מִנְחָה (H4503) — Hebrew Lexicon

מִנְחָה

𐤌𐤍𐤇𐤄

minchâh

H4503 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A gift or offering, especially a presentation to a superior or deity; in cultic contexts, refers specifically to the non-animal offerings made to YHWH, typically consisting of grain, fine flour, oil, or frankincense. Outside the cultic context, denotes a present or tribute given to a person of higher status. The semantic range encompasses 'gift,' 'tribute,' and 'grain offering' as a technical term within Israelite religious practice.

Semantic Range

gift, present, oblation, tribute, grain offering, non-animal sacrifice, voluntary offering, offering to deity, offering to human superior

Root / Etymology

Root: מָנָה (to apportion, bestow), though the verb is not attested in Biblical Hebrew. The noun מִנְחָה derives from the idea of something apportioned or presented, coming to signify a gift or offering given voluntarily or out of obligation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite practice, מִנְחָה referred both to secular tribute—such as gifts to rulers or presents between people—and religious offerings. In the Priestly system of the Torah, its usage is narrowed to the grain offering, a central component of the sacrificial cult but always non-animal (unlike זֶבַח 'animal sacrifice' or עוֹלָה 'burnt offering'). מִנְחָה contrasts with 'zevach' or 'olah' by being bloodless; it often consists of fine flour, oil, frankincense, or baked goods. In narrative and prophetic passages, מִנְחָה frequently signifies a diplomatic gift, tribute from vassals, or offering to a deity (either the God of Israel or foreign gods), and only context can distinguish these uses. English translations as 'meat offering' are misleading—'meat' in older English meant 'food,' not 'flesh.' The term 'offering,' 'gift,' or 'tribute' best reflects the actual Hebrew sense. In later biblical and Second Temple texts, מִנְחָה retains its cultic sense but can acquire extended meanings, serving as a general term for offerings in Greek translations (e.g., θυσία or δῶρον).

Translation Consistency

primary "offering" 30 occurrences

minchâh most often denotes a presentation to a superior or deity — especially non‑animal, grain‑based cultic gifts — and in secular contexts a tribute or present. The single word "offering" is natural English, common in Bible translations, and covers the full semantic range (gift/tribute/grain offering) better than narrower choices like "grain" or "gift."

Alternatives (20 occurrences):

"apportioned gift-offering" (11x) "present" (4x) "gift-offering" (2x) "gift" (2x) "apportioned-offering" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary); gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

מנה (Meni) — to count, allot, apportion

Root מנה to apportion, bestow, assign

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4482	מֵן	with strings
H4487	מָנָה	to be counted
H4488	מָנֶה	the appointed measure
H4489	מֹנֶה	measured intervals
H4490	מָנָה	the assigned portion
H4507	מְנִי	to Apportioned-Fate
H4510	מִנְיָן	for tally of
H4521	מְנָת	assigned portions of
H8553	תִּמְנָה	in Timnah

