מְנַשִּׁי
𐤌𐤍𐤔𐤉
Menashi
H4520 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Demonym or gentilic referring to a member of the tribal clan of Manasseh, one of the sons of Joseph and a significant Israelite tribe. Primarily denotes a person of Manassite descent or affiliation, and by extension, those belonging to or dwelling in territory associated with Manasseh.
Semantic Range
descendant of Manasseh, member of the tribe of Manasseh, Manassite, of/belonging to the tribal group of Manasseh
Root / Etymology
Derived from the proper name מְנַשֶּׁה (Mənashsheh), with the gentilic suffix ־ִי (-i) indicating belonging or descent; the root נ-ש-ה (n-sh-h), possibly meaning 'to forget' or 'to cause to forget,' is reflected in the name Manasseh, given an etymological explanation in Genesis 41:51. The proper noun denotes the person Manasseh, son of Joseph, and mᵉnashshîy forms the adjective or gentilic.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term מְנַשִּׁי occurs as a designation for individuals of the tribe of Manasseh, either as descendants or territorial affiliates. In the patriarchal and early monarchic periods, tribal identity was significant for land inheritance and social structure. References to the 'men of Manasseh' (בְּנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה) appear frequently, but the precise gentilic form מְנַשִּׁי is less common, serving mainly as a technical or genealogical marker (e.g., Numbers 26:29, 34:23). During post-exilic usage, such demonyms became increasingly rare, but the historical memory of tribal affiliation preserved the term's use in genealogical contexts. English translations often use 'Manassite,' 'descendant of Manasseh,' or 'of the tribe of Manasseh'; however, these may obscure the strong Hebrew sense of both ethnicity and territorial belonging. Later translations might misleadingly use terms such as 'Jew,' but such application is anachronistic for this context. The term differs from the simple name מְנַשֶּׁה in that it always specifies tribe or descent, not the personal name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מְנַשֶּׁה; a Menashshite or descendant of Menashsheh; of Manasseh, Manassites.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נשה (n-š-h) — to forget, to cause to forget
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3449 | יִשִּׁיָּה | And Yahweh-will-lend |
| H4519 | מְנַשֶּׁה | in Forget-causer |
| H4855 | מַשָּׁא | the loan |
| H4860 | מַשָּׁאוֹן | in treachery |
| H4874 | מַשֶּׁה | debt-of |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4520-01 |
הַֽ/מְנַשִּֽׁי | hamenashi | HTd/Ngmsa |
of Manasseh | the Manassite | 2 |
H4520-03 |
וְ/הַֽ/מְנַשִּׁ֑י | vehamenashi | HC/Td/Ngmsa |
and the Manassite | the Manassite | 1 |
H4520-02 |
לַֽ/מְנַשִּֽׁי | lamenashi | HRd/Ngmsa |
for the Manassite | to the Manassite | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4520-02 |
Deuteronomy 4:43 | לַֽ/מְנַשִּֽׁי | lamenashi | HRd/Ngmsa |
for the Manassite | to the Manassite |
H4520-01 |
Deuteronomy 29:7 | הַֽ/מְנַשִּֽׁי | hamenashi | HTd/Ngmsa |
of Manasseh | the Manassite |
H4520-03 |
2 Kings 10:33 | וְ/הַֽ/מְנַשִּׁ֑י | vehamenashi | HC/Td/Ngmsa |
and the Manassite | the Manassite |
H4520-01 |
1 Chronicles 26:32 | הַֽ/מְנַשִּׁ֔י | hamenashi | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Manasseh | the Manassite |