← H4616 H4618 →

מַעֲנֶה

𐤌𐤏𐤍𐤄

maʻăneh

H4617 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ענה to answer, to respond, to testify

Definition

A spoken response or answer, typically as a direct reaction to a statement, question, or situation; refers to the utterance or content of a reply, whether in dialogue, dispute, or formal address. Semantic range covers answers given in conversation, responses in legal settings, poetic replies, or declarations, whether affirming or contradicting.

Semantic Range

reply, answer, response (spoken), retort, rejoinder, spoken declaration in dialogue or dispute, answer in legal or formal contexts

Root / Etymology

From the root ענה (ʿ-n-h), meaning 'to answer, respond, testify.' The noun מַעֲנֶה derives from the verbal root and denotes the product of responding—a reply or answer, emphasizing the speech act rather than the manner of response.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַעֲנֶה appears in various biblical contexts, often emphasizing the importance or quality of a verbal response (e.g., 'a gentle answer' in Prov 15:1). In wisdom literature, it is contrasted with harsh speech, highlighting social and ethical dimensions of communication. The term may refer both to everyday conversation and to formal or judicial proceedings. While related to דָּבָר (davar, 'word') and פֶּה (peh, 'mouth'), מַעֲנֶה stresses the aspect of responding. English translations ('answer,' 'reply') often convey the sense but can obscure nuances, such as the contrast between favorable or adverse responses, or the significance of answering in Ancient Near Eastern society. The idiom 'answering for oneself,' implied in Strong's, is present in some contexts but not inherent to the term's primary meaning. The semantic domain is stable across periods; later post-biblical Hebrew broadens use to encompass written replies as well as spoken.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָנָה; a reply (favorable or contradictory); answer, [idiom] himself.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

ענה (ʿ-n-h) — to answer, to respond, to testify

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

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4617-03 מַעֲנֵ֖ה maaneh HNcmsc answer reply of 6
H4617-01 בְּ/מַעֲנֵה bemaaneh HR/Ncmsc in an answer in a reply of 1
H4617-02 לַֽ/מַּעֲנֵ֑/הוּ lamaanehu HRd/Ncmsc/Sp3ms for its purpose to his answer 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4617-03 Micah 3:7 מַעֲנֵ֖ה maaneh HNcmsc answer reply of
H4617-03 Proverbs 15:1 מַֽעֲנֶה maaneh HNcmsa answer reply of
H4617-01 Proverbs 15:23 בְּ/מַעֲנֵה bemaaneh HR/Ncmsc in an answer in a reply of
H4617-03 Proverbs 16:1 מַעֲנֵ֥ה maaneh HNcmsc answer reply of
H4617-02 Proverbs 16:4 לַֽ/מַּעֲנֵ֑/הוּ lamaanehu HRd/Ncmsc/Sp3ms for its purpose to his answer
H4617-03 Proverbs 29:19 מַעֲנֶֽה maaneh HVhrmsa response reply of
H4617-03 Job 32:3 מַעֲנֶ֑ה maaneh HNcmsa answer reply of
H4617-03 Job 32:5 מַעֲנֶ֗ה maaneh HNcmsa answer reply of
← H4616 Hebrew Lexicon H4618 →