Word Forms

28 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H4503-09`	מִנְחָה֙	minechah	`HNcfsa`	grain offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering	54
`H4503-03`	הַ/מִּנְחָ֔ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering	39
`H4503-18`	וּ/מִנְחָ֖ה	uminechah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and grain offering	apportioned offering	and apportioned offering	19
`H4503-07`	לְ/מִנְחָה֙	leminechah	`HR/Ncfsa`	for a grain offering	for an apportioned offering	for an apportioned offering	17
`H4503-10`	מִנְחַ֥ת	minechat	`HNcfsc`	the grain offering	apportioned offering of	apportioned offering of	17
`H4503-21`	וּ/מִנְחָתָ֣/ם	uminechatam	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp3mp`	and their grain offering	and their apportioned offering	and their apportioned offering	14
`H4503-15`	מִנְחָת֡/וֹ	minechato	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his offering	his apportioned offering	his apportioned offering	7
`H4503-20`	וּ/מִנְחָתָ֗/הּ	uminechatah	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp3fs`	and its grain offering	and her gift-offering	and her offering	7
`H4503-11`	מִנְחָתָ֖/הּ	minechatah	`HNcfsc/Sp3fs`	its grain offering	her apportioned offering	her apportioned offering	4
`H4503-12`	מִנְחָתָ֑/ם	minechatam	`HNcfsc/Sp3mp`	their grain offering	their apportioned offering	their apportioned offering	4
`H4503-22`	וּ/מִנְחָת/וֹ֩	uminechato	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and its grain offering	and his apportioned offering	and his apportioned offering	4
`H4503-14`	מִנְחָתִ֖/י	minechati	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my offering	my tribute-offering	my offering	3
`H4503-02`	בְּ/מִנְחָ֔ה	beminechah	`HR/Ncfsa`	with a gift	with a gift-offering	with a gift-offering	2
`H4503-05`	כְּ/מִנְחַ֨ת	keminechat	`HR/Ncfsc`	like the grain offering	like a gift-offering of	like an offering of	2
`H4503-06`	לַ/מִּנְחָ֖ה	laminechah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	for the grain offering	for the apportioned-offering	for the apportioned-offering	2
`H4503-13`	מִנְחָתְ/ךָ֮	minechatekha	`HNcfsc/Sp2ms`	of your grain offering	your apportioned offering	your grain offering	2
`H4503-19`	וּ/מִנְחַ֣ת	uminechat	`HC/Ncfsc`	and the grain offering	and apportioned-gift of	and grain offering of	2
`H4503-27`	וְ/הַ/מִּנְחָה֙	vehaminechah	`HC/Td/Ncfsa`	and the grain offering	and the apportioned offering	and the apportioned offering	2
`H4503-01`	בַּ/מִּנְחָה֙	baminechah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	with the gift	with the apportioned offering	with the gift	1
`H4503-04`	כַּ/מִּנְחָֽה	kaminechah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	like the grain offering	like a gift-offering	like the grain offering	1
`H4503-08`	לְ/מִנְחַ֥ת	leminechat	`HR/Ncfsc`	the-offering-of	for gift-of	the offering of	1
`H4503-16`	מִנְחֹתֶ֑/ךָ	minechotekha	`HNcfpc/Sp2ms`	your offerings	your apportioned gifts	your offerings	1
`H4503-17`	וּ/לְ/מִנְחֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם	uleminechoteykhem	`HC/R/Ncfpc/Sp2mp`	and for your grain offerings	and for your apportioned offerings	and for your apportioned offerings	1
`H4503-23`	וּ/מִנְחֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם	uminechoteykhem	`HC/Ncfpc/Sp2mp`	and your grain offerings	and your apportioned offerings	and your apportioned offerings	1
`H4503-24`	וּ/בְ/מִנְחָ֖ה	uveminechah	`HC/R/Ncfsa`	or by offering	and with a gift-offering	or by offering	1
`H4503-25`	וּ/בְ/מִנְחַ֣ת	uveminechat	`HC/R/Ncfsc`	and at the offering	and in offering-of	and at the offering	1
`H4503-26`	וּ/בְ/מִנְחָתִ֔/י	uveminechati	`HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp1cs`	and at my offering	and in my offering-gift	and at my offering	1
`H4503-28`	וְ/כַ/מִּנְחָ֖ה	vekhaminechah	`HC/Rd/Ncfsa`	and according to the oil	and as a gift-offering	and like a gift-offering	1

