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מִנְחָה

𐤌𐤍𐤇𐤄

minchâh

H4503 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מנה to apportion, bestow, assign

Definition

A gift or offering, especially a presentation to a superior or deity; in cultic contexts, refers specifically to the non-animal offerings made to YHWH, typically consisting of grain, fine flour, oil, or frankincense. Outside the cultic context, denotes a present or tribute given to a person of higher status. The semantic range encompasses 'gift,' 'tribute,' and 'grain offering' as a technical term within Israelite religious practice.

Semantic Range

gift, present, oblation, tribute, grain offering, non-animal sacrifice, voluntary offering, offering to deity, offering to human superior

Root / Etymology

Root: מָנָה (to apportion, bestow), though the verb is not attested in Biblical Hebrew. The noun מִנְחָה derives from the idea of something apportioned or presented, coming to signify a gift or offering given voluntarily or out of obligation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite practice, מִנְחָה referred both to secular tribute—such as gifts to rulers or presents between people—and religious offerings. In the Priestly system of the Torah, its usage is narrowed to the grain offering, a central component of the sacrificial cult but always non-animal (unlike זֶבַח 'animal sacrifice' or עוֹלָה 'burnt offering'). מִנְחָה contrasts with 'zevach' or 'olah' by being bloodless; it often consists of fine flour, oil, frankincense, or baked goods. In narrative and prophetic passages, מִנְחָה frequently signifies a diplomatic gift, tribute from vassals, or offering to a deity (either the God of Israel or foreign gods), and only context can distinguish these uses. English translations as 'meat offering' are misleading—'meat' in older English meant 'food,' not 'flesh.' The term 'offering,' 'gift,' or 'tribute' best reflects the actual Hebrew sense. In later biblical and Second Temple texts, מִנְחָה retains its cultic sense but can acquire extended meanings, serving as a general term for offerings in Greek translations (e.g., θυσία or δῶρον).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary); gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מנה (m-n-h) — apportion, assign, bestow

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4482 מֵן with strings
H4487 מָנָה to be counted
H4488 מָנֶה the appointed measure
H4489 מֹנֶה measured intervals
H4490 מָנָה the assigned portion

Word Forms

28 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4503-09 מִנְחָ֖ה minechah HNcfsa grain offering apportioned gift-offering 54
H4503-03 הַ/מִּנְחָ֖ה haminechah HTd/Ncfsa the grain offering the apportioned offering 39
H4503-18 וּ/מִנְחָ֑ה uminechah HC/Ncfsa and grain offering apportioned offering 19
H4503-07 לְ/מִנְחָ֖ה leminechah HR/Ncfsa for a grain offering for an apportioned offering 17
H4503-10 מִנְחַ֥ת minechat HNcfsc the grain offering apportioned offering of 17
H4503-21 וּ/מִנְחָתָ/ם֙ uminechatam HC/Ncfsc/Sp3mp and their grain offering and their apportioned offering 14
H4503-15 מִנְחָתֽ/וֹ minechato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his offering his apportioned offering 7
H4503-20 וּ/מִנְחָתָ֗/הּ uminechatah HC/Ncfsc/Sp3fs and its grain offering and her gift-offering 7
H4503-11 מִנְחָתָ֖/הּ minechatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs its grain offering her apportioned offering 4
H4503-12 מִנְחָתָ֑/ם minechatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their grain offering their apportioned offering 4

Occurrences in Scripture

211 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4503-09 Genesis 4:3 מִנְחָ֖ה minechah HNcfsa an offering apportioned gift-offering
H4503-15 Genesis 4:4 מִנְחָתֽ/וֹ minechato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his offering his apportioned offering
H4503-15 Genesis 4:5 מִנְחָת֖/וֹ minechato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his offering his apportioned offering
H4503-09 Genesis 32:14 מִנְחָ֖ה minechah HNcfsa a gift apportioned gift-offering
H4503-09 Genesis 32:19 מִנְחָ֥ה minechah HNcfsa a gift apportioned gift-offering
H4503-01 Genesis 32:21 בַּ/מִּנְחָה֙ baminechah HRd/Ncfsa with the gift with the apportioned offering
H4503-03 Genesis 32:22 הַ/מִּנְחָ֖ה haminechah HTd/Ncfsa the gift the apportioned offering
H4503-14 Genesis 33:10 מִנְחָתִ֖/י minechati HNcfsc/Sp1cs my present my tribute-offering
H4503-09 Genesis 43:11 מִנְחָ֑ה minechah HNcfsa a present apportioned gift-offering
H4503-03 Genesis 43:15 הַ/מִּנְחָ֣ה haminechah HTd/Ncfsa this present the apportioned offering
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