מָאֵן (ma.en)
ma.en
refusing
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ma’en describes a firm refusal or an unwillingness to comply with a request or command. It conveys more than simple disagreement; it signifies a deliberate choice to reject what is being asked, often implying stubbornness or defiance against authority.
This word appears in only three verses of the Old Testament, making its usage quite specific. In Exodus 5:2, Pharaoh uses it when he declares, "I do not know the Lord," effectively refusing Moses’ demand to let Israel go. Later, Jeremiah 26:12 employs it to describe the leaders’ refusal to listen to the prophet’s warning.
Its root sense centers on rejecting a duty or directive. Unlike words that might imply mere inability, ma’en highlights volition—the person has the capacity to obey but chooses not to. This distinction is crucial in narratives where characters face divine commands, as their refusal becomes an active stance against God’s will rather than passive ignorance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew verb ma’en describes a firm refusal or an unwillingness to comply with a request or command. It conveys more than simple disagreement; it signifies a deliberate choice to reject what is being asked, often implying stubbornness or defiance against authority. This word appears in only three verses of the Old Testament, making its usage quite specific.
In Exodus 9:2 and 10:4, Pharaoh uses it when he declares his refusal to let Israel go. Later, Jeremiah 38:21 employs it to describe Ebed-Melech’s concern about the officials' refusal to listen to Jeremiah’s warning. Its root sense centers on rejecting a duty or directive.
Unlike words that might imply mere inability, ma’en highlights volition—the person has the capacity to obey but chooses not to. This distinction is crucial in narratives where characters face divine commands, as their refusal becomes an active stance against God’s will rather than passive ignorance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [are] refusing3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָאֵ֥ן3×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 9:2
For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still,
This verse captures Pharaoh's hardened heart as he actively chooses to withhold the Israelites despite clear warnings.
-
Exodus 10:4
Or else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country,
Here the refusal triggers a specific judgment, showing how persistent rejection invites consequences.
-
Jeremiah 38:21
But if you refuse to go out, this is the word that Yahweh has shown me:
This occurrence highlights the danger faced by those who refuse to heed prophetic warnings during times of crisis.