Lexical Summary pathach: To open Original Word: פָתַח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance appear, break forth, draw out, let go free, engrave, loose self, be, be set opening, A primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve -- appear, break forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-)grave(-n), loose (self), (be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent. Brown-Driver-Briggs I. מָּתַח verb open (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician פתח; Assyrian pitû, patû; Sabean פתח OsZMG xix (1865), 197; Arabic ![]() ![]() ![]() Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳פ 2 Kings 15:16 +, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִפְתַּח Exodus 21:33 +; 3 masculine plural suffix יִפְתָּחוּם Nehemiah 13:19, etc.; Imperative masculine singular מְּתַחִ 2 Kings 13:17 +; feminine singular מִּתְחִיּ Songs 5:2; masculine plural מִּתְחוּ Joshua 10:22 +; Infinitive absolute מָּתֹחַ Deuteronomy 15:8 +; construct לִפְתֹח Ezekiel 21:27 +; Participle active מֹּתֵחַ Judges 3:25 +; pass. מָּתוּחַ Jeremiah 5:16 +, etc.; — open sack, שַׂק, Genesis 42:27 (E), אַמְתַּחַת Genesis 43:21; Genesis 44:11 (J), skin-bottle (נאוד). Judges 4:19, hamper (תֵּדָה) Exodus 2:6 (E), pit (בּוֺר) Exodus 21:33 (E; i. e. uncover it), mouth (מִּי) of cave Joshua 10:22 (JE), grave Ezekiel 37:12,13 (to bring forth dead), of. (in figurative) Jeremiah 5:16; Psalm 5:10; כְּלִי פָתוּחַ Numbers 19:15; (P) open vessel; door (דֶּלֶת; sometimes opposed to סָגַר) Judges 3:25 + Judges 3:25 (object omitted), Judges 19:27; 1 Samuel 3:15; 2 Kings 9:3,10; 2Chronicles 29:3; Job 31:32 (c.ל person); figurative of Leb. Zechariah 11:1; דַּלתֵי שָׁמַיִם Psalm 78:23 (of ׳י, sending rain); ׳ד = city-gates Nehemiah 13:19; Isaiah 45:1("" שְׁעָרִים; ׳י subject, with לפְנֵי); ׳ד omitted Songs 5:2,5,6; gate (שַׁעַר), of land Nahum 3:13 (Infinitive absolute + Imperfect Niph`al q. v.), compare Ezekiel 25:9, שׁער of temple (- court) Ezekiel 46:12 (with ל, person), Psalm 118:19 (id.), city Isaiah 26:2, object omitted Deuteronomy 20:11; 2 Kings 15:16; window, חַלּוֺן, 2 Kings 13:17 (twice in verse),אֲרֻבּוֺת הַשָׁמַיִם (by ׳י sending rain) Genesis 8:6(J), Malachi 3:10; city Jeremiah 13:19, עִיר מְּתוּחָה Joshua 8:17 (JE); absolute וְלאֹ סגר ׳פ Isaiah 22:22 (twice in verse); — Isaiah 14:17 is dubious, Gr PerlesAnal. 28. 42 Kit (in Di) read ׳לַאֲסִירָיו לאֹפֿ בֵּיתהַֿכֶּלֶא; > Bu Che Marti אֲסִירָיו לאֹ מִּתַּח אִישׁ לְבֵיתוֺ; storehouse, armoury Genesis 41:56; Jeremiah 50:25 (of ׳י), Jeremiah 50:26 (for destruction), figurative of sky, for rain Deuteronomy 28:12 (with ל person; of ׳י ), compare open בָּ֑ר, expose for sale, Amos 8:5; open womb, i.e. grant offspring Genesis 29:31; Genesis 30:22 (J); open mouth (מֶּה) to cry, speak Ezekiel 21:27; Job 3:1; Daniel 10:16, hence = speak Isaiah 53:7 (twice in verse); Job 33:2; Psalm 39:10; Psalm 78:2 (בְּמָשָׁל), Psalm 109:2 (with עַל person), Proverbs 24:7; Proverbs 31:8 (with ל person), Proverbs 31:9; Proverbs 31:26 (בְּחָכְמָה); Psalm 49:5 either utter, declare, propound riddle, or open up, expound; have power of speech Psalm 38:14; of ׳י giving power of (prophetic) speech Ezekiel 3:27; Ezekiel 33:22, giving speech to ass Numbers 22:28 (J); open mouth, to eat Ezekiel 3:2, of earth, to swallow up, Numbers 16:32: Numbers 26:10, compare (מֶּה omitted) Psalm 106:17; open lips, to speak Job 11:5 (with עִם person), Job 32:20 (Gi Job 32:21); of ׳י opening man's lips Psalm 51:17, man's ear Isaiah 50:5 (Assyrian uznâ puttû); of eyes only passive participle, with אֶל 1 Kings 8:29 2Chronicles 6:20; 1 Kings 8:52; Nehemiah 1:6, with ל2Chronicles 6:40 (by zeugma), 2 Chronicles 7:15 (all of ׳י's favour); open hand, in giving Deuteronomy 15:8,11 (c, ל person, + infinitive absolute), of ׳י Psalm 104:28; Psalm 145:16; book Nehemiah 8:5 (twice in verse), letter Nehemiah 6:5; open river (channel) Isaiah 41:18 (of ׳י), rock, letting out water, Psalm 105:41 (id.); open sword, = draw it Ezekiel 21:33; Psalm 37:14; of root שָׁרְשִׁי פָתוּחַ אֱלֵימָֿ֑יִם Job 29:19, i.e. with no obstacle intervening. — תִּפְתַּח אֶרֶץ Isaiah 45:8 is dubious; verb not elsewhere intransitive; Du CheHpt Marti proposes רַחְמָהּ as object; Gr Kit (in Di) read תִּמָּתַח. Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נִפְתַּח Isaiah 5:27, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִמָּתַח Ezekiel 24:27, יִמָּתֵ֑חַ Ezekiel 44:2 +, etc.; Infinitive construct הִמָּתֵחַ Isaiah 51:14; Participle נִפְתָּח Zechariah 13:1; — be opend, of girdle Isaiah 5:27 (i.e. loosened), compare of captive Isaiah 51:14, and, of calamity, Jeremiah 1:14 be let loose (with עַל person); gates Nahum 2:7; Nahum 3:13 (of land, thrown open to (ל) enemy), Ezekiel 44:2; Ezekiel 46:1 (twice in verse); Nehemiah 7:3; impersonal of man shut in by God Job 12:14; of windows of heaven Genesis 7:11 (P), compare Isaiah 24:18 (of future destruction); the heavens themselves Ezekiel 1:1(for visions); fountain Zechariah 13:1; wine (-skin, with negative) Job 32:19; mouth, in speech Job 24:27; Job 33:22; ears Isaiah 35:5. Pi`el Perfect3masculine singular מִּתַּח Job 30:11 +, מִּתֵּ֑חַ Job 12:18 +, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יְפַתַּח; Isaiah 28:24, 1singular אֲפַתֵּחַ Isaiah 45:1, etc.; — Infinitive abs מַּתֵּחַ Isaiah 58:6 construct, id. Psalm 102:21; Participle מְפַתֵּ֑חַ 1 Kings 20:11; — loose: 1 free, i.e. ungird, camels Genesis 24:32 (J): loins of kings Isaiah 45:1 (i.e. disarm them); set free, with suffix person Psalm 105:20; Jeremiah 40:4 (with מִן); with accusative בְּנֵי תְמוּתָה Psalm 102:21. 2 loosen (and remove) sack-cloth Isaiah 20:2 (c.מֵעַל ), Psalm 30:12; armour 1 Kings 20:11 (object omitted; opposed to חָגַר); bonds Job 12:18; Psalm 116:16, compare Isaiah 58:6; Job 39:5; cord Job 30:11; Job 38:11; loosen ground Isaiah 28:24 (in tillage; compare VogelstLand wrirthschaft 38, Assyrian puttû). 3 open gates Isaiah 60:11, doors Job 41:6 (figurative of crocodile's jaws); ear Isaiah 48:8 (read probably either מִּתַּחְתִּי, מָּתַחְתִּי [ᵐ5 Du Marti], or נִפְתְּחָה [Gr Che Kit in Di]; buds Cant 7:13 (of blossom; object omitted; or intransitive, as sometimes Arabic Hithpa`el Imperative masculine plural התפתחו Isaiah 52:2 Kt < Qr feminine singular הִתְמַּתְּחִי (so ᵐ5; of personified Jerusalem) loosen thee (Ges§ 54f) the fetters of thy neck. II. [מָּתַח] verb Pi`el engrave (Late Hebrew Pi`el id.,מִּתּוּחַ = Biblical Hebrew, and so ᵑ7; Assyrian patâ—u, bore, penetrate; compare perhaps Arabic Pu`al Participle feminine plural מְפֻתָּחֹת פִתּוּחֵי חוֺתָם Exodus 39:9 (P) stones engraved with the engravings of signet. [מְּתַח] verb open (see Biblical Hebrew); — Pe`al Passive participle feminine plural מְּתִיחָן Daniel 6:11 opened (windows). Pe>îl (WCG 225) Perfect3masculine plural מְּתִ֫יחוּ Daniel 7:10 books were opened. Topical Lexicon Overview of Usage The verb פָתַח occurs about one hundred forty-five times across the Hebrew Scriptures. It describes an act of “opening” in spheres that range from the literal—doors, windows, wombs—to the profoundly spiritual—eyes, ears, hearts, heavens, and even graves. Whether the subject is the Lord, an angel, a prophet, or an ordinary person, the action consistently presents God as the One who grants access, opportunity, revelation, and life. Physical Opening of Structures • Doors, gates, and windows mark decisive moments of rescue and judgment. Noah “opened the window of the ark” (Genesis 8:6); the men of Sodom “pressed hard against Lot and came near to break down the door” before the angels “shut the door” to protect him, emphasizing that what God opens or shuts controls human destiny (Genesis 19:9–10). Opening of the Earth and