Lexical Summary maanah: Answer, response Original Word: מַעֲנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance furrow From anah, in the sense of depression or tilling; a furrow -- + acre, furrow. see HEBREW anah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anah; place for (doing) a task Definition a field for plowing NASB Translation furrow (1), furrows (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַעֲנָה noun feminine place for task (?), specifically field for ploughing: — plural suffix לְמַעֲנוֺתָם Psalm 129:3 Kt they have extended their ploughing-grounds (Qr מַעֲנִיתָם); singular מַעֲנָה only 1 Samuel 14:14, where text corrupt and meaning dubious see Commentaries מַעֲנִית Psalm 129:3 Qr see foregoing. Topical Lexicon Agricultural Imagery in Ancient Israelמַעֲנָה designates the shallow, linear trench cut by a plow as it moves through soil. In a pre-industrial world where the plowshare and ox-driven yoke dominated grain production, the furrow symbolized both the farmer’s industry and the promise of harvest. Its appearance in only two passages heightens its evocative force: it anchors a historical narrative (1 Samuel 14:14) and an imprecatory psalm (Psalm 129:3), linking tangible agrarian experience with spiritual truth. Measure of Land in Military Context (1 Samuel 14:14) 1 Samuel 14 records Jonathan’s daring raid against the Philistine garrison. The narrator sizes the battleground as “about half an acre”, literally “half a furrow of a field” (חֲצִי מַעֲנֵה שָּׂדֶה). By choosing this agrarian measure instead of a standard military unit, Scripture: • Emphasizes the modest scope of terrain, magnifying God’s deliverance rather than Israel’s might. • Presents the field as covenant territory; even the smallest strip belongs to the LORD and may become the stage for His acts (compare Joshua 1:3). • Invites readers to picture Jonathan’s victory with the familiarity of daily life—every Israelite who had plowed a furrow could sense the size of the miracle. Poetic Portrayal of Oppression (Psalm 129:3) In Psalm 129, Israel sings, “The plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long”. Here מַעֲנָה is transposed from soil to flesh: • The oppressors are cast as ruthless farmers, scoring deep, extended lines across the psalmist’s back. The image evokes public flogging, forced labor, and national humiliation. • By juxtaposing agricultural labor with human suffering, the psalmist underscores the dehumanizing intent of Israel’s foes, who treat the covenant people as mere ground to be exploited. • The verse anticipates the Suffering Servant theme. The imagery of lacerated flesh resonates with prophetic portraits culminating in Isaiah 53 and finds ultimate fulfillment in the scourging of Christ (Mark 15:15). Theological Reflections 1. Sovereignty and Scale: Whether half a furrow or countless furrows, the LORD governs outcomes. A small parcel becomes a theater of triumph; multiplied furrows become a canvas for future vindication (Psalm 129:4–5). 2. Reversal of Fortune: The plowmen who thought themselves masters are, in the following verses, reduced to withering grass. God turns the tools of oppression into testimonies of His justice. 3. Covenant Assurance: Israel’s identification with the land (Genesis 15:18–21) means that imagery drawn from agriculture speaks directly to her covenant hope. Both occurrences of מַעֲנָה remind the faithful that the Almighty is present in the ordinary (the field) and in affliction (the furrowed back). Historical Background • Iron Age Farming: Wooden plows tipped with bronze or early iron cut shallow furrows, roughly six to eight inches deep. A span of oxen could prepare about an acre a day, providing a ready mental yardstick for the ancient audience. • Land Tenure: Fields were inherited family plots within tribal allotments. Measuring by furrows preserved a relational sense of place and echoed legal traditions that protected boundaries (Deuteronomy 19:14). Ministry Applications 1. Encouragement in Smallness: Believers laboring in seemingly insignificant arenas can recall Jonathan’s “half-furrow” victory and trust God to magnify faithful obedience. 2. Compassion for the Persecuted: Psalm 129 invites intercession for those whose “backs are plowed.” The church identifies with the suffering body of Christ and looks forward to divine recompense. 3. Preaching Christ: The furrowed back motif provides a vivid bridge from Old Testament lament to the passion narratives, enriching Gospel proclamation with rooted, sensory imagery. 4. Spiritual Cultivation: Just as straight furrows anticipate harvest, disciplined patterns of prayer and Scripture study prepare hearts for fruitfulness (Hosea 10:12). Related Biblical Motifs • Plowing as Preparation (Luke 9:62) Summary Though appearing only twice, מַעֲנָה carries weighty resonance. It frames a miraculous deliverance, embodies grievous oppression, and ultimately points to God’s redemptive purpose. From battlefield to psalmody, the humble furrow reminds every generation that the LORD who oversees the soil also oversees history—and that His purposes, once plowed, will bear a sure and abundant harvest. Forms and Transliterations לְמַעֲנִיתָֽם׃ למעניתם׃ מַעֲנָ֖ה מענה lə·ma·‘ă·nî·ṯām ləma‘ănîṯām lemaaniTam ma‘ănāh ma·‘ă·nāh maaNahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 14:14 HEB: אִ֑ישׁ כְּבַחֲצִ֥י מַעֲנָ֖ה צֶ֥מֶד שָׂדֶֽה׃ NAS: within about half a furrow in an acre KJV: within as it were an half acre of land, INT: men half A furrow an acre of land Psalm 129:3 2 Occurrences |
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