מוּת H4191
To die, be dead; (Hifil) kill, put to death; (Hofal) be executed; (participle) the dead; (infinitive) death
One of the most elemental words in Scripture, this Hebrew verb (muth) spans the full arc of mortality. In the Qal stem it describes dying in every mode—natural, violent, and judicial—while its Hifil causative means 'to kill' and the Hofal passive 'to be put to death.' The emphatic formula moth yumath ('dying he shall die') became the signature idiom of covenant law, first heard in Eden (Gen 2:17) and echoed throughout the Torah's legal codes. The participle serves as a noun for 'the dead' or 'a corpse,' and the infinitive construct functions as the abstract noun 'death.' Across all 840 occurrences, muth traces the Bible's theology of life and death from Genesis to Malachi.
7. kill (Piel/Polel intensive) — The Piel/Polel intensive stem denoting vigorous or emphatic killing, attested in just three passages (1 Sam 14:13; 2 Sam 1:16; 2 Kgs 17:26). The intensive force implies repeated or thoroughgoing slaughter beyond simple causation. Spanish 'matando/maté,' French 'tuant/tua,' and German 'tötend/tötete' all use active kill-verbs, paralleling the Hifil but with intensified aspect. 3×
AR["أَمَتُّ","تُمِيتُهُمْ","يُمِيتُ"]·ben["মেরে-ফেলেছি","হত্যা-করছিল","হত্যা-করছে"]·DE["toetend","toetete"]·EN["killed","killing"]·FR["tua","tuant"]·heb["מותתי","ממותת","ממיתים"]·HI["मार-डाला","मारता-था","मारने-वाले"]·ID["membunuh","menghabisi"]·IT["uccidendo","uccise"]·jav["mateni","mejahi"]·KO["죽였다","죽이고-있다","죽이고-있었다"]·PT["matando","matei"]·RU["добивал","умертвил","умерщвляют"]·ES["matando","maté"]·SW["kifo","nilimuua","wanawaua"]·TR["öldürdüm","öldüren","öldürüyorlar"]·urd["مار-رہے","مار-ڈالتا-تھا","مارا"]
▼ 6 more senses below
Senses
1. die (Qal: natural/general death) — The unmarked Qal sense covering all intransitive dying—natural death (Gen 5 genealogies: 'and he died'), plague, famine, battlefield death, and general mortality. Arabic mâta, Swahili -fa, Korean 죽다 all render it with their basic 'die' verb, confirming this as the prototypical sense. Gen 5:5 ('and he died') establishes the refrain of human mortality. 645×
AR["وَ-ماتَ","وَ-ماتَتْ","وَ-مَاتَ","وَ-مَاتَتْ","وَمَاتَ"]·ben["আর-মারা-গেল","আর-মারা-গেলেন","এবং-তিনি-মারা-গেলেন","এবং-মারা-গেলেন"]·DE["und-er-starb","und-es-starb","und-starb"]·EN["and-died","and-he-died"]·FR["et-il-mourut","et-mourut"]·heb["ו-מת"]·HI["और-मर","और-मर-गई","और-मर-गया","और-मरा","और-मरी"]·ID["Dan-matilah","dan-ia-mati","dan-mati"]·IT["e-egli-morì","e-morì"]·jav["Lan-Bela-péjah","Lan-Déborah-péjah","Lan-Husham-péjah","Lan-Rahel-péjah","Lan-Yobab-péjah","Lan-séda","Lan-tilar","lan-péjah","lan-séda","lan-tilar"]·KO["그리고-죽었다"]·PT["E-morreu","e-morreu"]·RU["И-умер","И-умерла","и-умер"]·ES["Y-murió","y-murió"]·SW["Bela","Husamu","Na-akafa","Rachel","Rebekah","Yobabi","na-akafa","na-akakufa","na-kumaumivu"]·TR["Ve-öldü","ve-öldü"]·urd["اور-مرا","اور-مری"]
