Original Word: מָטַר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: matar
Pronunciation: mah-TAR
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-tawr')
KJV: rain
NASB: rain, downpour
Word Origin: [from H4305 (מָטַר - rain)]

1. rain

rain

From matar; rain -- rain.

see HEBREW matar

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
rain
NASB Translation
downpour (1), rain (36).

מָטָר noun masculine^{Exodus 9:33}. rain (Assyrian me‰ru, Dl^{HWB 406}; Arabic ; Sabean (Minaean) מטר Hom^{Chrestom. 127}; Aramaic מַטְרָא, ); — ׳מ Exodus 9:33 30t.; construct מְטַר Deuteronomy 11:11 5t.; plural construct מִטְרוֺת Job 37:6; — rain, as watering earth, especially Canaan, Deuteronomy 11:11 הַשָּׁמַיִם ׳מ; as blessing sent (verb usually נָתַן and withheld by ׳י Deuteronomy 11:14 ("" יוֺרֶה, מַלְקוֺשׁ); Deuteronomy 11:17 (here אַרְצְכֶס ׳מְ); Deuteronomy 28:12; 1 Kings 8:35,36; 1 Kings 17:1 ("" טַל), 1 Kings 18:12; 1 Chronicles 6:26; 1 Chronicles 6:27; 1 Chronicles 7:13; Job 5:10 ("" מַיִם), compare Job 28:26; Job 36:27; Psalm 147:8 (verb מֵכִין); so זַרְעֲךָ ׳מְ Isaiah 30:23; Zechariah 10:1 ("" מַלְקוֺשׁ), Zechariah 10:1 מְטַרגֶּֿשֶׁם; גֶּשֶׁם מָטָר Job 37:6, גֶּשֶׁם מִטְרוֺת עֻזּוֺ Job 37:6 ("" שֶׁלַג); Job 38:28 ("" אֶגְלֵיטָֿ֑ל) ׳בְּרָקִים לַמּ Psalm 135:7; Jeremiah 10:13 = Jeremiah 51:16 ("" הֲמוֺן מַיִם); also in אַרְצְךָ אָבָק וְעָפָר ׳נָתַן אֵת מְ Deuteronomy 28:24; compare Isaiah 5:6 (where accusative of congnate meaning with verb הִמְטִיר); wish of David 2 Samuel 1:21 ("" טַל); בַּקָּצִיר ׳מ simile of the unseasonable, Proverbs 26:1 ("" שֶׁלֶג בַּקַּיִץ); sent by extraordary supernatural power as sign Exodus 9:33,34 (J; both "" בָּרָר, קֹלוֺת) compare 1 Samuel 12:17,18 ("" קֹלוֺת); simile of refreshment Deuteronomy 32:2 ("" טַל), Job 29:23 ("" מַלְקוֺשׁ), Psalm 72:6 ("" רְבִיבִים), compare 2 Samuel 23:4; as destructive Psalm 28:3 מָטָר סֹחֵף); also figurative, Isaiah 4:6 ("" זֶרֶם).

Overview of Usage

The verb מָטַר (Strong H4306) appears about thirty-eight times, always portraying the act of “making it rain.” Whether the rainfall is literal or figurative, the subject is invariably God, underscoring His unparalleled authority over creation and history. The contexts cluster into three principal spheres: covenantal blessing, covenantal judgment, and extraordinary provision.

Rain as Covenant Blessing

1. Agricultural Prosperity
• Seasonal showers were essential to Israel’s survival in a land dependent on winter and spring rains. When the people walked in obedience, God pledged to “send down showers in season—showers of blessing” (Ezekiel 34:26).
• Prophets linked national renewal with divine rainfall. “Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime… He gives showers of rain to men” (Zechariah 10:1).

2. Assurance of God’s Faithfulness
• Job recognized rainfall as evidence of God’s meticulous care: “to bring rain on a barren land” (Job 38:26).
• Jeremiah contrasted the impotence of idols with the living God, “Can any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?… Are You not the LORD our God?” (Jeremiah 14:22).

