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מְנָת

𐤌𐤍𐤕

mᵉnâth

H4521 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מנה to count, assign, reckon, apportion

Definition

A designated portion, share, or part allotted to someone, often referring to an assigned amount of food, inheritance, or share in general. The word is used to express what is measured out or apportioned for an individual or group, whether by legal, social, or divine means.

Semantic Range

portion, assigned share, allotment (of food, inheritance, or other resources), divinely appointed share, fate/destiny, legal entitlement

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root מנה (m-n-h), which fundamentally means 'to count, assign, reckon.' The noun מְנָת (menāth) is a feminine form indicating 'that which is assigned or measured out.' Its lexical meaning as 'portion' or 'share' closely aligns with the verbal sense of assigning or distributing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מְנָת appears in poetic and legal contexts, frequently in Psalms and wisdom literature as well as some narrative passages (e.g., Genesis 43:34 for assigned food portions, Deuteronomy 12:12 for priestly shares). In later periods and poetic usage, מְנָת can take on metaphorical nuances (‘assigned fate or destiny’), especially in post-exilic or Second Temple texts. It is distinct from חֵלֶק (ḥéléq), which also means 'portion' but can refer to land or abstract shares, whereas מְנָת often conveys a more personalized or divinely allotted share. Standard English translations as 'portion' or 'share' usually capture its basic sense, but may fail to reflect nuances of legal right, divine assignment, or culturally specific practices around communal meals and inheritance. In exilic and post-exilic usage, the term is sometimes imbued with theological or eschatological significance (e.g., 'YHWH is my portion' in Psalms and Lamentations), but originally carried concrete, social, and legal connotations related to resource distribution among Israelite or Judahite families, tribes, or priestly groups.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from מָנָה; an allotment (by courtesy, law or providence); portion.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מנה (m-n-h) — count, assign, reckon, apportion

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

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4521-02 מְנָ֣ת menat HNcfsc portion assigned portion of 3
H4521-03 מְנָי֛וֹת menayot HNcfpc portions assigned portions of 2
H4521-01 מְנָא֣וֹת menaot HNcfpc portions assigned portions of 1
H4521-04 וּ/מְנָת֩ umenat HC/Ncfsc And the portion assigned portion of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4521-02 Psalms 11:6 מְנָ֣ת menat HNcfsc portion assigned portion of
H4521-02 Psalms 63:11 מְנָ֖ת menat HNcfsc portion assigned portion of
H4521-01 Nehemiah 12:44 מְנָא֣וֹת menaot HNcfpc portions assigned portions of
H4521-03 Nehemiah 12:47 מְנָי֛וֹת menayot HNcfpc portions assigned portions of
H4521-03 Nehemiah 13:10 מְנָי֥וֹת menayot HNcfpc portions assigned portions of
H4521-04 2 Chronicles 31:3 וּ/מְנָת֩ umenat HC/Ncfsc And the portion assigned portion of
H4521-02 2 Chronicles 31:4 מְנָ֥ת menat HNcfsc portion assigned portion of
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