2. be put to death (Hofal passive) — The Hofal passive expressing judicial execution: 'he shall be put to death.' Predominantly found in Exodus–Deuteronomy legal codes (Exod 21:12–17), where community-mandated capital punishment is prescribed. Spanish 'morirá,' French 'être mis à mort,' and German 'soll zu Tod gesetzt werden' all employ passive constructions, mirroring the Hebrew Hofal morphology precisely. 51×
AR["يَموتُ","يُقتَلُ","يُقْتَلُ","يُماتُ","يُمَاتُ"]·ben["প্রাণদণ্ড-পাবে","প্রাণদণ্ড-পাবে।","মরবে।","মারা-যাবে","মারা-যাবে।","মারা-হবে","মৃত্যুদণ্ড-পাবে","সে-মরবে,","সে-মরবে।"]·DE["er-soll-sein-setzen-zu-Tod","lass-sein-setzen-zu-Tod","soll-sein-setzen-zu-Tod"]·EN["he-shall-be-put-to-death","let-be-put-to-death","shall-be-put-to-death"]·FR["--être-mettre-à-mort","devra-être-mettre-à-mort","il---être-mettre-à-mort","il-devra-être-mettre-à-mort","laisse-être-mettre-à-mort"]·heb["יומת"]·HI["मरे","मारा-जाए","मारा-जाएगा"]·ID["akan-dihukum-mati","dihukum-mati","harus dibunuh","harus-dihukum-mati","harus-mati","ia harus dibunuh"]·IT["dovra-essere-porre-a-morte","egli-shall-essere-porre-a-morte","sara-messo-a-morte","shall-essere-porre-a-morte","sia-messo-a-morte"]·jav["badhé-dipun-pejahi","dipun-pejahi","dipun-pejahi,","dipun-pejahi.","dipun-pejahi;","dipunpejahi.","mesthi-dipun-pejahi,","mesthi-dipun-pejahi.","piyambakipun-dipunpejahi."]·KO["좽임을-당하리라","좽임을-당할-것이다","죽을-것이다","죽임을-당하리라","죽임을-당할-것이다"]·PT["morrerá","morrerão"]·RU["будет-умерщвлён","да-умрёт","умрёт"]·ES["morirá"]·SW["atauawa"]·TR["öldürülecek","ölecek"]·urd["مارا-جائے","مارا-جائے-گا"]
Gen 26:11, Exod 21:12, Exod 21:15, Exod 21:16, Exod 21:17, Exod 21:29, Exod 22:19, Exod 31:14, Exod 31:15, Exod 35:2, Lev 19:20, Lev 20:2 (+38 more)
3. surely die (מוֹת יוּמָת death formula) — The emphatic formula moth yumath (Qal infinitive absolute + Yiqtol), rendered 'surely die' or 'certainly die,' marking solemn divine or legal pronouncements. First heard in Gen 2:17 as God's warning to Adam, it recurs throughout covenant law (Gen 26:11; Exod 19:12). Multilingual translations consistently use emphatic adverbs: Spanish 'ciertamente morirá,' French 'certainement,' German 'des Todes.' 50×
AR["مَوتاً","مَوْتًا"]·ben["মরণ","মরে","মৃত্যু","মৃত্যু-দন্ডে","মৃত্যুতে","মৃত্যুতেমৃত্যুতে"]·DE["des-Todes","gewiss","gewiss-dying","gewiss-sterbend","sterben","sterben-","sterbend"]·EN["dying","surely","surely-dying"]·FR["certainement","certainement-mourant","mourant"]·heb["מות","מת"]·HI["मरकर","मरते-ही","मरते-हुए","मरन","मरना","मरने","मारना","मृत्यु"]·ID["ia-harus-mati","mati","pasti","pasti-","pasti-mati","sungguh-mati"]·IT["certamente","certamente-morendo","morendo"]·jav["pati","pejah"]·KO["반드시","죽음","죽음으로","죽임을-당하여"]·PT["certamente-morrerá","morrendo","morrer"]·RU["смертью","умирая"]·ES["ciertamente","de-cierto","morir","muriendo"]·SW["hakika","kufa","kwa-kufa","utakufa","zuri"]·TR["kesinlikle","mutlaka","ölmek","ölmekle","ölüm","ölüm-","ölümle"]·urd["ضرور","مرتے-ہوئے","مرنا","موت","موت-کی"]
