מִנְהָג
𐤌𐤍𐤄𐤂
minhâg
H4491 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Custom, manner, usage; in rare cases, the act or method of leading or driving, particularly of a chariot or associated with conduct or behavior. The term refers broadly to a habitual practice or accepted tradition of action, but anciently may also denote the literal act of guiding or directing – especially in the context of transport.
Semantic Range
driving (of a chariot), manner of driving, method or style of leading, custom, habitual practice, traditional usage
Root / Etymology
Root: נגה (nhg), meaning 'to drive, lead, conduct.' 'מִנְהָג' is a noun form built from the verbal root נהג, and originally displayed the idea of a method or style of driving or leading, but acquired the broader sense of a way of doing things, i.e., custom or usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical Hebrew, מִנְהָג is rare, appearing only in a few passages (cf. 2 Kings 9:20), predominantly in reference to the mode or style of driving a chariot – suggesting purposeful or distinctive conduct. Over time, especially in later Hebrew, the word developed the sense of 'custom' or 'practice,' moving from concrete (driving style) to abstract (accepted way of doing things). In Rabbinic and modern Hebrew, 'minhag' universally means 'custom' or 'traditional practice.' English translations often render the biblical occurrence as 'driving' or 'driving manner,' but this fails to capture its later expansive sense. No evidence supports the application of the term to religious law or identity in biblical times, in contrast to later Judaism where 'minhag' refers to community customs. The term is functionally distinct from חֹק (ḥoq, 'statute') and תּוֹרָה (torah, 'instruction/law'), which connote legal prescription rather than custom or habitual conduct.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָהַג; the driving (of a chariot); driving.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נהג (n-h-g) — to drive, lead, conduct
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5090 | נָהַג | I will drive you |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4491-02 |
וְ/הַ/מִּנְהָ֗ג | vehaminehag | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and the driving | the manner of leading | 1 |
H4491-01 |
כְּ/מִנְהַג֙ | keminehag | HR/Ncmsc |
like the driving | like the driving-style | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4491-02 |
2 Kings 9:20 | וְ/הַ/מִּנְהָ֗ג | vehaminehag | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and the driving | the manner of leading |
H4491-01 |
2 Kings 9:20 | כְּ/מִנְהַג֙ | keminehag | HR/Ncmsc |
like the driving | like the driving-style |