Lexical Summary maan: For the sake of, in order that, because of, so that Original Word: מַעַן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance because of, to the end intent that, for to, From anah; properly, heed, i.e. Purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that -- because of, to the end (intent) that, for (to,... 'S sake), + lest, that, to. see HEBREW anah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anah Definition purpose, intent NASB Translation account (1), because (14), behalf (1), order (40), purpose (2), reason is so (1), sake (50), so (54), therefore (1), this reason (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מַ֫עַן] substantive purpose, intent, only with לְ, in לְמַ֫עַן271 preposition and conjunction for the sake of, on account of, to the intent or in order that (abbreviated from מַעֲנֶה: compare מַ֫עַל; Köii. 116); — with suffix לְמַעֲנִי, לְמַעַנְךָ, and לְמַעַנְכֶם; — 1. preposition: — a. Genesis 18:24 wilt thou ... not spare the place למען חמשׁים הציקים for the sake of the 50 righteous? Deuteronomy 30:6 חַיֶּיךָ ׳ל for thy life's sake, 1 Kings 8:41 the foreigner who comer from afar שְׁמֶ֑ךָ ׳ל, Isaiah 43:14 לְמַעַנְכֶם שִׁלַּחְתִּי בָבֶ֫לָה, Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 62:1 ציון ׳ל, Isaiah 63:17 עבדיך ׳ל, Isaiah 65:8; Ezekiel 36:22 (twice in verse); Job 18:4; Psalm 122:8; Psalm 122:9; (׳עַבְדִּי ד) לְמַעַן דָּוִד, i.e. for the sake of David's memory, and the promises given to him, 1 Kings 11:12,13,32,34; 1 Kings 15:4; 2 Kings 8:19; 2 Kings 19:34 (= Isaiah 37:35), Isaiah 20:6 (all D2); לְמַעֲנִי (of ׳י) for my own sake, i.e. to vindicate my name, 2 Kings 19:34 (= Isaiah 37:35), 2 Kings 20:6; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 48:11 לְמַעֲנִי לְמַעֲנִי אֶעֲשֶׁה, so לְמַעַנְךָ Daniel 9:19, אֲדֹנָי ׳ל Daniel 9:17; ׳י is said (or entreated) to act (שִׁמְךָ, שְׁמִי) לְמַעַן שְׁמוֺ i.e. to maintain his reputation, or character, Psalm 23:3; Psalm 25:11; Psalm 31:4; Psalm 79:9; Psalm 106:8; Psalm 143:11; Jeremiah 14:7,21; Ezekiel 20:9,14,22,44; Isaiah 48:9; simile חַסְדְּךָ ׳ל (i.e. to maintain it consistently) Psalm 6:5; Psalm 44:27, טוּבְךָ ׳ל Psalm 25:7, צִדְקוֺ ׳ל Isaiah 42:21. b. In view of, on account of (but not expressing causation distinctly, like מִן 2f, or מִמְּנֵי), Deuteronomy 3:26 בי לְמַעַנְכֶם ׳ויתעבר י on your account, 1 Kings 11:39 זֹאת ׳ל in view of this, שׁוֺרֲרַי ׳ל on account of my watchful foes, Psalm 5:9; Psalm 27:11, צורריך ׳ל Psalm 8:3, simil. Psalm 69:19; Psalm 48:12 (Psalm 97:8) משׁפטיך ׳ישמח הר ציון ֗֗֗ ל in view of thy judgments. c. Sq. infinitive Genesis 18:19 ׳לְמַעַן הָבִיא י for the purpose of J.'s bringing = to the intent that J. might bring, Genesis 37:22 הַצִּיל ׳ל in order to rescue, Genesis 50:20; Exodus 1:11; Exodus 9:16; Exodus 10:1, etc., Deuteronomy 2:30; Deuteronomy 6:28, etc., 2 Kings 10:19; Jeremiah 7:10,18; Jeremiah 11:5; Jeremiah 50:34 (on הִרגיע, see עַד 2a b), Ezekiel 14:5; Ezekiel 21:5; Ezekiel 22:6 etc., Ezekiel 36:5, + often (Köiii.595 f.). Once, pleonastic, לְמַעַן לָמוּג לֵב Ezekiel 21:20 (compare כַּעֲבוּר לְ 1 Chronicles 19:3; but read probably הִמּוֺג). 