Lexical Summary manah: To count, number, reckon, assign, appoint Original Word: מָנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell A primitive root; properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll -- appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to count, number, reckon NASB Translation appoint (1), appointed (9), count (3), counted (2), counts (1), destine (1), muster (1), number (4), numbered (5), numbers (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָנָה verb count, number, reckon, assign (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian manû DlHWB 416; Arabic  assign, apportion; Aramaic  , מְנָא); — Qal Perfect מָנָה Numbers 23:10; וּמָנִ֫יתִי Isaiah 65:12; Imperfect2masculine singular תִּמְנֶהֿ 1 Kings 20:25; וַיִּמְנוּ 2 Kings 12:11; Imperative מְנֵה 2 Samuel 24:1; Infinitive construct לִמְנוֺת Genesis 13:16 4t.; Participle מוֺנֶה Jeremiah 33:13; Psalm 147:4; — 1 count, number (compare סָפַר) dust (grains) Genesis 13:16 (J), compare עֲפַר יַעֲקֹב Numbers 23:10 (JE); money 2 Kings 12:11; stars (מִסְמָּר לַכּוֺכָבִים ׳מ) Psalm 147:4; flock Jeremiah 33:13 (symbol of peace); days Psalm 90:12; people, army 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1,17, compare 1 Chronicles 27:24 (object omitted); 1 Kings 20:25. 2 reckon, assign, appoint לַחֶרֶב Isaiah 65:12 (with play on מְנִי Isaiah 65:11). Niph`al Perfect נִמְנָה Isaiah 53:12; Imperfect יִמָּנֶה Genesis 13:16; 1 Kings 3:8; יִמָּנוּ 1 Kings 8:5 2Chronicles 5:6; Infinitive construct הִמָנוֺת Ecclesiastes 1:15; — 1 be counted, numbered, of descendants Genesis 13:16 (J), of people 1 Kings 3:8 ("" נִסְמַּר); of sacrificial animals 1 Kings 8:5 2Chronicles 5:6 (both "" id.); indefinite Ecclesiastes 1:15. 2 be reckoned, assigned (a place), of servant of ׳י Isaiah 53:12 (with אֶת מּשְׁעִים). Pi`el (late and in poetry) (Biblical Aramaic and ᵑ7. מַנִּי); — Perfect מִנָּה Daniel 1:10,11; מִנּוּ Job 7:3; Imperfect וַיְמַן Jonah 2:1 4t.; Imperative מַן Psalm 61:8; appoint, ordain, food Daniel 1:10, Daniel 1:5 (followed by לְ), officer Daniel 1:11 (followed by על); nights of weariness (לֵילוֺת עָמָל) Job 7:3 (subject indefinite; followed by לְ); in story of Jonah, object. fish Jonah 2:1, ricinus Jonah 4:6; worm Jonah 4:7, wind Jonah 4:8 (all subject b>׳י); object חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת Psalm 61:8 (subject ׳י). Pu`al Participle plural מְמֻנִּים 1 Chronicles 9:29 appointed, of porters (followed by עַל). Topical Lexicon מָנָה Overview The verb מָנָה threads through the Old Testament in roughly twenty-eight occurrences, carrying the twin ideas of “counting/numbering” and “assigning/appointing.” These two senses are never far apart: what is carefully counted can also be precisely allotted, and what is appointed has first been reckoned. Scripture uses the root to reveal both the finitude of human life and the meticulous sovereignty of God, who numbers stars and days, prepares circumstances, and allots portions to kings and commoners alike. Counting and Numbering 1. Patriarchal Promises: The first uses appear in Genesis, where God stretches Abraham’s faith by inviting him to “count the stars, if you are able” (Genesis 15:5) and by promising descendants beyond what anyone could “count” (Genesis 13:16; 24:60). The verb underscores the certainty and incalculable magnitude of the covenant promise. Appointing, Assigning, Preparing 1. Providential Appointments in Jonah: Four times in Jonah the Lord “appoints” circumstances—“a great fish” (Jonah 1:17), “a plant” (Jonah 4:6), “a worm” (Jonah 4:7), and “a scorching east wind” (Jonah 4:8). Each appointment shepherds the prophet’s heart, proving that creation itself answers to God’s purposeful command. Historical and Literary Distribution • Torah: 6 uses—chiefly covenantal and logistical. Theological Themes 1. Sovereignty and Providence: Whether appointing a fish or rationing grain (Genesis 41:49), יהוה is never improvising. What He counts He controls; what He assigns He sustains. Ministry Significance • Pastoral Application: Reminding believers that every breath is counted fosters urgency in discipleship and mission. Christological Echoes Though the verb itself does not appear in the New Testament, its theology does: the Good Shepherd knows His sheep by name (John 10:3), and even “the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30). The meticulous care seen in מָנָה finds its ultimate expression in the incarnate Son who appoints apostles (Mark 3:14) and prepares a place for His people (John 14:2-3). Summary מָנָה reveals a God who both counts and allocates with flawless precision. From stars to sparrows, from royal tables to wilderness manna, what He determines cannot fail. To meditate on this verb is to rest in the assurance that every day, resource, trial, and triumph is already measured by the faithful Creator who keeps covenant to a thousand generations. Forms and Transliterations וַיְמַ֣ן וַיְמַ֤ן וַיְמַ֨ן וַיְמַן֩ וַיִּמְנ֔וּ וּמָנִ֨יתִי וימן וימנו ומניתי יִמָּנ֖וּ יִמָּנֶ֛ה יִמָּנֶֽה׃ ימנה ימנה׃ ימנו לְהִמָּנֽוֹת׃ לִמְנ֖וֹת לִמְנ֣וֹת לִמְנוֹת֙ להמנות׃ למנות מְמֻנִּים֙ מְנֵ֥ה מִנָּ֔ה מִנָּה֙ מִנּוּ־ מַ֣ן מָנָה֙ מוֹנֶ֖ה מוֹנֶ֣ה מונה ממנים מן מנה מנו־ נִמְנָ֑ה נמנה תִֽמְנֶה־ תמנה־ lə·him·mā·nō·wṯ lehimmaNot ləhimmānōwṯ lim·nō·wṯ limnOt limnōwṯ mā·nāh man maNah mānāh mə·mun·nîm mə·nêh memunNim məmunnîm meNeh mənêh min·nāh min·nū- minNah minnāh minnu minnū- mō·w·neh moNeh mōwneh nim·nāh nimNah nimnāh ṯim·neh- timneh ṯimneh- ū·mā·nî·ṯî umaNiti ūmānîṯî vaiyimNu vayMan way·man way·yim·nū wayman wayyimnū yim·mā·neh yim·mā·nū yimmaNeh yimmāneh yimmaNu yimmānūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 13:16 HEB: יוּכַ֣ל אִ֗ישׁ לִמְנוֹת֙ אֶת־ עֲפַ֣ר NAS: can number the dust KJV: can number the dust INT: can another number the dust of the earth Genesis 13:16 Numbers 23:10 2 Samuel 24:1 1 Kings 3:8 1 Kings 8:5 1 Kings 20:25 2 Kings 12:10 1 Chronicles 9:29 1 Chronicles 21:1 1 Chronicles 21:17 1 Chronicles 27:24 2 Chronicles 5:6 Job 7:3 Psalm 61:7 Psalm 90:12 Psalm 147:4 Ecclesiastes 1:15 Isaiah 53:12 Isaiah 65:12 Jeremiah 33:13 Daniel 1:5 Daniel 1:10 Daniel 1:11 Jonah 1:17 28 Occurrences |
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