מְדִינָה (me.di.nah)
me.di.nah
province
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 38 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun medinah refers to a province, district, or administrative region within a larger kingdom. Derived from a root meaning judgment or jurisdiction, it originally described an area governed by an official with legal authority. In the biblical text, it typically denotes the political subdivisions of empires such as Babylon, Persia, and Assyria, rather than just any piece of land.
This word appears most frequently in Esther, where it highlights the vast reach of imperial power. The narrative uses medinah to show how decrees were sent "to every province" (Esther 3:13), emphasizing the uniformity and scale of royal control across diverse territories. It also appears in Ezra and Nehemiah when describing the returnees from specific regions, grounding their identity in these geopolitical units.
While often translated simply as "province," the term carries a sense of organized governance. It distinguishes a legally defined district under an administrator from a general country or land. This usage reflects the historical reality of ancient Near Eastern empires, which relied on structured provincial systems to manage their extensive domains and enforce royal edicts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word medinah describes an administrative province within a vast empire. In books like Esther, it highlights how royal decrees reached every corner of the kingdom. This shows that no matter where you live, God’s sovereignty extends over all human governments and their structures.
For your faith, this reminds us that our identity is not defined by political boundaries or earthly powers. Even when laws seem unjust or situations feel overwhelming, we serve a King whose authority surpasses every province. We can trust that He works through history to bring about His purposes.
When you face uncertainty in your community or world, remember that God sees the whole map, not just one district. Your life matters to Him regardless of where you are stationed. Rest in the peace that comes from knowing ultimate control belongs to Him alone.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 38 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] provinces of11×
- and/ province10×
- province9×
- the/ provinces8×
- the/ province4×
- province[s]3×
- in the/ province1×
- for the/ provinces1×
- and/ <the>/ provinces1×
- among the/ provinces1×
- [were] in/ [the] provinces of1×
- [the] province1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְדִינָ֣ה4×
- מְדִינ֣וֹת4×
- מְדִינָ֤ה3×
- וּ/מְדִינָה֙3×
- הַ/מְּדִינ֑וֹת3×
- מְדִינוֹת֙2×
- מְדִינָ֔ה2×
- מְדִינ֥וֹת2×
- מְדִינ֖וֹת2×
- וּ/מְדִינָ֗ה2×
- וּ/מְדִינָ֔ה2×
- הַ/מְּדִינָ֗ה2×
Key Verses
-
Esther 1:1
Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
This verse establishes the immense scale of Ahasuerus's rule, covering 127 provinces and setting the stage for the entire narrative.
-
Esther 3:13
Letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
The decree to destroy the Jews was sent to all the king’s provinces, showing how imperial power could threaten God's people across vast distances.
-
Nehemiah 1:3
They said to me, “The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
Nehemiah hears that the remnant in the province is in great affliction, grounding his prayer and subsequent action in a specific geopolitical reality.
-
Ezra 2:1
Now these are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city;
The returnees are identified as 'children of the province,' linking their spiritual restoration to their historical displacement and resettlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does medinah mean in the Bible?
Why is medinah important in the book of Esther?
How is medinah different from eretz?
Every Occurrence (38 verses across 7 books)
I Kings 4 verses
Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Yahweh says, ‘By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who…
I Kings 20:15Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. After them,…
I Kings 20:17The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, “Men…
I Kings 20:19So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.