Lexical Summary mana: To withhold, to hold back, to restrain Original Word: מָנַע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deny, keep back, refrain, restrain, withhold A primitive root; to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury -- deny, keep (back), refrain, restrain, withhold. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to withhold, hold back NASB Translation held back (2), hinder (1), hold back (1), holds (1), keep (2), keep back (1), kept (1), refuse (2), restrain (1), restrained (2), restrains (1), withheld (8), withhold (5), withholds (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָנַע verb withhold, hold back (Late Hebrew id.; Zinjirli מנע DHMSendsch. 60; Arabic  ; Sabean מנע Levy-OsZMG xix. 1865, 268; Aramaic מְנַע) — Qal Perfect ׳מ Genesis 30:2; suffix מְנָעַ֫נִי 1 Samuel 25:34; מָנַ֫עְתָּ Psalm 21:3; Nehemiah 9:20, etc.; Imperfect יִמְנַעֿ Psalm 84:12; suffix יִמְנָעֵָ֫נִי 2 Samuel 13:13 etc.; Imperative מְנַע Proverbs 1:15; מִנְעִי Jeremiah 2:25; Jeremiah 31:16; Participle מֹנֵעַ Proverbs 11:26; Jeremiah 48:10; — withhold, followed by מִן Genesis 30:2 (object מְּרִיבֶֿטֶן), Amos 4:7 (rain), Nehemiah 9:20 (manna; all subject ׳י); Job 22:7 (bread), 1 Kings 20:7 (object omitted; both human subject), so Jeremiah 48:10 (sword), Ecclesiastes 2:10 (heart), Jeremiah 5:25 (good), Proverbs 3:27 (id., Proverbs 1:15 (foot); Jeremiah 2:25 (id.) Jeremiah 31:16 (voice); further, 2 Samuel 13:13 (woman), Jeremiah 42:4 (knowledge), Job 31:16 (poor), Proverbs 23:13 (correction), object omitted ׳י subject Proverbs 30:7; מִן omitted Proverbs 11:26 (object corn); compare Psalm 21:3 subject ׳י (object אֲרֶשֶׁת שְׂפָתָיו "" נָתַן תַּאֲוַת לֵב), Job 20:13 figurative (wickedness), Ezekiel 31:15 ׳י subject (object rivers); object person ׳י subject followed by מן Numbers 24:11; followed by מִן + infinitive 1 Samuel 25:26,34; followed by לְ, subject ׳י Psalm 84:12 (good). Niph`al Perfect נִמְנַע Joel 1:13; Imperfect יִמָּנַע Job 38:15, etc.; be withholden followed by מִן, subject מִנְחָה etc. Joel 1:13; light from wicked Job 38:15; Numbers 22:16 (followed by מִן + infinitive); subject showers (רְבִבִים) Jeremiah 3:3. Topical Lexicon Root Concept and Range of Ideas מָנַע conveys deliberate restraint: to hold something back, to refuse, to keep in check. Depending on the context, the subject who withholds may be God (Genesis 30:2), an individual (Proverbs 3:27), or even inward passions (1 Samuel 25:26). Because the term appears only twenty-nine times, each instance provides a clear window on how purposeful restraint functions within the covenant story. Distribution and Representative Texts • Divine withholding of life and blessing – Genesis 30:2; Psalm 84:11; Job 38:15 Divine Sovereignty Displayed in Restraint 1. Fertility and the womb (Genesis 30:2). Jacob reminds Rachel that conception rests with God alone. In the patriarchal narratives the verb underlines that children are a gift, never an entitlement. Human Morality Expressed through Restraint A. Generosity versus stinginess. The texts combine to establish a theology of stewardship: what God supplies must not be dammed up by