Occurrences in Scripture

211 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H4503-09`	Genesis 4:3	מִנְחָ֖ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	an offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-15`	Genesis 4:4	מִנְחָתֽ/וֹ	minechato	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his offering	his apportioned offering	his apportioned offering
`H4503-15`	Genesis 4:5	מִנְחָת֖/וֹ	minechato	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his offering	his apportioned offering	his apportioned offering
`H4503-09`	Genesis 32:14	מִנְחָ֖ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	a gift	apportioned gift-offering	gift-offering
`H4503-09`	Genesis 32:19	מִנְחָ֥ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	a gift	apportioned gift-offering	gift-offering
`H4503-01`	Genesis 32:21	בַּ/מִּנְחָה֙	baminechah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	with the gift	with the apportioned offering	with the gift
`H4503-03`	Genesis 32:22	הַ/מִּנְחָ֖ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the gift	the apportioned offering	the gift
`H4503-14`	Genesis 33:10	מִנְחָתִ֖/י	minechati	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my present	my tribute-offering	my offering
`H4503-09`	Genesis 43:11	מִנְחָ֑ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	a present	apportioned gift-offering	a present
`H4503-03`	Genesis 43:15	הַ/מִּנְחָ֣ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	this present	the apportioned offering	the present
`H4503-03`	Genesis 43:25	הַ/מִּנְחָ֔ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the present	the apportioned offering	the present
`H4503-03`	Genesis 43:26	הַ/מִּנְחָ֥ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the present/gift	the apportioned offering	the present
`H4503-05`	Exodus 29:41	כְּ/מִנְחַ֨ת	keminechat	`HR/Ncfsc`	like the grain offering	like a gift-offering of	like an offering of
`H4503-18`	Exodus 30:9	וּ/מִנְחָ֑ה	uminechah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and-meal-offering	apportioned offering	and apportioned offering
`H4503-03`	Exodus 40:29	הַ/מִּנְחָ֔ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-09`	Leviticus 2:1	מִנְחָה֙	minechah	`HNcfsa`	of grain	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 2:3	הַ/מִּנְחָ֔ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-09`	Leviticus 2:4	מִנְחָ֖ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	of grain offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-09`	Leviticus 2:5	מִנְחָ֥ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	meal offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-09`	Leviticus 2:6	מִנְחָ֖ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	grain offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-10`	Leviticus 2:7	מִנְחַ֥ת	minechat	`HNcfsc`	grain offering	apportioned offering of	apportioned offering of
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 2:8	הַ/מִּנְחָ֗ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 2:9	הַ/מִּנְחָה֙	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 2:10	הַ/מִּנְחָ֔ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 2:11	הַ/מִּנְחָ֗ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-13`	Leviticus 2:13	מִנְחָתְ/ךָ֮	minechatekha	`HNcfsc/Sp2ms`	of your grain offering	your apportioned offering	your grain offering
`H4503-13`	Leviticus 2:13	מִנְחָתֶ֑/ךָ	minechatekha-2	`HNcfsc/Sp2ms`	your grain offering	your apportioned offering	your grain offering
`H4503-10`	Leviticus 2:14	מִנְחַ֥ת	minechat	`HNcfsc`	a grain offering	apportioned offering of	apportioned offering of
`H4503-10`	Leviticus 2:14	מִנְחַ֥ת	minechat-2	`HNcfsc`	the grain offering	apportioned offering of	apportioned offering of
`H4503-09`	Leviticus 2:15	מִנְחָ֖ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	a grain offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-04`	Leviticus 5:13	כַּ/מִּנְחָֽה	kaminechah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	like the grain offering	like a gift-offering	like the grain offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 6:7	הַ/מִּנְחָ֑ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 6:8	הַ/מִּנְחָה֙	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the-grain-offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 6:8	הַ/מִּנְחָ֑ה	haminechah-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the-grain-offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-09`	Leviticus 6:13	מִנְחָ֖ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	meal offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-10`	Leviticus 6:14	מִנְחַ֣ת	minechat	`HNcfsc`	the grain offering	apportioned offering of	apportioned offering of
`H4503-10`	Leviticus 6:16	מִנְחַ֥ת	minechat	`HNcfsc`	grain offering	apportioned offering of	apportioned offering of
`H4503-09`	Leviticus 7:9	מִנְחָ֗ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	grain offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-09`	Leviticus 7:10	מִנְחָ֥ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	grain offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-06`	Leviticus 7:37	לַ/מִּנְחָ֔ה	laminechah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	for the grain offering	for the apportioned-offering	for the apportioned-offering
`H4503-18`	Leviticus 9:4	וּ/מִנְחָ֖ה	uminechah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and a grain offering	apportioned offering	and apportioned offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 9:17	הַ/מִּנְחָה֒	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 10:12	הַ/מִּנְחָ֗ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-09`	Leviticus 14:10	מִנְחָה֙	minechah	`HNcfsa`	grain offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 14:20	הַ/מִּנְחָ֖ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-07`	Leviticus 14:21	לְ/מִנְחָ֖ה	leminechah	`HR/Ncfsa`	for a grain offering	for an apportioned offering	for an apportioned offering
`H4503-03`	Leviticus 14:31	הַ/מִּנְחָ֑ה	haminechah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the grain offering	the apportioned offering	the apportioned offering
`H4503-22`	Leviticus 23:13	וּ/מִנְחָת/וֹ֩	uminechato	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms`	and its grain offering	and his apportioned offering	and his apportioned offering
`H4503-09`	Leviticus 23:16	מִנְחָ֥ה	minechah	`HNcfsa`	grain offering	apportioned gift-offering	apportioned gift-offering
`H4503-21`	Leviticus 23:18	וּ/מִנְחָתָ/ם֙	uminechatam	`HC/Ncfsc/Sp3mp`	and-their-grain-offering	and their apportioned offering	and their apportioned offering

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