מִנְחָה
𐤌𐤍𐤇𐤄
minchâh
H4504 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A sacrificial offering or gift, typically consisting of grain, flour, oil, or incense, presented to a deity as an act of worship, gratitude, or expiation. In Hebrew practice, מנחה refers especially to non-animal offerings (grain offerings), but can also denote a broader range of gifts or tributes brought by subordinates to superiors. In Aramaic (as in Daniel and Ezra), the term retains its sense of an offering or tribute, either in a ritual or secular context.
Semantic Range
grain offering, non-animal offering, tribute, gift, oblation, present, sacrifice (non-bloody), ritual offering, secular tribute
Root / Etymology
Root from נ-ח-ה (נחה or מנח), meaning originally 'to lead, bring, guide', but in this nominal form (מִנְחָה) it reflects a thing that is brought, i.e., an offering. The standard Hebrew noun derives from the verbal root meaning to bring or present something, indicating what is brought before a higher power, whether deity or person of authority.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term מִנְחָה is used extensively in both Hebrew and Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible. In the priestly and narrative texts (e.g., Leviticus, Numbers), it refers specifically to grain or cereal offerings—distinct from animal sacrifices (זֶבַח, עֹלָה). These offerings could include fine flour, oil, frankincense, and at times unleavened cakes. However, in wider usage the term also functions as a generic word for tribute, gift, or present (e.g., Gen 32:13, where Jacob sends a 'minchah' to Esau; 1 Sam 10:27). In later (Second Temple and post-biblical) contexts, it maintains ritual significance but expands in meaning to gifts and offerings more generally. English translations such as 'meat offering' are misleading and reflect historical (KJV) usage; the term never refers to animal flesh. In Aramaic sections (Ezra, Daniel) it preserves the broader sense, referring to both ritual and political-economic tributes, making context key for interpretation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to מִנְחָה; a sacrificial offering; oblation, meat offering.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מנה (m-n-h) — to apportion, assign, bestow
| 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 |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4504-02 |
וּ/מִנְחָתְ/ה֖וֹן | uminechatehon | AC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp |
and-their-meal-offerings | and their offerings | and their meal offerings | 1 |
H4504-01 |
וּ/מִנְחָה֙ | uminechah | AC/Ncfsa |
an offering | and tribute-offering | and tribute-offering | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4504-01 |
Daniel 2:46 | וּ/מִנְחָה֙ | uminechah | AC/Ncfsa |
an offering | and tribute-offering | and tribute-offering |
H4504-02 |
Ezra 7:17 | וּ/מִנְחָתְ/ה֖וֹן | uminechatehon | AC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp |
and-their-meal-offerings | and their offerings | and their meal offerings |