Gen 2:17, Gen 3:4, Gen 20:7, Gen 26:11, Exod 19:12, Exod 21:12, Exod 21:15, Exod 21:16, Exod 21:17, Exod 22:19, Exod 31:14, Exod 31:15 (+38 more)
4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) — The Hifil causative meaning 'to kill, put to death, cause to die,' with an active agent doing the killing. Unlike Hofal (passive), here a subject acts: God threatens (Exod 4:24), brothers conspire (Gen 37:18), a king commands (2 Sam 1:15). Arabic 'amâta and Korean 죽이다 both use their standard causative 'kill' forms, distinguishing this cleanly from intransitive 'die.' 50×
AR["أَنْ-يَقْتُلَهُ","أَنْ-يُمِيتَهُ","إماتَتِهِ","قَتَلْتُمْ","لِ-يَقْتُلَني","لِتُميتَني","لِـ-يُمِيتَنِي","لِقَتْلِهِ","لِلقَتلِ","لِيَقْتُلُونَا","لِيَقْتُلُوهُ","لِيُميتَهُ","وَ-أَماتَهُمْ","وَ-قَتَلَهُم","وَأَمَاتَهُمْ","يُميتُهُ","يُمِيتُ"]·ben["আমাকে-হত্যা-করতে?","এবং-মৃত্যুদণ্ড-দিলেন-তাদের","এবং-মেরে-ফেলল-তাদের","এবং-মেরে-ফেলল-তাদেরকে","এবং-হত্যা-করলেন-তাদের","তাকে-মারা","মারতে","মারতে-আমাকে","মারতে-তাকে","মারার-জন্য","মৃত্যু-ঘটায়","মৃত্যু-দেন","মৃত্যুদণ্ড-দিতে","মেরে-ফেলেছ","হত্যা-করছ","হত্যা-করতে-তাকে"]·DE["haben-toetete","starb","sterben","toetet","und-er-toetete-ihnen","und-sterben","und-toetete-ihnen","von-Tote","zu-legte-zu-Tod","zu-setzen-zu-Tod-ihn","zu-starb","zu-toete-mich","zu-toeten-ihn"]·EN["and-he-killed-them","and-killed-them","and-put-them-to-death","have-killed","his-death","kills","putting-to-death","slays","to-kill-him","to-kill-me","to-put-him-to-death","to-put-to-death","to-put-to-death-him"]·FR["avoir-tua","et-il-tua-eux","et-mourir","et-tua-eux","mourir","mourir-lui","tue","à-mettre-à-mort-lui","à-mit-à-mort","à-mourir","à-tue-moi","à-tuer-lui"]·heb["המיתו","המתם","ו-המיתם","ו-ימיתם","ל-המית","ל-המית-ו","ל-המית-ני","ל-המיתו","ל-המיתני","להמיתו","ממית","ממיתים","תמית"]·HI["और-मार-डाला","और-मार-डाला-उन्हें","के-लिए-मारने","मअरने-मुझे","मार-डाला","मारता","मारती-है","मारते-हो","मारना-उसे","मारने-उसे","मारने-के","मारने-के-लिए","मारने-के-लिए-मुझे","मारने-को","मारने-को-उसे","मारने-को-मुझे","लिए-मारने-के-उसे"]·ID["dan-dibunuh-mereka","dan-ia-membunuh-mereka","dan-membunuh-mereka","mematikan","membunuh","membunuhnya","untuk-dibunuh","untuk-mematikan-dia","untuk-membunuh","untuk-membunuhku","untuk-membunuhnya"]·IT["a-mise-a-morte","a-porre-a-morte-lui","a-uccidere-lui","a-uccidi-me","avere-uccise","e-egli-uccise-loro","e-morire","e-uccise-loro","mori'","morire","morire-suo","uccide"]·jav["kangge-mejahi-kawula","kangge-mejahi-kula","kangge-mejahi-panjenenganipun","kanggé-mejahi","kanggé-mejahi-piyambakipun","lan-mejahi","lan-mejahi-tiyang-menika","lan-nyedani","mateni","mejahi","mejahi-piyambakipun","pejahipun","supados-mejahi-piyambakipun"]·KO["-죽이기-를","그를-죽이려고","그리고-그가-죽였다-그들을","그리고-죽였다","그리고-죽였다-그가-그들을","그리고-죽였다-그들을","을-죽이려고","좽이기-위하여","좽이기를","죁이다","죽였다","죽이고","죽이기-위해","죽이는-것-을-그","죽이다","죽이려고","죽이려고-그를