Lexical Summary menusah: fugitives, though Original Word: מְנוּסָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fleeing, flight Or mnucah {men-oo-saw'}; feminine of manowc; retreat -- fleeing, flight. see HEBREW manowc NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of manos Definition flight NASB Translation fugitives (1), though (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְנוּסָה noun feminine flight; — ׳מ Isaiah 52:12 ("" חִמָּזוֺן); מְנֻסַתחֶֿרֶב Leviticus 26:36 = flight from sword, accusative of congnate meaning with verb with נוס. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope מְנוּסָה conveys the idea of flight, retreat, or the route of escape—never leisurely travel, but a movement compelled by either terror or deliverance. The term therefore stands at the intersection of judgment and salvation, highlighting the contrast between panic‐stricken fugitives and a people whom God leads out in confident peace. Occurrences in Scripture • Leviticus 26:36 These two settings provide the interpretive frame for the word: judgment on covenant breakers and the promised redemption of the same covenant people. Leviticus 26:36 – Flight under Covenant Curse In the list of disciplinary judgments upon a disobedient Israel, the Lord warns, “The sound of a windblown leaf will pursue them, and they will flee as one fleeing from the sword, and they will fall though no one is pursuing them” (Berean Standard Bible). Here מְנוּסָה describes the terrified scramble of hearts stripped of divine assurance. The image captures: 1. Psychological collapse—panic triggered by the faintest sound. Isaiah 52:12 – Absence of Flight in the New Exodus The prophet reverses the earlier curse when he proclaims, “For you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” מְנוּסָה is now negated: the returning exiles will not need to sprint in terror; instead, they will march out in orderly confidence, bracketed by the presence of Yahweh before and behind (see Exodus 14:19–20). Key emphases: 1. Redemption replaces panic—God’s glory secures the procession. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Dynamics: מְנוּסָה crystallizes the blessings‐and‐curses structure. Fearful flight is the fruit of disobedience; calm departure is the fruit of divine favor (Leviticus 26:1–13 versus 26:14–46). Historical Background • Leviticus 26 reflects the Sinai covenant about 1440–1400 BC, preparing Israel for Canaan. The two dates frame Israel’s long saga: from warning before the land to rescue after expulsion. Intertextual Connections • Exodus 14:13–14 – Stand firm, not flee; the Lord fights. Applications for Ministry and Discipleship 1. Assurance in Christ: Leaders can contrast the insecurity of sin with the settled peace found in the gospel (John 14:27). Christological Reflections Jesus embodies the Isaiah promise: He “steadfastly set His face toward Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51), refusing flight. At the cross He bore the curse that made sinners flee, and in resurrection He leads an unhurried triumphal procession (2 Corinthians 2:14). The disciples who once scattered (Mark 14:50) later preach boldly because the risen Lord goes before and behind them (Matthew 28:20). Pastoral Implications • Spiritual leaders should discern whether panic in a community signals unaddressed sin or simple human weakness, applying either repentance or encouragement. Summary מְנוּסָה captures a vivid reversal: from the covenant curse of panic‐stricken flight to the covenant promise of fearless departure. Its sparse appearances sharpen its message: when God’s presence is forfeited, terror drives His people; when God’s presence is restored, confidence steadies them. In the gospel this transformation reaches its zenith, turning fugitives into a redeemed procession that moves through the world under the banner of the Lord who goes before and guards behind. Forms and Transliterations וּבִמְנוּסָ֖ה ובמנוסה מְנֻֽסַת־ מנסת־ mə·nu·saṯ- menusat mənusaṯ- ū·ḇim·nū·sāh ūḇimnūsāh uvimnuSahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 26:36 HEB: נִדָּ֔ף וְנָס֧וּ מְנֻֽסַת־ חֶ֛רֶב וְנָפְל֖וּ NAS: they will flee as though from the sword, KJV: them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; INT: of a driven will flee though the sword will fall Isaiah 52:12 2 Occurrences |
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