Lexical Summary
matstsebah: Pillar, Monument, Standing Stone
Original Word:מַצֵּבָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:matstsebah
Pronunciation:maht-tseh-bah'
Phonetic Spelling:(mats-tsay-baw')
KJV: garrison, (standing) image, pillar
NASB:pillar, pillars, stump, obelisks
Word Origin:[feminine (causatively) participle ofH5324 (נָצַב - set)]
1. something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone)
2. by analogy, an idol
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
garrison, standing image, pillar
Feminine (causatively) participle ofnatsab; something stationed, i.e. A column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol -- garrison, (standing) image, pillar.
see HEBREWnatsab
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
natsabDefinitiona pillar, stump
NASB Translationobelisks (1), pillar (19), pillars (16), stump (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, ,
maƒƒ¢b¹,
stump; — absolute
Hosea 3:4 +,
2 Samuel 18:18 a (read Dr Bu Kit),
2 Samuel 18:18 b
Isaiah 6:13, construct
2 Kings 3:2;
2 Kings 10:27,
Genesis 35:14,20; suffix
Isaiah 6:13; plural absolute
1 Kings 14:28, construct
2 Kings 10:26, etc.; —
2 Samuel 18:18 (twice in verse).
(, ), and anointed as memorial of divine appearanceGenesis 28:18,22;Genesis 31:13 (all E),Genesis 35:14 (J); so alsoGenesis 33:20 (E), where insert , or read for (We Di NowArchaeology ii.18), set up (), , in token of an agreementGenesis 31:45,51,52 (twice in verse) (all E); over graveGenesis 35:20 (twice in verse)
() by MosesExodus 24:4 (E; 12 pillars),Hosea 3:4;Hosea 10:1,2;Isaiah 19:19; conjecture also2 Kings 12:10 for StaZAW v (1885), 296 NowArchaeology l.c., but dubious, see Benzon the passage; (usually + etc.): of CanaanitesExodus 23:24 (E),Exodus 34:13 (J),Deuteronomy 7:5;Deuteronomy 12:3 compare2 Kings 3:2;2 Kings 10:26,27; Tyre, ,Ezekiel 26:11, of obelisks of Heliopolis in Egypt; condemned for Israel by Deuteronomic code, and Deuteronomist redaction of Kings:Deuteronomy 16:22;2 Kings 14:23;2 Kings 17:10;2 Kings 18:4;2 Kings 23:14; 2Chron 14:2; 2 Chronicles 31:1; compareMicah 5:12;Leviticus 26:1 (H). — Onmaƒƒ¢b¹ see further NowArchaeology ii.18 f. BenzArchaeology 380 f. DrDeuteronomy 16:21f. WeSkizzen iii.99,165 RSSem.i.184 ff. 437.f; 2d ed. 204 ff. 456 f.; K. 50. On this see also LagrangeÉtudes Bibl. 197 ff. and review by BauZMG lvii (1903), 830; also GFMEB MASSEBAH StaBib. Theol. i. § 55 OCWhitehouseHast. DB PILLAR. —Judges 9:6 see [ ]stock, stump of treeIsaiah 6:13 a (in simile), soIsaiah 6:13 b (figurative; but probably strike out as gloss).
Topical Lexicon
Concept and Scopeמַצֵּבָה (matzēbāh) denotes a standing pillar of stone erected for religious, commemorative, or cultic purposes. Unlike an altar, it has no fire-pan or blood rites attached to it; unlike a massé·ḵāh (molten image), it is not formed by casting metal. Its function shifts across redemptive history from a legitimate memorial of covenant events to an object condemned as idolatrous.
Physical Characteristics and Settings
A מַצֵּבָה could be a single unworked monolith (Genesis 28:18) or a shaped stele (2 Kings 10:26–27). Archaeology in Syria-Palestine has uncovered similar pillars at shrines and city gates, often coated with oil, inscriptions, or bas-relief symbols. Such pillars were normally set in conspicuous places—hilltops, city approaches, temple courtyards, or beside gateways—to signal the presence of a deity or commemorate a decisive act.
Old Testament Distribution
The term appears approximately thirty-two times, spanning Genesis through Micah. Genesis features it as an acceptable witness to Yahweh’s self-revelation (Genesis 28:18; 35:14; 35:20). The Exodus-Joshua corpus warns against Canaanite pillars (Exodus 23:24; 34:13;Deuteronomy 12:3; 16:22). The Former and Latter Prophets portray their proliferation in apostasy (1 Kings 14:23;Hosea 10:1), while reforming kings and prophets destroy them (2 Kings 18:4; 23:14;Micah 5:13).
Representative Passages
•Genesis 28:18 – “Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it.”
•Exodus 23:24 – “You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.”
•Deuteronomy 16:22 – “You must not set up a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates.”
•1 Kings 14:23 – “For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.”
•Hosea 10:1 – “…the more his fruit increased, the more he multiplied altars; the better his land produced, the better they made their sacred stones.”
