ma.tsa denotes locating people or things, discovering what is present, and gaining favor or courage in particular contexts.

The observed clauses most often use the verb for locating or encountering a person or thing, whether after a search or on a journey. It also describes something being present or available, the discovery of a quality or harmful matter, and the gaining of favor or courage.

1. Locating or encountering people and things · dominant

   Qal forms occur where people or objects are reached or encountered: in 1 Samuel 9:4 the APB renders Saul's search as, “they did not find them,” while 1 Samuel 9:13 anticipates that the travelers will reach the seer in the city. In 1 Kings 11:29 Ahijah encounters Jeroboam on the way, and in 1 Chronicles 10:8 the Philistines come upon Saul and his sons among the slain.

   1 Samuel 9:41 Samuel 9:131 Kings 11:291 Chronicles 10:82 Chronicles 20:162 Kings 4:29
2. Being present or available · common

   Niphal forms describe persons, objects, or a remnant as present in a place or available for use. In 1 Samuel 13:19 the APB renders the lack of an artisan as “no artificer could be found,” and 1 Samuel 13:22 similarly states that sword or spear was not found among the people; 1 Chronicles 29:8 speaks of stones found with those who gave them.

   1 Samuel 13:191 Samuel 13:221 Chronicles 29:81 Chronicles 29:171 Kings 14:132 Kings 19:4
3. Gaining favor or courage · occasional

   Several Qal clauses place the verb with favor in another person's eyes: in 1 Samuel 1:18 the APB renders the request, “Let your maidservant find favor in your eyes,” and 2 Samuel 16:4 gives Ziba's similar appeal to the king. In 1 Chronicles 17:25, the servant's response to God's revelation is rendered as having “found courage to pray before you.”

   1 Samuel 1:181 Samuel 20:31 Samuel 27:51 Samuel 16:222 Samuel 15:251 Chronicles 17:25
4. Discovering a condition or matter · occasional

   The verb can mark the discovery of what an examination or event reveals. In 1 Samuel 29:6 Achish says that he has not found harm in David, while 1 Kings 1:52 makes death contingent on harm being found in Adonijah; 2 Chronicles 29:16 describes priests carrying out the uncleanness they found in the temple.

   1 Samuel 29:31 Samuel 29:61 Kings 1:521 Samuel 12:52 Chronicles 29:162 Kings 7:9

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB commonly renders the clauses with “find,” “found,” or “be found,” and sometimes presents the result as presence or absence, such as “no artificer could be found.” Its wording confirms the larger clause rather than fixing a separate English equivalent in every instance.