מִן־ (min)
min
from; portion
H:PrepQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 904 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Prep
Word Overview
The Hebrew preposition min serves as a versatile marker of separation and origin. It primarily means "from" or "out of," indicating where something begins or what it is made of. In Leviticus, for instance, it distinguishes the holy from the common, showing how the Israelites were to separate themselves in ritual practice. The word can also function partitively, meaning "some of" or "a portion of," as seen when describing specific groups within a larger population.
Its range extends beyond physical space to time and comparison. It marks the starting point of an era ("since") or introduces comparisons ("more than"). A notable nuance is its use with infinitives to express cause, translating roughly as "on account of" or "because." This causal force appears in legal texts where actions are justified by their underlying reasons. Though often rendered simply as "from" in English, min carries the weight of distinction, source, and reason.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word min points to where things begin and how they are set apart. In Genesis, it describes how God formed humanity from the dust of the ground. This detail reminds us that our physical bodies have a humble origin, yet we carry the breath of life within us. It grounds our identity in the Creator’s hands rather than our own achievements.
Min also marks separation and distinction. In the narrative of Noah, it distinguishes clean animals from unclean ones, showing that God cares about order and specific instructions. Later, it highlights the consequences of disobedience when Adam eats from the forbidden tree. The word helps us see that choices have origins and results.
Understanding min encourages a sense of dependence on God. We come from Him, we are shaped by His design, and we are called to live in ways that honor His boundaries. This perspective brings comfort, knowing that our lives are held by the One who formed us from the earth and gave us purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 904 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from439×
- from/ it74×
- from/ me54×
- some of39×
- and/ from38×
- more than36×
- from/ him35×
- of31×
- and/ of29×
- from/ you26×
- and/ some of21×
- one of17×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִן\־541×
- וּ/מִן\־85×
- מִמֶּ֖/נּוּ34×
- מִמֶּ֑/נּוּ24×
- מִמֶּ֔/נּוּ23×
- מִנִּי\־22×
- מִמֶּֽ/נּוּ\׃22×
- מִמֶּ֑/נִּי16×
- מִמֶּֽ/נִּי\׃13×
- מִמֶּ֙/נּוּ֙13×
- מִמֶּֽ/נָּה\׃12×
- מִֽן\־11×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 2:7
Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
This verse uses min to show that human life originated directly from the dust, emphasizing our physical dependence on God's creative act.
-
Genesis 3:17
To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten from the tree, about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ the ground is cursed for your sake. You will eat from it with much labor all the days of your life.
Here min connects the curse on the ground to Adam’s disobedience, showing how sin altered the relationship between humanity and the earth.
-
Genesis 4:10
Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
The blood cries out from the ground, using min to indicate the source of Abel’s plea for justice after his murder.
-
Genesis 7:2
You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female.
Min distinguishes clean animals from unclean ones, highlighting the importance of specific categories in God's instructions to Noah.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does min mean in Hebrew?
How is min different from other Hebrew prepositions?
Where does min appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (904 verses across 36 books)
Genesis 66 verses
but a mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground.
Genesis 2:7Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a…
Genesis 2:9Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the…
Genesis 2:17but you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely…
Genesis 2:19Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man…
Genesis 2:22Yahweh God made a woman from the rib which he had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
Genesis 3:3but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it. You shall…
Genesis 3:5for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:11God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
Genesis 3:12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Genesis 3:17To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten from the tree, about which I commanded…
Genesis 3:19You will eat bread by the sweat of your face until you return to the ground, for you were taken out of it. For you are…
Genesis 3:22Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand,…
Genesis 4:10Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
Genesis 4:11Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Genesis 5:29He named him Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground…
Genesis 6:20Of the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind,…
Genesis 7:2You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean,…
Genesis 7:8Clean animals, unclean animals, birds, and everything that creeps on the ground
Genesis 7:23Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and…
Genesis 8:2The deep’s fountains and the sky’s windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained.
Genesis 8:10He waited yet another seven days; and again he sent the dove out of the ship.
Genesis 8:16“Go out of the ship, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you.
Genesis 8:19Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, after their families, went out of the…
Genesis 9:18The sons of Noah who went out from the ship were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan.
Genesis 9:21He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent.
Genesis 10:11Out of that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,
Genesis 13:14Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are,…
Genesis 16:2Sarai said to Abram, “See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will…
Genesis 17:6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.
Genesis 17:16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of…
Genesis 19:12The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in…
Genesis 19:14Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this…
Genesis 19:24Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky.
Genesis 21:15The water in the container was spent, and she put the child under one of the shrubs.
Genesis 21:17God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What troubles you,…
Genesis 22:11Yahweh’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 22:12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not…
Genesis 22:15Yahweh’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky,
Genesis 23:6“Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold…
Genesis 23:13He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the…
Genesis 25:29Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished.
Genesis 25:30Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
Genesis 26:16Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
Genesis 27:45until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you…
Genesis 29:2He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they…
Genesis 30:2Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in God’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the…
Genesis 30:3She said, “Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.”
Genesis 30:16Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, “You must come in to me; for I have…
Genesis 31:13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land,…
Genesis 33:15Esau said, “Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me.” He said, “Why? Let me find favor in the…
Genesis 34:7The sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it. The men were grieved, and they were very angry, because he…
Genesis 35:11God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and…
Genesis 37:28Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the…
Genesis 38:17He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”
Genesis 38:26Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn’t give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew…
Genesis 39:9No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife.…
Genesis 40:14But remember me when it is well with you. Please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me…
Genesis 40:17In the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my…
Genesis 41:2Behold, seven cattle came up out of the river. They were sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass.
Genesis 41:3Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the…
Genesis 41:14Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his…
Genesis 41:18and behold, seven fat and sleek cattle came up out of the river. They fed in the marsh grass;
Genesis 41:40You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater…
Genesis 48:19His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great.…
Genesis 50:24Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land…