","죽이려고-나를","죽이면"]·PT["e-matou-os","mata","matando","matastes","matá-lo","para-matar","para-matar-me","para-matá-lo","para-nos-matar"]·RU["для-умерщвления","и-умертвил-их","убили","убить-его","убить-меня","умертвите","умертвить-его","умертвить-меня","умерщвлению-его","умерщвляет","чтобы-умертвить","чтобы-умертвить-его","чтобы-умертвить-меня"]·ES["dando-muerte","hace-morir","mata","matarlo","matasteis","para-matar","para-matarlo","para-matarme","para-matarme?","y-los-mató"]·SW["anaua","inamuua","kufa-kwake","kumuua","kuniua","kutuua","kuua","mmewaua","na-akawaua","uawa"]·TR["-öldürmek-için-beni","ve-oldurdu-onlari","ve-öldürdü","ve-öldürdü-onları","öldürdünüz","öldürmek-için","öldürmek-için-beni","öldürmek-için-onu","öldürmek-onu","öldürmesine","öldürmeyi-onu","öldürseniz","öldürür"]·urd["اور-قتل-کیا-اُنہیں","اور-مار-ڈالا-اُنہیں","اُسے-مارنے-کے-لئے","مار-ڈالا","مار-ڈالتی-ہے","مارتا-ہے","مارتے-ہو","مارنا-اسے","مارنا-اُسے","مارنے-اُس-کے","مارنے-کو","مارنے-کو-اسے","مارنے-کو-مجھے","مارنے-کے-لیے","مجھے-مارنے-کو"]
5. the dead (Qal participle nominal) — The Qal participle used substantively to denote 'the dead, a dead person, a corpse.' Abraham's negotiation for Sarah's burial (Gen 23:3–8) repeats 'my dead' (methi) five times, establishing a tender idiom for the deceased. Spanish 'muertos,' French 'le mort,' and German 'Tote' all nominalize the participle identically. This usage bridges verb and noun, person and remains. 33×
AR["أَمُوتُ","بِمَيِّتٍ","لِلْمَوْتَى","مَوْتَى","مَيِّتينَ","مَيِّتًا","مَيِّتَةٌ","مَيِّتَكَ","مَيِّتِكَ","نَمُوتُ","وَ-ال-مائِتُ","وَ-المَيتُ","وَ-الْمَيِّتُ"]·ben["এবং-মৃত","এবং-যে-মরে","তোমার-মৃতকে","মরছি","মৃত","মৃতকে","মৃতদের-জন্যে","মৃতরা"]·DE["Tote","deine-Tote","in-der-tot","in-tot","sterbe","sterben","tot","und-der-sterbend","und-der-tot"]·EN["The-dead","and-the-dead","and-the-dying","corpses","dead","dying","in-dead","in-the-dead","your-dead"]·FR["dans-le-mort","dans-mort","et-le-mort","et-le-mourant","mort","mourant","mourir","ton-mort"]·heb["ב-ה-במת","ב-מת","ו-ה-מת","מת","מת-ך","מתים"]·HI["अपने-मृत-को","और-जो-मरेगा","और-मरने-वाले-को","और-मरनेवाले-ה","और-मरा-हुआ","मर-रहा-हूँ","मरी-हुई","मरे-हुए","मरेंगे","में-लाश"]·ID["Orang-mati","dan-yang mati","dan-yang-mati","mati","mayat","orang-mati","yang-mati","yang-matimu"]·IT["e-il-morendo","e-il-morto","in-il-morto","in-morto","morendo","morire","morto","tuo-morto"]·jav["bangke","lan-ingkang-pejah","mayit-panjenengan","para-pejah","pejah","péjah","tiyang-pejah"]·KO["그리고-그-좽은-것은","그리고-그-죽는","그리고-그-죽는-자는","당신의-죽은-자를","안-에-죽은-자","좽은-자들의","죽는다","죽어-있다면","죽은","죽은-자들이"]·PT["Mortos","e-o-morto","em-morto","morro","mortos","no-morto","tua-morta"]·RU["а-мёртвое","а-мёртвый","и-умершего","мёртвого","мёртвы","мёртвые","мёртвых","умершую-твою","умираю"]·ES["Muertos","en-el-muerto","en-muerto","muero","muertos","tu-muerta","y-el-muerto","y-el-que-muera"]·SW["Wafu","kaburi","maiti","maiti-yako","mfu-wako","na-aliyekufa","na-anayekufa","ninakufa","tumekufa","tungekufa","wafu","waliokufa"]·TR["-ölünü","Oluler","olu","ve-ölen","ölü","ölüler-için","ölünü","ölüye-","ölüyorum","ölüyoruz"]·urd["اور-جو-مرے-گا","اور-مردہ","اور-مرنے-والا","اور-مرنے-والے-کو","مر-رہے-ہیں","مردہ","مردہ-ہوتے","مردے","مردے-اپنے","مردے-اپنے-کو","مردے-کو","مرنے-والا","مُردوں-کا","مُردہ"]
