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מָנָה

𐤌𐤍𐤄

mânâh

H4487 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To count, reckon, or number with attention and intent; to appoint or assign by deliberate choice or authority. The term encompasses the action of assigning roles, duties, or destinies, as well as setting aside or preparing, particularly in administrative, ritual, or judicial contexts. In some usages, it conveys the sense of evaluation or weighing implications for individuals or groups.

Semantic Range

to count, to number, to enumerate, to appoint to a position or office, to assign or allot (a portion, fate, time), to set aside, to prepare, to designate officially

Root / Etymology

From the root מנה, which in its core sense denotes measuring, counting, or apportioning. The verb מָנָה derives from this root and expands its meaning from the physical act of counting or measuring to the abstract assignment or appointment of persons, times, or fates. The semantic shift from enumeration to official appointment reflects the process by which something is counted out for a dedicated purpose.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מָנָה is used both in mundane contexts (e.g., counting persons for a census, numbering provisions) and in more formal or solemn acts (e.g., appointing someone to a position, designating a period of time, or determining a person's fate). In narratives, the term often conveys a sense of deliberate action, whether by human agents (leaders, officials) or by divine authority (decreeing or assigning destinies). For example, in Daniel and Ezra, the sense of appointment or official counting is prominent in administrative settings. The term can overlap with פָּקַד (paqad, "to attend to, appoint, muster"), yet מָנָה more directly stresses the aspect of measured assignment or enumeration. English translations sometimes obscure the word's range by limiting it to 'number' or 'appoint,' missing the overlap in Hebrew between counting and choosing or assigning. In later periods, derivative nouns (e.g., מָנָה 'portion, lot') reflect the notion of an allotted or assigned share, rooted in the same semantic domain.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll; appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

מנה (Meni) — to count, allot, apportion

Root מנה to count, to assign, to appoint
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4482 מֵן with strings
H4488 מָנֶה the appointed measure
H4489 מֹנֶה measured intervals
H4490 מָנָה the assigned portion
H4503 מִנְחָה with the apportioned offering

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4487-02 לִ/מְנ֖וֹת limenot HR/Vqc to number to count out to count out 5
H4487-13 וַ/יְמַן֩ vayeman HC/Vpw3ms and appointed and he appointed and he appointed 5
H4487-07 מִנָּ֔ה minah HVpp3ms has appointed he formally appointed he appointed 2
H4487-09 מוֹנֶ֖ה moneh HVqrmsa He counts the counting one the one who counts 2
H4487-15 יִמָּנֶ֛ה yimaneh HVNi3ms can be numbered he will be counted can be numbered 2
H4487-16 יִמָּנ֖וּ yimanu HVNi3mp numbered they will be counted could be numbered 2
H4487-01 לְ/הִמָּנֽוֹת lehimanot HR/VNc to be counted to be counted 1
H4487-03 מַ֣ן man HVpv2ms should be prepared what-is-it food should be prepared 1
H4487-04 מָנָה֙ manah HVqp3ms can count he counted out can count 1
H4487-05 מְמֻנִּים֙ memunim HVPsmpa were-appointed appointed ones appointed ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4487-02 Genesis 13:16 לִ/מְנוֹת֙ limenot HR/Vqc to number/count to count out to count out
H4487-15 Genesis 13:16 יִמָּנֶֽה yimaneh HVNi3ms will be numbered he will be counted he will be counted
H4487-04 Numbers 23:10 מָנָה֙ manah HVqp3ms can count he counted out can count
H4487-06 2 Samuel 24:1 מְנֵ֥ה meneh HVqv2ms number Count! Count
H4487-15 1 Kings 3:8 יִמָּנֶ֛ה yimaneh HVNi3ms can be numbered he will be counted can be numbered
H4487-16 1 Kings 8:5 יִמָּנ֖וּ yimanu HVNi3mp numbered they will be counted could be numbered
H4487-11 1 Kings 20:25 תִֽמְנֶה timeneh HVqi2ms number you will count out you will count out
H4487-14 2 Kings 12:11 וַ/יִּמְנ֔וּ vayimenu HC/Vqw3mp and they counted and they appointed and they counted
H4487-10 Isaiah 53:12 נִמְנָ֑ה nimenah HVNp3ms he was numbered he was counted he was counted
H4487-12 Isaiah 65:12 וּ/מָנִ֨יתִי umaniti HC/Vqp1cs and-I-will-destine and I appointed and I appointed
H4487-09 Jeremiah 33:13 מוֹנֶ֖ה moneh HVqrmsa the one who counts the counting one the one who counts
H4487-13 Jonah 2:1 וַ/יְמַ֤ן vayeman HC/Vpw3ms appointed and he appointed and he appointed
H4487-13 Jonah 4:6 וַ/יְמַ֣ן vayeman HC/Vpw3ms and-appointed and he appointed and he appointed
H4487-13 Jonah 4:7 וַ/יְמַ֤ן vayeman HC/Vpw3ms and appointed and he appointed and he appointed
H4487-13 Jonah 4:8 וַ/יְמַ֨ן vayeman HC/Vpw3ms and appointed and he appointed and he appointed
H4487-03 Psalms 61:8 מַ֣ן man HVpv2ms should be prepared what-is-it food should be prepared
H4487-02 Psalms 90:12 לִ/מְנ֣וֹת limenot HR/Vqc to number to count out to number
H4487-09 Psalms 147:4 מוֹנֶ֣ה moneh HVqrmsa He counts the counting one the counting one
H4487-08 Job 7:3 מִנּוּ minu HVpp3cp are appointed they appointed they are appointed
H4487-01 Ecclesiastes 1:15 לְ/הִמָּנֽוֹת lehimanot HR/VNc to be counted to be counted
H4487-13 Daniel 1:5 וַ/יְמַן֩ vayeman HC/Vpw3ms And appointed and he appointed and he appointed
H4487-07 Daniel 1:10 מִנָּ֔ה minah HVpp3ms has appointed he formally appointed he appointed
H4487-07 Daniel 1:11 מִנָּה֙ minah HVpp3ms he had appointed he formally appointed he appointed
H4487-05 1 Chronicles 9:29 מְמֻנִּים֙ memunim HVPsmpa were-appointed appointed ones appointed ones
H4487-02 1 Chronicles 21:1 לִ/מְנ֖וֹת limenot HR/Vqc to number to count out to number
H4487-02 1 Chronicles 21:17 לִ/מְנ֣וֹת limenot HR/Vqc to number to count out to count out
H4487-02 1 Chronicles 27:24 לִ/מְנוֹת֙ limenot HR/Vqc to count to count out to count
H4487-16 2 Chronicles 5:6 יִמָּנ֖וּ yimanu HVNi3mp numbered they will be counted could be numbered
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