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מְנָא

𐤌𐤍𐤀

mᵉnâʼ

H4483 verb

SILEX Entry

Root מנא to count, to reckon, to assign, to appoint

Definition

To count, reckon, assign, or appoint by deliberate intention; used primarily in the sense of enumerating or setting something or someone for a specific task, role, or outcome. In Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, especially in Daniel and Ezra, it can indicate the act of designating, selecting, or decreeing the fate of a person or object.

Semantic Range

to count, to number, to assign, to appoint, to ordain, to set, to determine

Root / Etymology

This term derives from the Aramaic root מנא, which parallels the Hebrew root מנה. The root conveys the sense of counting or determining by number, and from that, the sense of assigning, appointing, or setting apart follows. The Hebrew הל word מנה also underlies related meanings of apportioning or allotting.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מְנָא appears only in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible, notably in the books of Daniel (especially in the inscription 'מנא מנא תקל ופרסין' in Daniel 5:25-26) and Ezra. Its primary use relates to formal or royal decrees, where something is measured, counted, and thereby given a specific fate or identity. In contrast to other roots for 'counting' (e.g., ספר), מנה and its Aramaic cognate emphasize not only quantifying but also assigning or appointing by counting. Standard English translations such as 'count,' 'number,' or 'appoint' capture core aspects but often overlook the link between counting and the idea of assigning value or destiny. The word also appears in later Aramaic and Rabbinic sources with similar meanings, suggesting continuity. No significant development in meaning across the historical periods of biblical Aramaic; its usage remains administrative, regal, or juridical in tone.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) or מְנָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to מָנָה; to count, appoint; number, ordain, set.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מנא (m-n-ʾ) — to count, to reckon, to assign, to appoint

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4484 מְנֵא counted

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4483-05 וּ/מַנִּ֗י umani AC/Vpp3ms and appointed and he appointed 1
H4483-02 מַנִּ֤יתָ manita AVpp2ms you have appointed you appointed 1
H4483-03 מְנָֽה menah AVqp3ms numbered he counted 1
H4483-04 מֶ֣נִּי meni AVpv2ms appoint from me from me 1
H4483-01 מַנִּ֣י mani AVpp3ms had-appointed he appointed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4483-01 Daniel 2:24 מַנִּ֣י mani AVpp3ms had-appointed he appointed
H4483-05 Daniel 2:49 וּ/מַנִּ֗י umani AC/Vpp3ms and appointed and he appointed
H4483-02 Daniel 3:12 מַנִּ֤יתָ manita AVpp2ms you have appointed you appointed
H4483-03 Daniel 5:26 מְנָֽה menah AVqp3ms numbered he counted
H4483-04 Ezra 7:25 מֶ֣נִּי meni AVpv2ms appoint from me from me
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