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מָנַע

𐤌𐤍𐤏

mânaʻ

H4513 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To withhold, hold back, or restrain (particularly something that might be given or expected); to prevent or deny access to a person, object, or action. The term often refers to withholding material goods, blessing, favor, or action, and may imply intentional prevention or simple retention.

Semantic Range

to withhold (something owed, expected, or desired), to deny (access to a benefit or action), to restrain or prevent (an action, person, or thing), to hold back (intentionally or for a purpose), to keep back, to refrain

Root / Etymology

The term מָנַע derives from the root מנע, meaning to hold back or restrain. The word is used in various derived stems (qal, niphal, etc.). The root sense is distinct from other restraining/holding verbs in Hebrew, emphasizing the act of deprivation or refusal.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מָנַע commonly describes acts where something valuable is purposefully withheld—from material goods (such as rain or food), to acts of kindness, to favor from the divine or from humans. It is frequently set in social, ethical, or theological contexts. In patriarchal and monarchic periods, the term is often used for God withholding rain (e.g., Deut 11:17) or other blessings, and for humans withholding resources, justice, or actions from others. The term's connotation can be either positive (protective restraint) or negative (unjust deprivation), depending on context. Unlike עצר ('atsar, to shut up, restrain as in a plague) or חָסַךְ (chasakh, to spare, withhold, especially in a sense of mercy), מָנַע emphasizes active prevention rather than simple retention or sparing. Later Bible books use the term in similar ways. English translations often render מָנַע as 'withhold', 'keep back', or 'deny', but context can range from God's sovereign act to a human act of withholding generosity. The nuance of intentional prevention is typical, differing from mere neglect. The English term 'restrain' partially overlaps, but Hebrew nuances are broader, depending on whether what is withheld is material, emotional, or social.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury; deny, keep (back), refrain, restrain, withhold.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מנע (m-n-ʿ) — to withhold, to prevent, to restrain, to deny

Root מנע to withhold, to prevent, to restrain, to deny
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3234 יִמְנָע and He-Restrains
H8555 תִּמְנָע Timna

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4513-13 תִּמְנַע timena HVqj2ms withhold you withhold you withhold 4
H4513-04 מָנַ֖עְתִּי manaeti HVqp1cs I refused I withheld I withheld 3
H4513-09 מִנְעִ֤י minei HVqv2fs restrain Withhold! Withhold 2
H4513-03 מָנַ֥עְתָּ manaeta HVqp2ms you have withheld you withheld you withheld 2
H4513-01 אֶמְנַ֥ע emena HVqi1cs I will withhold I will withhold I have withheld 2
H4513-07 מְנָעֲ/ךָ֥ menaakha HVqp3ms/Sp2ms has kept you back he has withheld you has restrained you 2
H4513-10 מֹנֵ֥עַ monea HVqrmsa who withholds withholding one withholding one 2
H4513-18 יִמְנַע yimena HVqi3ms will-withhold he will withhold he will withhold 1
H4513-11 נִמְנַ֛ע nimena HVNp3ms is withheld was withheld was withheld 1
H4513-12 תִמָּנַ֖ע timana HVNj2ms hinder you may you be withheld you be withheld 1

Occurrences in Scripture

29 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4513-02 Genesis 30:2 מָנַ֥ע mana HVqp3ms has withheld he withheld has withheld
H4513-12 Numbers 22:16 תִמָּנַ֖ע timana HVNj2ms hinder you may you be withheld you be withheld
H4513-07 Numbers 24:11 מְנָעֲ/ךָ֥ menaakha HVqp3ms/Sp2ms has kept you back he has withheld you he has withheld you
H4513-07 1 Samuel 25:26 מְנָעֲ/ךָ֤ menaakha HVqp3ms/Sp2ms has restrained you he has withheld you has restrained you
H4513-08 1 Samuel 25:34 מְנָעַ֔/נִי menaani HVqp3ms/Sp1cs has restrained me he withheld me has withheld me
H4513-19 2 Samuel 13:13 יִמְנָעֵ֖/נִי yimenaeni HVqi3ms/Sp1cs will he withhold me he will withhold me he will withhold me
H4513-04 1 Kings 20:7 מָנַ֖עְתִּי manaeti HVqp1cs I refused I withheld I withheld
H4513-09 Jeremiah 2:25 מִנְעִ֤י minei HVqv2fs Withhold Withhold! Withhold
H4513-15 Jeremiah 3:3 וַ/יִּמָּנְע֣וּ vayimaneu HC/VNw3mp showers have been withheld they were withheld they were withheld
H4513-05 Jeremiah 5:25 מָנְע֥וּ maneu HVqp3cp have withheld they withheld they withheld
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