Rain as Covenant Judgment

1. Cataclysmic Downpour
• Genesis 19:24 records a fearsome reversal—“Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah”—transforming the normal blessing of rain into an agent of destruction.
• Exodus 9:18, 23 displays the same pattern in Egypt: “I will rain down the worst hail,” a divine blow against Pharaoh’s arrogance.

2. Eschatological Warfare
• Ezekiel 38:22 pictures God defending His people: “I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur on him…” Divine rain becomes a weapon against invading hordes in the latter days.
• Psalms echo this theme: “On the wicked He will rain fiery coals and sulfur” (Psalm 11:6).

Rain as Extraordinary Provision

1. Sustenance in the Wilderness
• “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you” (Exodus 16:4). Bread and later quail (Psalm 78:24, 27) descend like rain, reinforcing God’s identity as Provider.

2. Pedagogical Purpose
• The daily manna tested Israel’s obedience, teaching reliance on the Giver rather than the gift.
• The quail episode warned against greed: abundance without gratitude breeds judgment (Numbers 11, implied by Psalm 78:30-31).

Rain Imagery in Worship and Wisdom Literature

1. Psalms and Job employ rain metaphors to celebrate divine governance and to express confidence amid adversity (Job 37:6).
2. Prophets harness rain language to call for repentance, promising restoration when hearts return to God (Hosea 6:3, with the cognate noun).

Historical Significance

Throughout Israel’s agrarian history the onset or withholding of rain determined famine or feast. Public fasts and solemn assemblies were convened when rains failed, reflecting a theological conviction: rainfall was not meteorological chance but covenant dialogue. Archaeological evidence of ancient cisterns and terraces corroborates the critical place of rainfall management in daily life.

Ministry Implications

1. Intercession and Dependence

Pastors and congregations are reminded that physical and spiritual refreshment flow from God alone. Intercessory prayer modeled on Zechariah 10:1 remains vital.

2. Discipleship and Obedience

The recurring link between rainfall and covenant loyalty calls the Church to holistic obedience—trusting God for tangible needs while conforming to His revealed will.

3. Preaching Christ

Just as rain descends from heaven to give life, so the Word made flesh descended to grant eternal life. Isaiah 55:10-11 connects divine rain with the sure accomplishment of God’s purposes, finding ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the living Word.

Summary

The verb מָטַר portrays God as the One who sends—or withholds—rain according to His righteous purposes. Whether blessing the obedient, judging the rebellious, or providing miraculously, each occurrence testifies to the Lord’s sovereign, covenant-keeping character and invites His people to respond in faith, repentance, and grateful worship.

הַמָּטָ֧ר המטר וְכַמָּטָ֥ר וּמְטַר־ וּמִמָּטָֽר׃ וּמָטָ֑ר וּמָטָ֖ר וכמטר ומטר ומטר־ וממטר׃ כְּמָטָ֣ר כַּמָּטָר֙ כַמָּטָ֣ר כמטר לִמְטַ֥ר לַמָּטָ֣ר לַמָּטָ֥ר לַמָּטָר֙ למטר מְטַ֥ר מְטַ֨ר מְטַֽר־ מִטְר֥וֹת מִמָּטָ֖ר מָ֭טָר מָטָ֑ר מָטָ֔ר מָטָ֖ר מָטָ֛ר מָטָ֣ר מָטָ֥ר מָטָֽר׃ מָטָר֙ מטר מטר־ מטר׃ מטרות ממטר chammaTar ham·mā·ṭār hammaTar hammāṭār kam·mā·ṭār ḵam·mā·ṭār kammaTar kammāṭār ḵammāṭār kə·mā·ṭār kemaTar kəmāṭār lam·mā·ṭār lammaTar lammāṭār lim·ṭar limTar limṭar mā·ṭār maTar māṭār Mator mə·ṭar mə·ṭar- metar məṭar məṭar- mim·mā·ṭār mimaTar mimmāṭār miṭ·rō·wṯ mitRot miṭrōwṯ ū·mā·ṭār ū·mə·ṭar- ū·mim·mā·ṭār umaTar ūmāṭār umetar ūməṭar- umimaTar ūmimmāṭār vechammaTar wə·ḵam·mā·ṭār wəḵammāṭārInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts