Original Word: מָתַק
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: mathaq
Pronunciation: maw-thoke'
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-thak')
KJV: be (made, X take) sweet
NASB: sweet, became sweet, feeds sweetly, gently cover, had sweet
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to suck
2. (by implication) to relish
3. (intransitively) to be sweet

be made, take sweet

A primitive root; to suck, by implication, to relish, or (intransitively) be sweet -- be (made, X take) sweet.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to become or be sweet or pleasant
NASB Translation
became sweet (1), feeds sweetly (1), gently cover (1), had sweet (1), sweet (2).

מָתֹק verb become or be sweet, pleasant (Late Hebrew מתק, especially Pi`el; Assyrian [matâ‡u] be sweet, in derivatives; Ethiopic sweet; Aramaic suck (with pleasure), מְתַק id., be sweet; Arabic ( before ) see smack the lips (with pleasure), sweetness); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular suffix מְתָקוֺ Job 24:20; 3plural מָֽתְקוּ Job 21:33; Imperfect3masculine plural יִמְתָּ֑קוּ Proverbs 9:17, וַיִמְתְּקוּ Exodus 15:25; —

1 literally become sweet, of water (opposed to מָרִים) Exodus 15:25 (J); are (i.e. taste) sweet, ׳מַיִם גְּנוּבִים יִמ Proverbs 9:17 (figurative of delights of illicit pleasure).

2 = be pleasant, מָֽתְקוּ לוֺ Job 21:33 sweet (pleasant) to him are the clods of the valley (said of one resting in the grave).

3 suck (Aramaic sense, compare Syriac above) מְתָקוֺ רִמָּה Job 24:20 the worm doth suck him, feast on him (on verb masculine compare Ges^{§ 145}. 7 Kö^{Synt. § 345 a} Da^{Synt. § 113} (b)), Di De Buhl (compare Kau Da; also SS who render 'angenehm finden'), but this sense in Hebrew dubious; text perhaps corrupt (compare conjectures by Bu Du).

Hiph`il Imperfect3feminine singular אִם תַּמְתִּיק בְּפִיו רָעָה Job 20:12 if evil gives a sweet taste in his mouth (declarative Hiph`il); 1 plural אֲשֶׁר יַחְדָּו נַמְתִּיק סוֺד Psalm 55:15 we who used to make sweet (our) intimacy.

General Sense and Imagery

מָתַק conveys the idea of sweetness, pleasantness, or becoming sweet. In Hebrew thought, “sweet” is not merely a taste but a comprehensive experience of delight that encompasses the senses, the emotions, and even the moral realm. When a situation, word, or relationship “sweetens,” it moves from harshness or bitterness to refreshing satisfaction.

Canonical Appearances and Immediate Contexts

• Exodus 15:25 establishes the verb’s foundational metaphor. At Marah the water was “bitter,” but when Moses cast the divinely indicated tree into it, “the water became sweet.” The passage does more than describe a miracle of taste; it inaugurates a theology of redemption in which the LORD turns what is undrinkable into life-sustaining refreshment for His covenant people.
• Job 20:12 applies the verb to the deceptive allure of sin: “Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue.” The sweetness is temporary and illusory, contrasting sharply with the enduring sweetness granted by God.
• Job 21:33 portrays death’s leveling effect: “The clods of the valley are sweet to him; everyone follows after him.” Even the grave seems palatable when viewed through the lens of worldly ease, highlighting the need for an eternal perspective.
• Psalm 55:14 recalls intimate fellowship: “We who once enjoyed sweet counsel together walked to the house of God in company.” Here sweetened speech underscores the tragedy of betrayal.
• Proverbs 9:17 warns against stolen pleasure: “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” The proverb unmasks the counterfeit sweetness of illicit indulgence.

Theological Trajectory

1. Transformation by Divine Intervention: Exodus 15 demonstrates that only the LORD can truly change bitterness into sweetness. The episode anticipates the greater redemption accomplished in Christ, where the bitterness of sin and death is overcome by the sweetness of salvation.
2. Discernment of False Sweetness: Job and Proverbs expose the seductive pull of evil that appears sweet but ends in destruction. Scripture consistently calls believers to measure every perceived sweetness against the revealed character of God.
3. Covenant Fellowship: Psalm 55 illustrates that genuine sweetness flourishes in covenantal faithfulness. When covenant bonds are broken, what once was sweet becomes a source of deep grief, reinforcing the importance of integrity within the community of faith.

Historical and Cultural Insights

In the Ancient Near East, sweetness—normally associated with honey, dates, or the rare luxury of refined sugar—symbolized blessing and prosperity. Bitter water, conversely, represented judgment or hardship. The Marah narrative would resonate powerfully with an audience familiar with the scarcity of potable water in desert regions. Likewise, stolen food in Proverbs parallels common social taboos around hospitality and property, intensifying the proverb’s moral force.

Ministry and Discipleship Application

• Preaching and Teaching: Use Exodus 15:25 to illustrate the gospel’s power to convert bitterness into joy. Connect the wooden tree thrown into the waters with the wood of the cross, on which Christ bore the curse so that believers might taste the sweetness of grace.
• Counseling and Spiritual Formation: When addressing temptations described as “sweet” (Job 20:12; Proverbs 9:17), encourage believers to test immediate gratification against long-term spiritual health. Develop disciplines that cultivate a taste for what is truly sweet—God’s presence and Word.
• Worship and Fellowship: Psalm 55:14 calls congregations to guard the sweetness of corporate worship through unity and truthful speech. Regular participation in the Lord’s Table serves as a tangible reminder of shared sweetness in Christ.

Intertextual Echoes and New Testament Resonance

Though מָתַק itself does not appear in the New Testament, its motif of sweetness is echoed in passages such as Revelation 10:9–10, where John eats the scroll that is “sweet as honey” yet turns bitter in his stomach, reflecting the dual reality of God’s word—gracious to believers, severe to the unrepentant. James 3:11–12 likewise contrasts sweet and bitter water to exhort pure speech. These links affirm the canonical unity of the theme.

Conclusion

מָתַק threads through Scripture as a vivid depiction of both authentic and counterfeit delights. It points ultimately to the Lord who alone can create lasting sweetness, satisfies the soul, and empowers His people to discern and reject every sugary substitute for His life-giving truth.

וַֽיִּמְתְּק֖וּ וימתקו יִמְתָּ֑קוּ ימתקו מָֽתְקוּ־ מתקו־ נַמְתִּ֣יק נמתיק תַּמְתִּ֣יק תמתיק mā·ṯə·qū- mateku māṯəqū- nam·tîq namTik namtîq tam·tîq tamTik tamtîq vaiyimteKu way·yim·tə·qū wayyimtəqū yim·tā·qū yimTaku yimtāqūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts