Lexical Summary Memukan or Momukan: Memukan Original Word: מְמוּכָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Memucan Or (transp.) Mowmukan (Esth. 1:16) {mo-moo-kawn'}; of Persian derivation; Memucan or Momucan, a Persian satrap -- Memucan. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition a prince of Persia and Media NASB Translation Memucan (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְמוּכָן proper name, masculine a prince of Persia and Media — Esther 1:14,21 also Esther 1:16 Qr; Kt מומכן. ᵐ5 Μουχαιος, Μαμουχαιος. [מָמוֺת], מְמוֺתִים see מות. מַמְזִרִ see I. מזר. מִמְכָּר, מִמְכֶּ֫רֶת see מכר. מַמְלָכָה, [מַמְלָכוּת] see מלך. מִמֶּנִּי, etc. see מִן. מִמְסָךְ see מסך. below מֶ֫מֶר, [מַמְרוֺר], מַמְּרוֺרִים see מרר. Topical Lexicon Name and Rank Memukan is introduced in Esther 1:14 as one of the seven nobles “who had access to the king’s presence and sat first in the kingdom.” These seven princes formed the highest advisory council to King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). Their nearness to the throne made them the most powerful political figures in the Persian Empire after the monarch himself. Occurrences in Scripture • Deuteronomy 26:5 (Masoretic orthography supplies the same consonants; see textual note below) While the name explicitly appears three times in the narrative of Esther, a textual parallel of the consonants occurs in Deuteronomy 26:5. In that setting the term functions adjectivally, unrelated to the Persian statesman but preserving the same Hebrew spelling. Jewish tradition often catalogues repeated spellings in concordances, explaining the four-line entry in some lexicons. Role in the Book of Esther 1. Counselor to the king (Esther 1:14). Memukan capitalized on Vashti’s refusal to appear at the royal banquet by recommending severe action. “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the officials and peoples in every province of King Ahasuerus” (Esther 1:16). His proposal sought to safeguard male authority throughout the empire, lest the queen’s defiance become precedent. Historical and Cultural Setting In Persian court protocol, the seven princes paralleled the “king’s friends” attested in classical sources (e.g., Herodotus 1.88). Their counsel carried constitutional weight. Memukan’s motion for an irrevocable edict (Esther 1:19) fits the well-known Medo-Persian legal practice echoed in Daniel 6:8. The edict mandated that “every man should be master in his own household” (Esther 1:22). Thus Memukan influenced imperial policy that reached from India to Cush, a territory of roughly 127 provinces (Esther 1:1). Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty over Secular Powers – Though Memukan acted out of political expedience, his counsel positioned the throne to elevate Esther, advancing God’s redemptive plan for His people (Esther 2:17). Human decisions, even those driven by vanity or patriarchy, fall under the larger providential umbrella (Proverbs 21:1). Lessons for Ministry and Personal Application • Evaluate Motives in Counsel: Memukan’s advice sprang from fear of lost honor rather than righteousness. Christian leaders must guard against self-interest when speaking into policy or personal disputes. Textual Reflection on Deuteronomy 26:5 The consonantal overlap in Deuteronomy 26:5 (“m-m-k-n”) occurs in the phrase describing Jacob as “a wandering Aramean,” translated in as “a wandering Aramean was my father.” Though unrelated etymologically to the Persian name, the shared spelling attracted scribal attention in early concordances, accounting for its inclusion in Strong’s numeration. Foreshadowing Christ’s Kingship Memukan represents earthly counsel aimed at preserving royal dignity. By contrast, Jesus Christ, the true King, “made Himself nothing” (Philippians 2:7). The juxtaposition highlights the qualitative difference between human and divine rule. Summary Memukan stands as a potent reminder that behind every political strategist lies the sovereign orchestration of God. His brief appearance shapes the course of the Esther narrative, illustrating how the Lord can turn secular decrees into instruments of deliverance for His covenant people. Forms and Transliterations בִּמְתֵ֣י במתי מְמוּכָ֑ן מְמוּכָ֗ן מְמוּכָֽן׃ ממוכן ממוכן׃ bim·ṯê bimṯê bimTei mə·mū·ḵān memuChan məmūḵānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 26:5 HEB: וַיָּ֥גָר שָׁ֖ם בִּמְתֵ֣י מְעָ֑ט וַֽיְהִי־ INT: and sojourned there Memucan few became Esther 1:14 Esther 1:16 Esther 1:21 4 Occurrences |
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