מְנִי
𐤌𐤍𐤉
Meni
H4507 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun referring to a deity or personification associated with fate, destiny, or measured allotment; specifically, a foreign (likely West Semitic) deity invoked in Isaiah 65:11 as one worshipped for the assignment or portioning of fate.
Semantic Range
deified fate, destiny, alloter of fate, personification of fate or destiny, foreign deity associated with destiny
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root מָנָה (manah), meaning 'to count, reckon, assign, appoint'. The form מְנִי (Mᵉnîy) is most likely a noun meaning 'Fate (as apportioned or assigned),' and functions as a proper name of a supernatural being or concept. Some link the form to West Semitic cognates relating to fate or destiny, but the precise etymology is debated.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Isaiah 65:11, מְנִי is paired with גָּד (Gad), another foreign deity, in a context where Israelites are criticized for syncretistic religious practices. מְנִי appears only in this passage and is understood as a deified personification of 'fate' or 'destiny,' perhaps reflecting beliefs widespread in the late monarchic or exilic periods. The Septuagint renders the term as 'Fortune' (Τύχῃ), and later tradition often translates or interprets it as 'Destiny' or 'Fate'. This usage does not refer to generic counting or numbering, but to the notion of one's lot, apportioned by a supernatural agent. English translations sometimes use 'Destiny,' but this risks missing the specific allusion to worship of an external fate-allotting power.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָנָה; the Apportioner, i.e. Fate (as an idol); number.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מנה (m-n-h) — to count, to reckon, to allot, to assign
| 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
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4507-01 |
לַ/מְנִ֥י | lameni | HRd/Np |
for Meni | to Apportioned-Fate | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4507-01 |
Isaiah 65:11 | לַ/מְנִ֥י | lameni | HRd/Np |
for Meni | to Apportioned-Fate |