מִּתֹם proper name, of a location Pithom, Π(ε)ιθω, Α Πιθωμ (Egyptian Patum, Per-Atum, house of (god) Atum) one of the עָרֵי מִסְכְּנוֺת built by Israel for Pharaoh Exodus 1:11; identification by Naville with Tel el-Maskhkûta, near East end of Wady Tumilat, Naville^{Pithom, 1885} Di-Ry^{on the passage} Di^{SBAk, 1885, 889 ff.} Bäd^{Egypt (4). 159}.

פתן (√ of following; meaning dubious; Hilpr^{Babylonian Exped. University of Pennsylvania ix (1898), 53}, compare Assyrian patânu, 'protect,' whence two following, 'serpent' as protector, and 'threshold' as asylum; plausible, but exact meaning of patânu still uncertain).