Lexical Summary man: what, who, whoever Original Word: מָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance what, whomsoever, (Aramaic) from mah; who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively) -- what, who(-msoever, + -so). see HEBREW mah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to man Definition who? NASB Translation what (2), who (2), whoever (2), whom* (1), whomever* (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַן (so Gi, with most MSS., supported by Syriac  , Arabic  ; see K§ 22, 1), מָן (Baer: see on Daniel 3:6), interrogative pronoun who? (Old Aramaic, Nabataean, Palmyrene מן Lzb312 Cooke188), ᵑ7 מן, Syriac 1 who? Ezra 5:3,9; strengthened by הוּא, Daniel 3:15 וּמַןהֿוּא אֱלָהּ דִּי who is the God who . . . ? (compare Syriac 2 מַןדּֿי whosoever (literally who is there that . . .? see Biblical Hebrew מִי g) Daniel 3:6,11 מִןדִּֿי לָא יִמֵּל, Daniel 4:14 וּלְמִן דִּי יִצְבֵּא יִתְּנִנַּהּ to whomsoever he willeth, he giveth it, Daniel 4:22; Daniel 4:29; Daniel 5:21 (so Nabataean מן די, Cooke241, 325 ff.; ᵑ7 מַן דְּ; Syriac Topical Lexicon Definition and Linguistic Range מָן is the Aramaic interrogative or indefinite pronoun “who/whom/whoever.” Its biblical usage presses the question of personal identity, responsibility, and ultimate authority. Biblical Occurrences 1. Ezra 5:3–4, 9 – Persian officials demand, “Who gave you a decree to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?” Historical Context Ezra 5 records opposition faced by post-exilic builders under Persian oversight. Daniel narrates life in Babylonian and Medo-Persian courts. In both settings kings and governors wield vast earthly power, yet the narrative vocabulary repeatedly raises the piercing question “Who?” to reveal where final authority rests. Theological Emphases 1. Divine Sovereignty – Daniel 4:17 establishes that “the Most High rules over the kingdom of men.” The interrogative “whom” underscores that God alone decides recipients of kingship. Practical Ministry Insights • Calling and Authority: Ministry endeavors must flow from a clear divine commission, answering the “Who sent you?” raised in Ezra 5. Christological and New Covenant Connections The pattern of questioning human authority finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who, when challenged, declared, “I do nothing of My own authority” (compare John 8:28). He embodies the ultimate answer to “Who rules?” and “Who saves?”—themes anticipated in the Aramaic מָן passages. Key Passages for Study and Teaching • Ezra 5:3–5 – Authority tested and validated. Summary Through ten strategically placed occurrences, מָן frames life’s fundamental query: Who really holds authority? The response, woven through Ezra and Daniel, exalts the sovereign Lord who commissions His people, governs nations, and delivers the faithful. Forms and Transliterations וּלְמַן־ וּמַן־ ולמן־ ומן־ מַן־ מן־ man man- ū·lə·man- ū·man- uleman ūləman- uman ūman-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 5:3 HEB: אָמְרִ֣ין לְהֹ֔ם מַן־ שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם NAS: to them thus, Who issued KJV: unto them, Who hath commanded INT: thus and spoke Who issued A decree Ezra 5:4 Ezra 5:9 Daniel 3:5 Daniel 3:10 Daniel 3:15 Daniel 4:17 Daniel 4:25 Daniel 4:32 Daniel 5:21 10 Occurrences |
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, Ethiopic 
Arabic 
WCG 123: Biblical Hebrew מִי); — 
contracted from 
, and מַנּוּ in the Syriacizing ᵑ7 to Proverbs: also Biblical Hebrew מִי הוּא, הוּא 4b β); so in the plural 
; compare Egyptian Aramaic S-CPap. K 7, 12 ולמן זי צבית תנתן).