2. conjunction (followed by imperfect): — a. לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר Genesis 18:19 I have known him אשׁר יְצַוֶּה ׳ל to the end that he might command, etc., Deuteronomy 27:3; Joshua 3:4; 2 Samuel 13:5; Jeremiah 42:6; more often b. without אשׁר, as Genesis 12:13 לְמַעַן יִיטַב לִי, Genesis 27:25; Exodus 4:5 יאמינו ׳ל, Exodus 8:6; Exodus 8:18; Exodus 9:29; Exodus 10:2; Isaiah 5:19; Isaiah 23:16; Psalm 9:15; Psalm 30:13; Psalm 48:14 + often (Köiii.571). c. Sq. לֹא (a) אשׁר לֹא ׳ל Numbers 17:5; Deuteronomy 20:18; Ezekiel 31:14; Ezekiel 36:30; Ezekiel 46:18; (b) לֹא ׳ל Ezekiel 14:11; Ezekiel 19:9; Ezekiel 25:10; Ezekiel 26:20; Zechariah 12:7; Psalm 119:11; Psalm 119:80; Psalm 125:3 (Köiii.574. Less common than לְבִלְתִּי or מִן with infinitive, or מֶּןֿ). Note 1 — לְמַעַן is always in order that, never merely so that ἐκβατικῶς); but sometimes, in rhetorical passages, the issue of a line of action, though really undesigned, is represented by it ironically as if it were designed: Deuteronomy 29:18 (see Dr) ׳סְפוֺת וגו ׳וְהִתְבָּרֵךְ כִּלְבָבוֺ ֗֗֗ ל and he congratulate himself ... in order to sweep away the moistened with the dry (i.e. to destroy all together), Isaiah 30:1; Isaiah 44:9 יֵבוֺשׁוּ ׳בל יראו ובל ידעו ל in orer that they may be put to shame, Jeremiah 7:18 הַכְעִיסֵנִי ׳ל, Jeremiah 7:19 בּשֶׁת פְנֵיהֶם ׳ל, Jeremiah 27:10,15; Jeremiah 32:29; Hosea 8:4 their silver, etc., they have made into idols יִכָרֵת ׳ל in order that it may be cut off (of course, not the real purpose of the idolatry), Amos 2:7; Micah 6:16: compare Psalm 51:6 (see Comn.) in order that thou mightest be just when thou judgest (that is, by manifesting thy justice in judgement on my sin). compare Note 2. — In Joshua 4:24 for the anomalous יְרָאתֶם ׳ל, read infinitive יִרְאָתָם ׳ל in order that they might fear (Dr§ 14 Obs.): Nehemiah 6:13 לְמַעַן שָׂכוּר הוּא לְמַעַן אִירָא (si vera 1.) the first ׳ל points forwards, to this intent was he hired, to the intent that I should be afraid. — On Proverbs 16:4, see מַעֵנֶה above Topical Lexicon Overview מַעַן (Strong’s 4616) is a purpose-oriented term that serves as one of the principal connectors between divine intention and human response in the Old Testament. Appearing about 272 times, often with the prefixed preposition לְ (“for, so that”), it consistently moves the narrative forward by answering the question “Why?”—whether in covenant stipulations, historical narrative, prophetic oracle, or liturgical prayer. Distribution in the Canon • Torah: Genesis–Deuteronomy contain more than one-third of the occurrences, grounding Israel’s formative history and law in stated divine purposes. Primary Theological Themes 1. Covenantal Purpose From the outset, God ties promises to purpose. “I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). Here מַעַן underscores Abraham’s call as a conduit of universal blessing. Similarly, Deuteronomy anchors obedience to purpose: “Keep His statutes… so that it may go well with you” (Deuteronomy 4:40). 2. Holiness and Witness Israel’s distinctiveness is teleological. “You shall be holy, for I am holy… so that I may dwell among them” (Leviticus 11:45; Exodus 29:46). The phrase regularly links ritual requirements to the divine intention of manifesting God’s presence before the nations (Ezekiel 36:22-23). 3. Salvation and Judgment מַעַן appears both in announcements of mercy and of discipline. Pharaoh is warned, “But for this reason I have raised you up, so that My power may be displayed in you” (Exodus 9:16). Isaiah speaks similarly of Cyrus: “For the sake of Jacob My servant… I summon you by name” (Isaiah 45:4). 4. Instruction and Memory Educational intent pervades the festivals and memorials: “These stones will be a sign among you, so that when your children ask…” (Joshua 4:6). Psalms reiterates the didactic aim: “Teach us to number our days, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). 