Heavens • Judgment: “All the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened” (Genesis 7:11). Opening of the Womb The Lord alone grants conception. He “opened her womb” for Leah (Genesis 29:31), Hannah (1 Samuel 1:19–20), and others, underscoring children as covenant gifts. The firstborn who “opens the womb” belongs to God (Exodus 13:2, 12), tying פָתַח to redemption theology and the Passover memorial. Opening the Mouth: Speech, Praise, and Prophecy • Prophetic empowerment: “Then the LORD opened Balaam’s mouth” (Numbers 23:5); Ezekiel’s mute season ended when “my mouth was opened” (Ezekiel 33:22). Opening of Eyes: Revelation and Discernment • Physical sight restored: “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened” (Isaiah 35:5). Opening of Ears and Heart: Understanding and Obedience • Covenant summons: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You have opened my ears” (Psalm 40:6). Divine Deliverance and Opportunity Doors God opens cannot be shut by adversaries. He “opened the iron gate leading into the city” for Peter (typologically in Acts 12:10); the Exodus sea crossing is anticipated when the psalmist recalls how “He opened the doors of the sky” to feed Israel (Psalm 78:23). Each rescue scene echoes the Passover pattern: God opens a way where none existed. Covenantal and Cultic Settings Opening the scroll of the Torah (Nehemiah 8:5) signals covenant renewal. When Josiah “opened” the words of the law (2 Kings 22), reform followed. Conversely, the high priest who fails to open the Temple doors prevents Israel’s access to God. Prophetic and Eschatological Vision The verb pulses through future hope: graves are opened so that the dry bones may live (Ezekiel 37:12–14); fountains open “to cleanse from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 13:1). These scenes preview the resurrection and atonement accomplished in Jesus Christ. Wisdom and Ethical Exhortation Proverbs urges the righteous to open their hands to the poor (Proverbs 31:20) and their mouths for justice (Proverbs 31:8–9); Deuteronomy commands, “You are to open your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor” (Deuteronomy 15:11). פָתַח thus grounds generous ministry practice. Christological and Ministry Implications Every Old Testament use anticipating revelation, access, and life finds fulfillment in Jesus, who declares, “I am the Door” and whose resurrection opens the graves. For contemporary ministry, the term calls believers to rely on God for evangelistic “open doors” (Colossians 4:3) and to imitate His generosity