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מַעַן

𐤌𐤏𐤍

maʻan

H4616 preposition

SILEX Entry

Root ענה to answer, respond

Definition

Adverbial particle indicating purpose, motive, or result. Typically used to introduce clauses expressing the purpose or aim of an action ('in order that', 'so that'), the motivation ('for the sake of'), or the intended result. Sometimes employed to express negative purpose ('lest').

Semantic Range

in order that, so that, for the sake of, to the end that, lest (in negative purpose), because of (motive), for (purpose, intent)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root ענה, which in one sense means 'to answer, respond.' However, in this formation, the connection is primarily morphological; the actual meaning as a purpose/result particle does not directly reflect the core verbal root meaning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַעַן is primarily found in the Hebrew Bible as an adverbial particle introducing subordinate clauses expressing purpose or motive, most often following the conjunction לְ (le-, 'in order that' or 'for the purpose of'). Examples include לְמַעַן (lemaʻan — 'in order that', 'so that') and בַּעֲבוּר (baʿăvûr — a parallel purpose-result particle, often with a subtle difference in focus: בַּעֲבוּר can emphasize result or consequence, while מַעַן more frequently introduces the intended purpose). Across biblical periods, its function remains stable, though in late biblical Hebrew alternate expressions for purpose/result become more common. English translations often render it as 'that,' 'in order that,' or 'for the sake of,' but these may not capture the precise nuance of intended versus actual result that can be present in Hebrew. The use of מַעַן should be distinguished from causal particles such as כִּי ('because'), which point to reason, not intended outcome. מַעַן does not, in itself, convey cause, but rather intentionality or consequence from the agent's perspective. Its usage is consistent across narrative, legal, and poetic genres. No significant shift in meaning is detectable from early to later biblical texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָנָה; properly, heed, i.e. purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that; because of, to the end (intent) that, for (to,... 's sake), [phrase] lest, that, to.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ענה (ʿ-n-h) — to answer, respond

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1042 בֵּית עֲנוֹת answering of
H1195 בַּעֲנָא Son of Affliction
H1196 בַּעֲנָה In Affliction
H2057 וַנְיָה Yah Answers
H3283 יָעֵן ostriches

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4616-02 לְמַ֨עַן֙ lemaan HR that in order that 243
H4616-06 וּ/לְמַ֛עַן ulemaan HC/R and in order that and for the sake of 17
H4616-05 לְמַֽעֲנִ֔/י lemaani HR/Sp1cs for my own sake for my sake 6
H4616-04 לְמַ֣עַנְ/כֶ֔ם lemaanekhem HR/Sp2mp for your sake for your sake 4
H4616-01 הַ֭/לְמַעַנְ/ךָ halemaanekha HTi/R/Sp2ms for your sake for your sake 1
H4616-03 לְמַֽעֲנְ/ךָ֣ lemaanekha HR/Sp2ms for your sake for your sake 1

Occurrences in Scripture

272 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4616-02 Genesis 12:13 לְמַ֨עַן֙ lemaan HR so that / in order that in order that
H4616-02 Genesis 18:19 לְמַעַן֩ lemaan HR in order that in order that
H4616-02 Genesis 18:19 לְמַ֗עַן lemaan-2 HR so that in order that
H4616-02 Genesis 18:24 לְמַ֛עַן lemaan HR for the sake of in order that
H4616-02 Genesis 27:25 לְמַ֥עַן lemaan HR so that in order that
H4616-02 Genesis 37:22 לְמַ֗עַן lemaan HR in order to/that in order that
H4616-02 Genesis 50:20 לְמַ֗עַן lemaan HR in order in order that
H4616-02 Exodus 1:11 לְמַ֥עַן lemaan HR in order to in order that
H4616-02 Exodus 4:5 לְמַ֣עַן lemaan HR so that in order that
H4616-02 Exodus 8:6 לְמַ֣עַן lemaan HR so that in order that
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