selfish hearts. B. Restraint of anger and violence. David credits the LORD with “keeping me from bloodshed” (1 Samuel 25:26, 34) and “restraining his men” (1 Samuel 24:7). The verb therefore frames non-retaliation as a supernatural grace. C. Parental and pedagogical restraint. Proverbs 23:13 places withholding in a disciplinary setting: “Do not withhold correction from a child.” Here the failure to restrain (through loving correction) is ultimately destructive. Theological Themes 1. God’s withholding can be a mercy or a judgment. When He withholds wrath (Isaiah 63:15) mercy is displayed; when He withholds blessing (Jeremiah 2:25) judgment is operative. Practical Ministry Bearings • Intercession. Believers may plead, like the psalmist, that God “not withhold” mercy (Psalm 40:11; 66:20). Prayer is a primary arena where divine restraint is negotiated. Christological and Eschatological Perspective At the Cross the Father did not withhold His Son (Romans 8:32), and the Son did not withhold His life (Mark 10:45). Consequently believers anticipate a future where “no good thing” is held back (Revelation 21:6-7). Until that consummation, the church lives out the ethic of generous self-giving empowered by the Spirit who “restrains” lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Summary Insight מָנַע exposes the heart posture behind withholding. In righteous hands it is a channel of grace; in selfish hands it becomes oppression. Scripture’s consistent witness urges God’s people to trust His wise restraint while refusing to choke the blessings He intends to flow through them. Forms and Transliterations אֶ֭מְנַע אֶמְנַ֥ע אמנע וְ֝יִמְנָעֶ֗נָּה וְיִמָּנַ֣ע וַיִּמָּנְע֣וּ וָֽאֶמְנַע֙ ואמנע וימנע וימנעו וימנענה יִמְנַע־ יִמְנָעֵ֖נִי ימנע־ ימנעני מְנַ֥ע מְנָעֲךָ֤ מְנָעֲךָ֥ מְנָעַ֔נִי מִנְעִ֤י מָנְע֥וּ מָנַ֖עְתִּי מָנַ֣עְתָּ מָנַ֥ע מָנַ֥עְתָּ מָנַ֨עְתִּי מֹ֣נֵֽעַ מֹנֵ֥עַ מנע מנעו מנעי מנעך מנעני מנעת מנעתי נִמְנַ֛ע נמנע תִּֽמְנַֽע־ תִּמְנַ֣ע תִּמְנַ֥ע תִּמְנַע־ תִמָּנַ֖ע תמנע תמנע־ ’em·na‘ ’emna‘ Emna mā·na‘ mā·na‘·tā mā·na‘·tî mā·nə·‘ū maNa māna‘ māna‘tā māna‘tî maNata maNati mānə‘ū maneU mə·na‘ mə·nā·‘ă·ḵā mə·nā·‘a·nî meNa məna‘ mənā‘ăḵā mənā‘anî menaaCha menaAni min‘î min·‘î minI mō·nê·a‘ Monea mōnêa‘ nim·na‘ nimNa nimna‘ ṯim·mā·na‘ tim·na‘ tim·na‘- timmaNa ṯimmāna‘ timna timna‘ timna‘- vaemNa vaiyimmaneU veyimmaNa veyimnaEnnah wā’emna‘ wā·’em·na‘ way·yim·mā·nə·‘ū wayyimmānə‘ū wə·yim·mā·na‘ wə·yim·nā·‘en·nāh wəyimmāna‘ wəyimnā‘ennāh yim·na‘- yim·nā·‘ê·nî yimna yimna‘- yimnā‘ênî yimnaEniLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 30:2 HEB: אָנֹ֔כִי אֲשֶׁר־ מָנַ֥ע מִמֵּ֖ךְ פְּרִי־ NAS: who has withheld from you the fruit KJV: [Am] I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit INT: I who has withheld at the fruit Numbers 22:16 Numbers 24:11 1 Samuel 25:26 1 Samuel 25:34 2 Samuel 13:13 1 Kings 20:7 Nehemiah 9:20 Job 20:13 Job 22:7 Job 31:16 Job 38:15 Psalm 21:2 Psalm 84:11 Proverbs 1:15 Proverbs 3:26 Proverbs 11:26 Proverbs 23:13 Proverbs 30:7 Ecclesiastes 2:10 Jeremiah 2:25 Jeremiah 3:3 Jeremiah 5:25 Jeremiah 31:16 Jeremiah 42:4 29 Occurrences |
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