Hebrew word · H4009

מִבְטָח

mivtach

confidence

A noun formed from bāṭaḥ meaning the object or ground of confidence: "that in which one trusts, refuge, security". The m- prefix often marks a place or thing. It can be a stronghold (Isa 32:18, "secure dwellings"), an ally, or God.

Appears 15 times in 15 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. · Updated October 30, 2026

What it means

1) trust, confidence, refuge

1a) act of confiding

1b) object of confidence

1c) state of confidence, security

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Jeremiah 17:7

Range of meaning: A noun formed from bāṭaḥ meaning the object or ground of confidence: "that in which one trusts, refuge, security". The m- prefix often marks a place or thing. It can be a stronghold (Isa 32:18, "secure dwellings"), an ally, or God.
Against the English: KJV's "hope" turns a present security into a future expectation. BSB/NIV "whose confidence is in him" turns the noun back into an attitude aimed at God. ESV/NASB "whose trust is the LORD" keeps the Hebrew structure, in which Yahweh is the confidence.
How it drifted: "Hope" in modern English often means wishful uncertainty ("I hope so"). That is far from mibṭāḥ, which names something solid one already stands on.
Used elsewhere in the period: Jer 2:37: "Yahweh has rejected your trusts (mibṭaḥayik)", referring to Egypt and Assyria. Job 8:14 describes the godless man's trust as a spider's web. Ps 40:5: "the man who makes Yahweh his mibṭāḥ." Prov 22:19: "that your trust may be in Yahweh." Ps 65:6: God, "the trust of all the ends of the earth". The Septuagint here seems to render it elpis ("hope"), and the Vulgate fiducia ("confidence").

From the study of Proverbs 14:26

Range of meaning: The object or ground of trust: what one relies on, a source of security. Sometimes it means the state of security that results. From the verb baṭaḥ, "to trust, rely on, be secure". Related to beṭaḥ, "securely, in safety" (Prov 1:33; 3:23).
Against the English: KJV, ESV and NASB have "strong confidence". A modern reader may hear self-confidence, a psychological state. The Hebrew points outward to something solid that you can rest your weight on. NIV and WEB have "secure fortress", which catches that concrete sense.
How it drifted: English "confidence" originally meant "firm trust (in something)" (from Latin con-fidere). In modern use it has shifted toward self-assurance.
Used elsewhere in the period: Job 8:14 and 18:14 (the godless man's "trust" is a spider's web; he is torn from "his tent, his security"). Jer 17:7 ("blessed is the man who trusts in YHWH, and whose mivṭaḥ is YHWH"). Ps 40:4; 65:5; 71:5; Prov 21:22 (the wise man brings down "the stronghold in which they trust", ʿoz mivṭeḥah, with the same two roots in reverse order).

From the study of Isaiah 32:18

Range of meaning: An object of trust. Confidence. A secure state or place. It comes from batach, "to trust, rely on, feel secure," which can be well-placed or misplaced.
Against the English: "Sure" (KJV), "safe" (WEB), "secure" (BSB). All are fair. They cannot show the verbal echo with vv. 9–11, where the same root describes complacent women.
Used elsewhere in the period: The root runs right through Isaiah 28–33. Trust in Egypt is condemned (30:12; 31:1). The call of 30:15 is "in quietness and trust (bitchah) is your strength." In 32:9–11 it is used of "confident (botchot) daughters." Then 32:17 promises "quietness and trust (betach) forever." Jeremiah 17:7 says "blessed is the one who trusts in YHWH, whose mivtach is YHWH."

Where it appears

Job · 3

Job 8:14 מִבְטַחֽוֹ׃ trust his

His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
Job 18:14 מִבְטַח֑וֹ trust his

He is torn from the shelter of his tent and is marched off to the king of terrors.
Job 31:24 מִבְטַחִֽי׃ security my

If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,

Here: 'My security!' or 'My trust!', the actual words spoken to the gold. A mibṭaḥ is the *thing* you rely on, your refuge. The psalms and Jeremiah use the same word for God (Psalm 40:4; 71:5; Jeremiah 17:7).

Psalms · 3

Psalm 40:4 מִבְטַח֑וֹ trust his

Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Here: 'His trust': the thing he leans on, his security. It picks up 'they will trust' (yivṭəḥû) at the end of v. 3. The many who see what happened are invited to become this man.
Psalm 65:5 מִבְטָ֥ח [the] trust of

With awesome deeds of righteousness You answer us, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.

Here: 'The thing trusted in', a place where you feel safe to lean your weight. God is named as the security of the whole world, not of Israel alone.
Psalm 71:5 מִבְטַחִ֥י confidence my

For You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.

Here: "My confidence", meaning the thing or person one relies on and feels safe with. The noun names what the trust rests on, not the feeling inside the one who trusts. Here, YHWH is the solid ground under the psalmist.

Proverbs · 4

Proverbs 14:26 מִבְטַח־ confidence of

He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Here: A noun built from baṭaḥ, "to trust, rely on, feel secure". It names the thing you lean on, the ground of security, more than a feeling of self-assurance. It is bound to the next word: "a security of strength".
Proverbs 21:22 מִבְטֶחָֽה׃ trust its

A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.

Here: 'Its trust', meaning the thing the city relies on for safety. The ending 'its' is feminine and refers back to 'city', which is a feminine noun in Hebrew. So the phrase means 'the strong thing the city was counting on'.
Proverbs 22:19 מִבְטַחֶ֑ךָ trust your

So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.

Here: A noun built from baṭaḥ, 'to rely on, feel secure'. It names the thing a person leans on and stakes their safety on, not only an inner feeling. Literally: 'so that your security may be in YHWH'.
Proverbs 25:19 מִבְטָ֥ח [the] trust of

Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

Here: The thing you lean on and stake your safety on. The word does not mean an inner feeling of self-assurance. It means relying on something outside yourself. Here it governs the next word: 'the trust of / trust in a betrayer'.

Isaiah · 1

Isaiah 32:18 מִבְטַחִ֔ים security

Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place, in safe and secure places of rest.

Here: "Of securities." These are dwellings that can be safely relied on. The root batach (to trust, feel secure) is the same one used for the falsely "secure" women in vv. 9–11. Here the security is real.

Jeremiah · 3

Jeremiah 2:37 בְּמִבְטַחַ֔יִךְ <in> objects of confidence your

Moreover, you will leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not prosper by their help.”
Jeremiah 17:7 מִבְטַחֽוֹ׃ trust his

But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.

Here: "His trust" in the concrete sense: the thing he trusts in, his security, what holds him up. It comes from the same root as yibṭaḥ, so the clause echoes itself: "he trusts in Yahweh, and Yahweh is his trust."
Jeremiah 48:13 מִבְטֶחָֽם׃ trust their

Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was ashamed when they trusted in Bethel.

Ezekiel · 1

Ezekiel 29:16 לְמִבְטָח֙ <into> a confidence

Egypt will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity in turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.”

Here: 'For a thing relied on.' The thing a person leans on for security, not a feeling of confidence. Egypt will stop serving as Israel's security guarantee.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.