5. Intercessory Appeals The psalmists and prophets invoke divine purpose when pleading for mercy. “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck… Deliver me so that I may praise Your name” (Psalm 69:1, 30). Daniel 9:17 prays, “Cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, for the Lord’s sake.” Representative Passages • Exodus 10:2 – Deliverance events are “so that you may tell your children… and that you may know that I am the LORD.” Historical and Liturgical Significance During Temple worship, songs and prayers saturated with מַעַן reminded worshipers that sacrifices and festivals carried forward God’s overarching objectives. The prophets leveraged the term to expose futile religiosity detached from divine purpose, calling Israel back to mission-centered obedience. Post-exilic communities read these texts as assurance that even disciplinary exile served a restorative design. Messianic and Redemptive Trajectory By linking every divine act to an explicit purpose, מַעַן lays groundwork for New Covenant fulfillment. The Servant Songs echo the motif: “It is too small a thing… to restore the tribes of Jacob… I will make You a light for the nations” (Isaiah 49:6). The same telic language reappears in the Greek New Testament (ἵνα, “so that”), underscoring continuity between covenants: “Christ became a servant to the circumcised… so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy” (Romans 15:8-9). Practical Ministry Implications 1. Purpose-driven Obedience: Scripture consistently weds commands to God’s redemptive aims, challenging believers to pursue holiness as a witness to divine glory. Conclusion מַעַן threads purpose through every strata of the Old Testament, binding divine action, human responsibility, and redemptive history into a coherent narrative of intentional grace. Recognizing its function enriches exegesis, galvanizes faithful living, and magnifies the glory of God whose every word and deed is “so that” His name might be known in all the earth. Forms and Transliterations הַ֭לְמַעַנְךָ הלמענך וּלְמַ֖עַן וּלְמַ֙עַן֙ וּלְמַ֛עַן וּלְמַ֜עַן וּלְמַ֡עַן וּלְמַ֣עַן וּלְמַ֤עַן וּלְמַ֥עַן וּלְמַ֨עַן ולמען לְ֝מַ֗עַן לְ֠מַעַן לְ֭מַעַן לְמַ֕עַן לְמַ֖עַן לְמַ֗עַן לְמַ֙עַן֙ לְמַ֛עַן לְמַ֜עַן לְמַ֡עַן לְמַ֣עַן לְמַ֣עַן ׀ לְמַ֣עַנְכֶ֔ם לְמַ֤עַן לְמַ֤עַן ׀ לְמַ֥עַן לְמַ֧עַן לְמַ֨עַן לְמַֽעֲנְךָ֣ לְמַֽעֲנִ֔י לְמַֽעַן־ לְמַעֲנִ֑י לְמַעֲנִ֛י לְמַעֲנִ֧י לְמַעַן֩ לְמַעַן֮ לְמַעַן־ לְמַעַנְכֶ֛ם לְמַעַנְכֶ֞ם לְמַעַנְכֶ֣ם למען למען־ למעני למענך למענכם hal·ma·‘an·ḵā halma‘anḵā Halmaancha lə·ma·‘ă·nî lə·ma·‘an lə·ma·‘an- lə·ma·‘ăn·ḵā lə·ma·‘an·ḵem ləma‘an ləma‘an- ləma‘ănî ləma‘ănḵā ləma‘anḵem leMaan lemaanCha leMaanChem lemaaNi ū·lə·ma·‘an ūləma‘an uleMaanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 12:13 HEB: אֲחֹ֣תִי אָ֑תְּ לְמַ֙עַן֙ יִֽיטַב־ לִ֣י NAS: that you are my sister so that it may go well KJV: thou [art] my sister: that it may be well INT: you are my sister you so may go because Genesis 18:19 Genesis 18:19 Genesis 18:24 Genesis 27:25 Genesis 37:22 Genesis 50:20 Exodus 1:11 Exodus 4:5 Exodus 8:10 Exodus 8:22 Exodus 9:16 Exodus 9:29 Exodus 10:1 Exodus 10:2 Exodus 11:7 Exodus 11:9 Exodus 13:9 Exodus 16:4 Exodus 16:32 Exodus 20:12 Exodus 23:12 Exodus 33:13 Leviticus 17:5 Leviticus 20:3 272 Occurrences |
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Qor 28:7 (FlKl. Schr. i. 397 f.).