Lexical Summary
matmon: Treasure, hidden treasure
Original Word:מַטְמוֹן
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:matmown
Pronunciation:mat-mone'
Phonetic Spelling:(mat-mone')
KJV: hidden riches, (hid) treasure(-s)
NASB:hidden treasures, hidden, hidden wealth, stores, treasure
Word Origin:[fromH2934 (טָּמַן - hidden)]
1. a secret storehouse
2. (hence) a secreted valuable (buried)
3. (generally) money
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
hidden riches, hid treasures
Or matmon {mat-mone'}; or matmun {mat-moon'}; fromtaman; a secret storehouse; hence, a secreted valuable (buried); generally money -- hidden riches, (hid) treasure(-s).
see HEBREWtaman
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
tamanDefinitionhidden treasure, treasure
NASB Translationhidden (1), hidden treasures (2), hidden wealth (1), stores (1), treasure (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
; — absolute
Genesis 43:23; plural
Jeremiah 41:8Proverbs 2:4;
Job 3:21; construct
Isaiah 45:3; (
hidden)
treasureGenesis 43:23 (of money in sacks);
Isaiah 45:3 (i.e. treasures now hidden in secret places, shall become spoil of Cyrus; "" ),
Jeremiah 41:8, appositive ; in comparative
Job 3:21 (longing for death more than for treasure),
Proverbs 2:4 (wisdom sought for like treasure).
(√ of following; Phoenician isset up, erect, alsooffer, present, according to DHM in MV10, 983).
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Central Ideaמַטְמוֹן (matmon) designates a treasure or valuable hoard deliberately concealed from view. It evokes both material wealth stored for future use and, by extension, spiritual riches that are not immediately apparent but may be uncovered by diligent seekers.
Old Testament Distribution and Settings
1.Genesis 43:23 – In Egypt Joseph’s steward tells Joseph’s brothers, “Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks”. Here the hidden treasure is a providential sign of divine favor that defuses the brothers’ fear and foreshadows reconciliation.
2.Job 3:21 – Job compares those who “search for it more than for hidden treasure” with men longing for death. The verse shows how desperation can invert value: life-ending relief is pursued as earnestly as wealth.
3.Proverbs 2:4 – Wisdom is to be sought “as for hidden treasure”. The simile insists that discernment is more precious than silver; it rewards a persevering, investigative faith.
4.Isaiah 45:3 – To Cyrus the LORD promises “the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places”, affirming God’s sovereign ability to transfer resources to accomplish redemptive purposes.
5.Jeremiah 41:8 – Ten Judean men plead for their lives by revealing “treasures of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the field”. The narrative portrays concealed stores as a means of survival in national crisis.
Theological Themes
Hidden Provision: Genesis and Isaiah present matmon as divinely controlled. The concealed sacks of grain and the subterranean riches of conquered nations underline that God can reveal or withhold resources at will.
Search and Desire: Job and Proverbs contrast the motives of seekers—one pursues death, the other wisdom. The context clarifies that what one treasures determines one’s destination.
Judgment and Mercy:Jeremiah 41:8 shows how hidden supplies can temporarily avert judgment, yet the broader passage reminds readers that mercy without repentance is fragile.
Historical Background
Ancient Near Eastern societies frequently buried valuables to protect them from marauders or sudden upheaval. Patriarchal travel (Genesis), siege conditions (Jeremiah), and imperial conquests (Isaiah) all fit this practice. Matmon connotes not merely wealth but the anxiety and anticipation surrounding its concealment.
Practical and Ministry Implications
• Encourage believers to mine Scripture with the persistence commended inProverbs 2:4, expecting the Spirit to uncover treasures that transform.
• Remind congregations that material gain, like matmon in Genesis or Isaiah, is entrusted by God for His purposes and should be stewarded accordingly.
• Offer pastoral care to those in suffering (Job 3), guiding them to value the hope of resurrection over the despair that seeks death as a treasure.
• Challenge communities, as inJeremiah 41, to avoid placing ultimate security in hidden reserves; true safety rests in covenant faithfulness.
Christological and New Testament Echoes
Jesus’ parable of “the treasure hidden in a field” (Matthew 13:44) echoes matmon imagery, presenting the kingdom of heaven as a concealed but surpassing wealth worth any sacrifice.Colossians 2:3 speaks of Christ “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” aligning withProverbs 2 and affirming that the fullest revelation of God’s matmon is found in the Lord Himself.
Related Concepts
• סָגִּין (sagin) – storehouse riches (Isaiah 45:3)
• חֹסֶן (ḥosen) – wealth, possession
• θησαυρός (thēsauros, Greek) – treasure; seeMatthew 6:21; 13:44
Matmon thus calls readers to recognize God-given resources, pursue wisdom relentlessly, and value the hidden riches that point to Christ and His kingdom.
Forms and Transliterations
וְֽכַמַּטְמוֹנִ֥ים וּמַטְמֻנֵ֖י וכמטמונים ומטמני מִמַּטְמוֹנִֽים׃ מַטְמֹנִים֙ מַטְמוֹן֙ מטמון מטמנים ממטמונים׃ maṭ·mō·nîm maṭ·mō·wn matmOn matmoNim maṭmōnîm maṭmōwn mim·maṭ·mō·w·nîm mimatmoNim mimmaṭmōwnîm ū·maṭ·mu·nê ūmaṭmunê umatmuNei vechammatmoNim wə·ḵam·maṭ·mō·w·nîm wəḵammaṭmōwnîm
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