toward those in need. Representative References Genesis 7:11; 8:6 Psalm 40:6; 51:15; 78:23; 119:18 Isaiah 35:5; 50:5 Ezekiel 1:1; 33:22; 37:12–14 Forms and Transliterations אֲפַתֵּ֑חַ אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה אֶפְתַּ֖ח אֶפְתַּ֣ח אֶפְתַּ֤ח אֶפְתַּ֥ח אֶפְתַּח־ אֶפְתָּֽח׃ אפתח אפתח־ אפתח׃ אפתחה בְּפִתְחִ֣י בפתחי הִֽתְפַּתְּחִי֙ התפתחי וְיִפְתַּ֖ח וְנִפְתְּחָה־ וַֽיְפַתְּחֵֽהוּ׃ וַֽיִּפְתְּח֖וּ וַֽנִּפְתְּחָה֙ וַיְפַתַּ֖ח וַיְפַתַּ֤ח וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח וַיִּפְתַּ֣ח וַיִּפְתַּ֥ח וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח וַיִּפְתַּח֙ וַיִּפְתָּ֑ח וַיִּפְתָּ֔חוּ וַיִּפָּ֣תַח וַתִּפְתַּ֞ח וַתִּפְתַּ֤ח וַתִּפְתַּ֨ח וַתִּפְתַּח֙ וָאֶפְתַּ֖ח וָאֶפְתַּח־ וּכְפִתְח֖וֹ וּלְפַתֵּ֙חַ֙ וּפִתְּח֨וּ וּפִתַּ֥ח וּפִתַּחְתָּ֣ וּפִתַּחְתָּ֤ וּפָ֣תַֽח וּפָתְחָ֖ה וּפָתַח֙ וּפָתַחְתָּ֥ ואפתח ואפתח־ ויפתח ויפתחהו׃ ויפתחו וכפתחו ולפתח ונפתחה ונפתחה־ ופתח ופתחה ופתחו ופתחת ותפתח יְפַתַּ֥ח יִפְתַּ֖ח יִפְתַּ֣ח יִפְתַּ֨ח יִפְתַּח־ יִפְתָּח֔וּם יִפָּ֤תַח יִפָּֽתְח֞וּ יִפָּתֵ֑חַ יִפָּתֵ֔חַ יִפָּתֵ֗חַ יִפָּתֵֽחַ׃ יפתח יפתח־ יפתח׃ יפתחו יפתחום כִּמְפַתֵּֽחַ׃ כמפתח׃ לְ֝פַתֵּ֗חַ לְהִפָּתֵ֑חַ לְפַתֵּ֣חַ לִפְתֹּ֣חַ לִפְתֹּ֤חַ להפתח לפתח מְפַתֵּ֣חַ מְפֻתָּחֹת֙ מפתח מפתחת נִפְתְּח֖וּ נִפְתְּחוּ֙ נִפְתַּח֙ נִפְתָּ֑חוּ נִפְתָּ֔ח נִפְתָּ֔חוּ נִפְתָּֽחוּ׃ נפתח נפתחו נפתחו׃ פְּתַ֥ח פְּתַ֧ח פְּתַח־ פְּתֻח֔וֹת פְּתוּחָ֔ה פְּתוּחָ֖ה פְּתוּחָה֙ פְתֻוּח֟וֹת פְתֻח֔וֹת פְתֻח֜וֹת פְתֻחוֹת֙ פִ֭תַּח פִּ֝תַּ֗חְתָּ פִּתְח֖וּ פִּתְח֣וּ פִּתְחִי־ פִּתְחוּ־ פִּתֵּ֑חַ פִּתַּ֣ח פִּתַּ֥חְתָּ פִּתּוּחֵ֣י פִתְּחָ֣ה פִתֵּ֑חַ פִתֵּֽחַ׃ פִתַּחְתִּ֣יךָ פַּתֵּ֙חַ֙ פָ֥תַח פָּ֠תֹחַ פָּ֣תַח פָּֽתְח֣וּ פָּת֑וּחַ פָּת֥וֹחַ פָּת֥וּחַ פָּתְחָ֣ה פָּתַ֛ח פָּתַ֣חְתִּי פָּתַ֤ח פָּתַ֤חְתִּֽי פָּתַֽח־ פָּתָ֑חוּ פָּתָֽח׃ פָת֔וּחַ פָת֣וּחַ פָתַ֖ח פָתֹ֧חַ פֹּתֵ֑חַ פֹּתֵֽחַ׃ פֹתֵ֖חַ פֹתֵ֜חַ פּוֹתֵ֥חַ פותח פתוח פתוחה פתוחות פתוחי פתח פתח־ פתח׃ פתחה פתחו פתחו־ פתחות פתחי־ פתחת פתחתי פתחתיך תְּפַתֵּֽחַ׃ תְּפַתַּח֙ תִּפְתַּ֛ח תִּפְתַּ֥ח תִּפְתַּ֨ח תִּפְתַּח־ תִּפְתָּ֑ח תִּפָּתַ֣ח תִּפָּתַֽחְנָה׃ תפתח תפתח־ תפתח׃ תפתחנה׃ ’ă·p̄at·tê·aḥ ’ăp̄attêaḥ ’ep̄·taḥ ’ep̄·tāḥ ’ep̄·taḥ- ’ep̄·tə·ḥāh ’ep̄taḥ ’ep̄tāḥ ’ep̄taḥ- ’ep̄təḥāh afatTeach bə·p̄iṯ·ḥî befitChi bəp̄iṯḥî efTach efteChah faTach faToach faTuach fetuChot fetuvvChot Fittach fittachTicha fitTeach fitteChah foTeach hiṯ·pat·tə·ḥî hitpatteChi hiṯpattəḥî kim·p̄at·tê·aḥ kimfatTeach kimp̄attêaḥ lə·hip·pā·ṯê·aḥ lə·p̄at·tê·aḥ lefatTeach lehippaTeach ləhippāṯêaḥ ləp̄attêaḥ lifToach lip̄·tō·aḥ lip̄tōaḥ mə·p̄at·tê·aḥ mə·p̄ut·tā·ḥōṯ mefatTeach mefuttaChot məp̄attêaḥ məp̄uttāḥōṯ nifTach nifTachu nifteChu