מִתְנִי

𐤌𐤕𐤍𐤉

Miteni

H4981 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מתן to gird, encircle, be slender (speculative); form gentilics

Definition

Proper noun designating an individual or descendant or inhabitant associated with a place called Mitni. Used as an ethnonym or gentilic (inhabitant descriptor) indicating origin or lineage from this locale, most likely referencing a person from Mitni or his family/descendants.

Semantic Range

a Mithnite, inhabitant or descendant of Mitni; gentilic referring to origin, family, or local affiliation

Root / Etymology

Formed from a hypothesized base מִתְנִי (Mitni), ostensibly a gentilicial adjective or ethnonym. The root appears related to מִתְן (miten) or מָתְנַיִם (motnayim, 'loins'), suggesting a root meaning of 'slenderness' or 'loins,' but as a place or family name, the formation is largely conventional and the original meaning is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מִתְנִי (Mithnîy) occurs as an ethnonym or family designation (specifically in 1 Chronicles 11:43) for one among David’s warriors. The term is parallel in form to other gentilic constructions (ending in -ִי), which indicate origin, descent, or affiliation. The underlying place or ancestor 'Mitni' is otherwise unattested, and its location or background is not specified in the text. While Strong’s suggested a meaning connected to 'slenderness,' such a connotation is speculative and not required for the proper noun's use. English translations often simply offer 'Mithnite' or transliterate the name, as in most modern versions. The term should not be confused with terms denoting broader Israelite, Judahite, or tribal identities; its referent is much narrower, likely indicating a family or local group in the monarchy period. The exact significance of the name in terms of geography or genealogy remains unclear due to lack of additional biblical references.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably patrial from an unused noun meaning slenderness; a Mithnite, or inhabitant of Methen; Mithnite.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מתן (m-t-n) — to gird, encircle, be slender (speculative); form gentilics

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4975 מֹתֶן in their loins
H574 אֵמְתָּנִי powerfully built

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4981-01 הַ/מִּתְנִֽי hamiteni HTd/Ngmsa the Mithnite the Mithnite 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4981-01 1 Chronicles 11:43 הַ/מִּתְנִֽי hamiteni HTd/Ngmsa the Mithnite the Mithnite