Lexical Summary minyan: Number, count, quorum Original Word: מִנְיָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance number (Aramaic) from mna'; enumeration -- number. see HEBREW mna' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) from mena Definition a number NASB Translation number (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִנְרָן noun [masculine] number; — construct ׳מ Ezra 6:17. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Old Testament Context מִנְיָן (minyan) denotes a deliberate reckoning or tally. Its single canonical appearance, Ezra 6:17, stands at a strategic moment—the dedication of the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem—where precise enumeration underscores covenant restoration. Ezra 6:17 and Redemptive Symbolism “At the dedication of this house of God, they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering for all Israel according to the number of the tribes of Israel.” (Ezra 6:17) The sacrifices mirror Israel’s tribal structure, proclaiming that the atonement provided is complete, corporate, and covenantal. The word minyan anchors the text, stressing that not one tribe—and, by implication, not one Israelite—is overlooked in the divine economy of grace. The scene recalls Solomon’s earlier temple dedication (1 Kings 8) yet occurs after exile, signaling that God’s steadfast love meticulously “counts” His people even after judgment. Patterns of Enumeration in Scripture • Creation promise: “Look toward the heavens and count the stars… so shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5) Throughout Scripture, reckoning is never mere arithmetic; it serves theological purposes—affirming identity, accountability, inheritance, and hope. Historical-Religious Background Post-exilic Israel placed high value on genealogies and registries (Ezra 2; Nehemiah 7). Precise lists safeguarded land rights, priestly purity, and communal cohesion. In later Jewish tradition the term minyan became the technical quorum (ten males) required for public prayer, reflecting continuity of the idea that counted persons form a worshipping body. While that later nuance is not present in Ezra, it illustrates how the concept of counted participation grew within Israel’s faith practice. Theological Reflection 1. God’s orderliness: Enumeration reveals that the universe, nations, and individuals are under purposeful governance (Psalm 104:24). Practical Ministry Applications • Church membership rolls and ministry rosters echo the biblical impulse to know, shepherd, and account for every soul (Acts 2:41). Christological and Eschatological Connections At the Second Temple’s dedication, numbered sacrifices pointed beyond themselves to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). In Him the “full number” (Romans 11:25) of Jews and Gentiles is being gathered. The heavenly Jerusalem will host the consummate minyan—an innumerable multitude—but not at the expense of individuality; every name is written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27). God’s people are both counted and cherished, fulfilling the trajectory first hinted at by the single Old Testament occurrence of מִנְיָן. Forms and Transliterations לְמִנְיָ֖ן למנין lə·min·yān leminYan ləminyānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 6:17 HEB: תְּרֵֽי־ עֲשַׂ֔ר לְמִנְיָ֖ן שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ NAS: goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes KJV: goats, according to the number of the tribes INT: second ten to the number of the tribes of Israel 1 Occurrence |
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