nip̄·tā·ḥū nip̄·taḥ nip̄·tāḥ nip̄·tə·ḥū nip̄taḥ nip̄tāḥ nip̄tāḥū nip̄təḥū pā·ṯā·ḥū pā·ṯaḥ pā·ṯāḥ p̄ā·ṯaḥ pā·ṯaḥ- pā·ṯaḥ·tî pā·ṯə·ḥāh pā·ṯə·ḥū pā·ṯō·aḥ p̄ā·ṯō·aḥ pā·ṯō·w·aḥ pā·ṯū·aḥ p̄ā·ṯū·aḥ pat·tê·aḥ paTach paTachti paTachu pāṯaḥ pāṯāḥ p̄āṯaḥ pāṯaḥ- pāṯaḥtî pāṯāḥū pateChah pateChu pāṯəḥāh pāṯəḥū Patoach pāṯōaḥ p̄āṯōaḥ pāṯōwaḥ patTeach pattêaḥ paTuach pāṯūaḥ p̄āṯūaḥ pə·ṯaḥ pə·ṯaḥ- pə·ṯū·ḥāh pə·ṯu·ḥō·wṯ p̄ə·ṯu·ḥō·wṯ p̄ə·ṯuw·w·ḥō·wṯ peTach pəṯaḥ pəṯaḥ- petuChah petuChot pəṯūḥāh pəṯuḥōwṯ p̄əṯuḥōwṯ p̄əṯuwwḥōwṯ piṯ·ḥî- piṯ·ḥū piṯ·ḥū- pit·taḥ p̄it·taḥ pit·taḥ·tā p̄it·taḥ·tî·ḵā pit·tê·aḥ p̄it·tê·aḥ p̄it·tə·ḥāh pit·tū·ḥê pitchi pitChu piṯḥî- piṯḥū piṯḥū- pitTach pitTachta pittaḥ p̄ittaḥ pittaḥtā p̄ittaḥtîḵā pitTeach pittêaḥ p̄ittêaḥ p̄ittəḥāh pittuChei pittūḥê pō·ṯê·aḥ p̄ō·ṯê·aḥ pō·w·ṯê·aḥ poTeach pōṯêaḥ p̄ōṯêaḥ pōwṯêaḥ tə·p̄at·taḥ tə·p̄at·tê·aḥ tefatTach tefatTeach təp̄attaḥ təp̄attêaḥ tifTach tip·pā·ṯaḥ tip·pā·ṯaḥ·nāh tip̄·taḥ tip̄·tāḥ tip̄·taḥ- tippaTach tippaTachnah tippāṯaḥ tippāṯaḥnāh tip̄taḥ tip̄tāḥ tip̄taḥ- ū·ḵə·p̄iṯ·ḥōw ū·lə·p̄at·tê·aḥ ū·p̄ā·ṯaḥ ū·p̄ā·ṯaḥ·tā ū·p̄ā·ṯə·ḥāh ū·p̄it·taḥ ū·p̄it·taḥ·tā ū·p̄it·tə·ḥū uchefitCho ufaTach ufatachTa ufateChah ufitTach ufittachTa ufitteChu ūḵəp̄iṯḥōw ulefatTeach ūləp̄attêaḥ ūp̄āṯaḥ ūp̄āṯaḥtā ūp̄āṯəḥāh ūp̄ittaḥ ūp̄ittaḥtā ūp̄ittəḥū vaefTach vaiyifTach vaiyifTachu vaiyifteChu vaiyipPatach vannifteChah vattifTach vayfatTach VayfatteChehu veniftechah veyifTach wā’ep̄taḥ wā’ep̄taḥ- wā·’ep̄·taḥ wā·’ep̄·taḥ- wan·nip̄·tə·ḥāh wannip̄təḥāh wat·tip̄·taḥ wattip̄taḥ way·p̄at·taḥ way·p̄at·tə·ḥê·hū way·yip·pā·ṯaḥ way·yip̄·tā·ḥū way·yip̄·taḥ way·yip̄·tāḥ way·yip̄·tə·ḥū wayp̄attaḥ wayp̄attəḥêhū wayyippāṯaḥ wayyip̄taḥ wayyip̄tāḥ wayyip̄tāḥū wayyip̄təḥū wə·nip̄·tə·ḥāh- wə·yip̄·taḥ wənip̄təḥāh- wəyip̄taḥ yə·p̄at·taḥ yefatTach yəp̄attaḥ yifTach yiftaChum yip·pā·ṯaḥ yip·pā·ṯê·aḥ yip·pā·ṯə·ḥū yip̄·tā·ḥūm yip̄·taḥ yip̄·taḥ- yipPatach yippāṯaḥ yippaTeach yippāṯêaḥ yippateChu yippāṯəḥū yip̄taḥ yip̄taḥ- yip̄tāḥūmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 7:11 HEB: וַאֲרֻבֹּ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם נִפְתָּֽחוּ׃ NAS: of the sky were opened. KJV: and the windows of heaven were opened. INT: and the floodgates of the sky were opened Genesis 8:6 Genesis 24:32 Genesis 29:31 Genesis 30:22 Genesis 41:56 Genesis 42:27 Genesis 43:21 Genesis 44:11 Exodus 2:6 Exodus 21:33 Exodus 28:9 Exodus 28:11 Exodus 28:36 Exodus 39:6 Exodus 39:6 Numbers 16:32 Numbers 19:15 Numbers 22:28 Numbers 26:10 Deuteronomy 15:8 Deuteronomy 15:8 Deuteronomy 15:11 Deuteronomy 15:11 Deuteronomy 20:11 145 Occurrences |