מִנְיָמִין
𐤌𐤍𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤍
Mineyamin
H4509 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Minyamin is a personal name meaning 'from (the) right hand' or 'of the right hand.' It designates specific Israelite individuals in genealogical records. While etymologically suggesting proximity to, origin from, or belonging to the right hand, in usage it is a name without an explicit description of status or role.
Semantic Range
personal name meaning 'from the right hand'; an Israelite individual or priest; possibly implying one favored, strong, or positioned at the right hand in a familial or cultic context
Root / Etymology
Composed from the preposition מִן (min, 'from') and יָמִין (yamin, 'right hand' or 'right side'), thus meaning 'from the right hand.' Sometimes compared with מִיָּמִן (Miyamin), a closely related name. The root of יָמִין is ימן, expressing direction or positional status ('right,' 'south,' strength/favor).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מִנְיָמִין (Minyamin) appears as the name of at least two Israelite men: a priest or Levite returning from exile (Nehemiah 12:17) and an individual associated with the post-exilic period (Nehemiah 12:19). The name does not carry any direct tribal or territorial significance as does the similar-sounding name בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin, 'Benjamin') and should not be confused with it. Unlike 'Jews' or later 'Judeans,' these references are to specific Israelite individuals, not collective groups. Ancient translations sometimes render the name variably, but English translations have historically rendered it as 'Miniamin' or 'Minjamin,' neither of which conveys its possible original sense. In context, the 'right hand' can symbolize favor, strength, or authority, but for personal names it may reflect hoped-for characteristics or family tradition rather than literal meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מִן and יָמִין; from (the) right hand; Minjamin, the name of two Israelites; Miniamin. Compare מִיָּמִן.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ימן (y-m-n) — right, right side, south, strength, favor
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3117 | יוֹם | the right side |
| H3225 | יָמִין | in right hand |
| H3226 | יָמִין | to Yamin |
| H3227 | יְמִינִי | right-side man |
| H3228 | יְמִינִי | the Jaminite |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4509-01 |
לְ/מִ֨נְיָמִ֔ין | lemineyamin | HR/Np |
of Miniamin | to From-the-Right-Hand | 1 |
H4509-02 |
מִ֠נְיָמִין | mineyamin | HNp |
Miniamin | From-the-Right-Hand | 1 |
H4509-03 |
וּ֠/מִנְיָמִן | umineyamin | HC/Np |
and Miniamin | and From-the-Right-Hand | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4509-01 |
Nehemiah 12:17 | לְ/מִ֨נְיָמִ֔ין | lemineyamin | HR/Np |
of Miniamin | to From-the-Right-Hand |
H4509-02 |
Nehemiah 12:41 | מִ֠נְיָמִין | mineyamin | HNp |
Miniamin | From-the-Right-Hand |
H4509-03 |
2 Chronicles 31:15 | וּ֠/מִנְיָמִן | umineyamin | HC/Np |
and Miniamin | and From-the-Right-Hand |