wring out the blood of the bird sacrifice. Sifra Vayikra, N’dab., ch. VIII, Par. 7 הוא מוֹצֶה he wrings it; a. fr.
- 1. same. Zeb. VI, 5, sq.; a. fr.—2) same.
- to pour out to the last drop, to drain. Ib. 64ᵇ מי כתיב יְמַצֶּה יִמָּצֵה וכ׳ (ed. punctuate יַמְצֶה, Hif.) it does not say (Lev. V, 9), ‘he shall pour out (the remainder) at the bottom &c.’, but ‘it shall be wrung out’, which means, that it will run out to the bottom of itself. Ter. XI, 8 הִרְכִּינָהּ ומִיצָּה (Y. ed. ומִיצֵּת; Ms. M. ומִצֵּת) if he bent the vessel and drained it; B. Bath. 87ᵇ (Ms. H. a. R. ומיצת); ib. V, 8 (87ᵃ) הרכינה ומיצה (Y. ed. ומצת; Bab. ed. ומִיצֵּית, Ms. M. ומִיצֵּת; Ms. R. ומִיצְּתָהּ). Gen. R. s. 85; s. 92 (play on מצא, Gen. XLIV, 16) כזה שהוא מְמַצֶּה וכ׳ as one drains a vessel and leaves nothing but the lees. Midr. Till. to Ps. LIX (play on מצא, Prov. XVIII, 22) כשהאשה רעה היא מְמַצָּה (כל) הטובות כולן מביתו וכ׳ ed. Bub. (oth. ed. ממַצֶּאֶת, a. oth. variants) when the wife is bad, she drains all the good things out of his house and makes him poor; Yalk. Prov. 957 ממציא (read: מְמַצֵּית); a. fr. e.g. Leviticus 5:9
- 3. (cmp. מָצַע) מ׳ מידות to measure exactly. Erub. IV, 11 (52ᵇ) אין המשוחות מְמַצִּין וכ׳ the surveyors (in marking distances for Sabbath limits) do not measure exactly (but mark within the limits), in order to allow for mistakes.—Trnsf. to sound one’s learning. Men. 18ᵃ למַצֹּות מידותי to have my own learning examined; למ׳ מידותיו וכ׳ to sound the learning of &c.
- to be wrung out; to be emptied, drained Sifra Vayikra, Ḥob., Par. 10, ch. XVIII; Zeb. 64ᵇ שהשירין מִתְמַצִּים ליסוד where the remainder is poured out towards the bottom of the altar; a. fr. [Ib. VI, 4 (64ᵇ) היה מתמצה, read מְמַצֶּה, v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note 50.]—Y. R. Hash. I, 56ᵈ top; Y. Shek. III, beg. 47ᵇ עד כאן הן מִתְמַצּוֹת לילד וכ׳ up to that time (the first of Elul) the latest births of the old year (of those conceived before the first of Nisan) take place &c.—Trnsf. (with חשבון) to be exactly counted, to be finally settled. Y. Sot. I, 17ᵃ (he suffers a loss by the death of his ox &c.) והחשבון מִתְמַצֶּה and the account (of his sins) is settled; ib.; Num. R. s. 9 אחת מתארעא וכ׳, v. אָרַע I; Koh. R. to VII, 27.
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 297 distinct written forms H4672 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that stem’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 237 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H4672, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derived from this word
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
Compare all same-root words → 1 of the same-root words is a proper name (a person or place). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 400 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 425 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 2:20
- Exodus 5:11
- Leviticus 6:3
- Numbers 11:11
- Deuteronomy 4:29
- Joshua 2:22
- Judges 1:5
- Ruth 1:9
- 1 Samuel 1:18
- 2 Samuel 3:8
- 1 Kings 1:3
- 2 Kings 2:17
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