•2 Kings 18:4 – “He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles…”
From Memorial to Idolatry
1. Patriarchal commemoration: Jacob’s pillars memorialize divine encounters and covenant promises (Genesis 28; 35). These pillars stand untouched by later prohibitions because their dedication was exclusively to Yahweh and they bear no iconographic image.
2. Syncretistic corruption: Upon Israel’s entry into Canaan, the same architectural form is co-opted for Baal and Asherah worship. The Lord therefore commands Israel to demolish indigenous pillars lest syncretism ensnare them (Exodus 34:12-16).
3. Royal and prophetic reforms: Hezekiah, Josiah, and Jehu break and burn pillars as part of renewing covenant fidelity. Their actions highlight the incompatibility of Yahweh’s transcendence with visualized stone representations.
4. Eschatological cleansing:Micah 5:13 anticipates a day when the Lord Himself “will destroy your idols and your sacred stones” to secure undivided worship.
Theological Themes
• Exclusivity of Worship: The progression from permissive to prohibitive usage demonstrates God’s zeal for pure devotion untainted by Canaanite forms.
• Memorial Theology: Legitimate מַצֵּבָה memorials celebrate divine faithfulness; illegitimate ones substitute visible stone for the invisible God, violating the second commandment.
• Reform and Revival: Breaking pillars becomes a hallmark of true revival, illustrating that covenant renewal demands tangible repudiation of idolatry.
• Covenant Witness: In early narratives the standing stone functions as a witness—both to God’s promises (Genesis 28) and to human vows (Genesis 31:45-52). Its later outlawing underscores that Christ, not stone, is now the ultimate “cornerstone” and covenant witness.
Ministry Application
1. Guard Against Syncretism: Modern ministry must continually evaluate cultural symbols incorporated into worship lest they eclipse Christ’s sufficiency.
2. Visible Reminders: While physical memorials (e.g., communion table, baptismal waters) remain valuable, their power lies in pointing beyond themselves to God’s redemptive acts.
3. Reformative Leadership: Like Hezekiah and Josiah, church leaders should courageously dismantle any practice or tradition that competes with God’s glory.
4. Christ the True Pillar:Hebrews 1:3 identifies Jesus as “the radiance of God’s glory,” fulfilling every legitimate function of the ancient sacred pillar—He both reveals God and secures the covenant.
Conclusion
מַצֵּבָה offers a sobering case study in how symbols, even when grounded in authentic encounter, can drift into idolatry when detached from God’s word. The faith community is therefore called to continual discernment, ensuring that every memorial and ministry practice magnifies the Lord alone.
Forms and Transliterations
הַמַּצֵּב֔וֹת הַמַּצֵּב֣וֹת הַמַּצֵּבָ֑ה הַמַּצֵּבָ֥ה הַמַּצֵּבֹ֔ת הַמַצֵּבָ֔ה המצבה המצבות המצבת וּמַצְּב֥וֹת וּמַצֵּב֖וֹת וּמַצֵּבָ֥ה וּמַצֵּבָה֙ וּמַצֵּבֹתָ֖ם וּמַצֵּבוֹתֶ֖יךָ ומצבה ומצבות ומצבותיך ומצבתם מַצְּב֥וֹת מַצְּבַ֣ת מַצְּבוֹת֙ מַצֵּ֣בֹתָ֔ם מַצֵּב֖וֹת מַצֵּבָ֑ה מַצֵּבָ֔ה מַצֵּבָ֖ה מַצֵּבָ֗ה מַצֵּבָֽה׃ מַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ מַצֵּבֹתָ֖ם מַצֵּבֽוֹת׃ מַצֵּבוֹתָֽם׃ מצבה מצבה׃ מצבות מצבות׃ מצבותם׃ מצבת מצבתיהם׃ מצבתם ha·maṣ·ṣê·ḇāh ham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇāh ham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·wṯ ham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇōṯ hamaṣṣêḇāh hamatztzeVah hammaṣṣêḇāh hammaṣṣêḇōṯ hammaṣṣêḇōwṯ hammatztzeVah hammatztzeVot maṣ·ṣê·ḇāh maṣ·ṣə·ḇaṯ maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·ṯām maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·ṯê·hem maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·w·ṯām maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·wṯ maṣ·ṣə·ḇō·wṯ maṣṣêḇāh maṣṣəḇaṯ maṣṣêḇōṯām maṣṣêḇōṯêhem maṣṣêḇōwṯ maṣṣəḇōwṯ maṣṣêḇōwṯām matztzeVah matztzeVat matztzeVot matztzevoTam matztzevoteiHem ū·maṣ·ṣê·ḇāh ū·maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·ṯām ū·maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·w·ṯe·ḵā ū·maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·wṯ ū·maṣ·ṣə·ḇō·wṯ ūmaṣṣêḇāh ūmaṣṣêḇōṯām ūmaṣṣêḇōwṯ ūmaṣṣəḇōwṯ ūmaṣṣêḇōwṯeḵā umatztzeVah umatztzeVot umatztzevoTam umatztzevoTeicha
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