6. death (Qal infinitive as noun) — The Qal infinitive construct functioning as an abstract noun meaning 'death, dying.' Found in phrases like 'at the death of' (Judg 2:19), 'her dying' (1 Sam 4:20), and 'my death' (Gen 27:2). Arabic mawt, Korean 죽음, and Swahili mauti—all cognate or calque nominal forms—confirm the nominal reading. Only eight occurrences, but theologically potent. 8×
AR["بِ-مَوْتِ","لِ-الْمَوْتِ","لِلْمَوْتِ","مَوْتي","مَوْتَنَا","مَوْتِهَا","مَوْتِي","مِنْ-مَوْتِنَا"]·ben["আমাদের-মরা-থেকে","আমাদের-মৃত্যু","আমার-মৃত্যু","তার-মৃত্যুর","মৃত্যুতে","মৃত্যুতে-","মৃত্যুর-কাছে"]·DE["als-unser-sterbend","bei-der-Tod-von","ihr-sterbend","mein-Tod","starb","unser-sterbend","zu-Tod"]·EN["at-the-death-of","her-dying","is-my-death","my-death","our-dying","than-our-dying","to-death"]·FR["mon-mort","mourir","notre-mourant","que-notre-mourant","sa-mourant","à-la-mort-de","à-mort"]·heb["ב-מות","ל-מות","מ-מותנו","מות-י","מותה","מותי","מותנו"]·HI["मरते-हम","मरने-उसके","मरने-तक","मरने-हमारे-से","मृत्यु-में","मेरी-मृत्यु","ला-मृत्यु-तक"]·ID["daripada-kita-mati","hampir-mati","kematian-kita","kematianku","kematiannya","pada-kematian","untuk-mati"]·IT["a-la-morte-di","a-morte","di-nostro-morendo","lei-morendo","mio-morte","morire","nostro-morendo"]·jav["ing-séda","kanggé-pèjah","ngantos-séda","pejah-kita","pejah-kula","séda-piyambakipun","tinimbang-pejah-kita"]·KO["그녀의-죽음의","나의-죽음-이","나의-죽음을","에-좽음에","우리가-죽는-것보다","우리의-죽음을","죽을-만큼","죽음-에"]·PT["do-que-morrermos","morrer-ela","morresse-eu","morrêssemos","morte-minha","para-morrer","quando-morria"]·RU["до-смерти","к-смерти","при-смерти","смерть-мою","смерть-моя","смерть-наша","умирания-её","чем-умереть-нам"]·ES["a-morir","cuando-morir-de","mi-muerte","muerte-mía","nuestro-morir","para-morir","que-morir-nosotros","su-morir"]·SW["alipokufa","hadi-kufa","kufa","kufa-kwangu","kufa-kwetu","kuliko-kufa-kwetu","wa-kufa-kwake"]·TR["-ölüme","de-ölümünde","ölmemizden-","ölmemizi","ölüme","ölümüm-benim","ölümümü","ölümünün"]·urd["مرنے-پر","مرنے-کے","مرنے-ہمارے-سے","موت-تک","میری-موت","کے-لیے-مرنے","ہماری-موت"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
מוּת vb. die (NH id. (rare); Assyrian mâtu DlHWB 395, Arabic مَاتَ, Ethiopic ሞተ, Aramaic מוּת, מִית, ܡܺܝܬ; Nab. מות EutNab 14, 6; Zinj. מת DHMSendsch.Gloss.);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. מֵת Gn 42:38 +; 3 fs. מֵ֫תָה Gn 35:18 +; 2 ms. מַתָּה Ez 28:8; 1 s. וָמַ֑תִּי Gn 19:19; 3 mpl. מֵ֫תוּ Gn 7:22 +; 1 pl. מַתְנוּ Nu 14:2 2 K 7:4; מָ֑תְנוּ Nu 14:9 +; Impf. יָמוּת Gn 38:11 +; יָמֹ֑ת Dt 33:6 +; וַיָּ֫מָת Gn 11:28…