מְנָה (me.nah)
me.nah
to reckon/appoint
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb menah carries the dual sense of counting and assigning. In its basic form, it means to number or reckon items, reflecting a careful accounting process. However, in the Pael stem, which appears frequently in Daniel, it shifts toward appointment or decree, suggesting that what is counted is also fixed by authority.
This word appears five times in Scripture, primarily within the books of Daniel and Ezra. In Daniel 5:26, the phrase "MENE" on the wall uses this root to signify God’s sovereign appointment of days for the kingdom. Here, the counting is not merely mathematical but judicial, marking a definitive end.
The distinction between simple enumeration and divine ordination lies in the context. When used in Ezra, it often refers to listing people or resources, emphasizing order and record-keeping. In Daniel, the weight shifts to destiny, where numbers serve as a seal on God’s plan. This usage highlights how ancient Hebrew thought linked measurement with purposeful design.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word menah bridges the gap between simple counting and divine appointment. In ancient times, numbers were not just abstract quantities but records of value and order. When this verb appears in Daniel, it carries a heavy weight, signaling that God actively sets boundaries for history and human kingdoms. It reminds us that our lives are not random accidents but part of a purposeful design.
For your faith, this offers deep comfort. Just as God appointed the end of Babylon’s kingdom in Daniel 5:26, He also appoints the seasons of your life. This does not mean every detail is forced upon you, but that your path has meaning and direction. You can trust that the One who numbers the days also holds your future with care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you have appointed1×
- he has numbered1×
- he had appointed1×
- appoint1×
- and/ he appointed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַנִּ֤יתָ1×
- מַנִּ֣י1×
- מֶ֣נִּי1×
- מְנָֽה\־1×
- וּ/מַנִּ֗י1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:26
“This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE: God has counted your kingdom, and brought it to an end.
This verse defines the word's most profound usage, where 'MENE' signifies God's judicial decree ending a kingdom, showing that counting here is an act of sovereign judgment.
-
Daniel 2:49
Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel was in the king’s gate.
Here the word describes Daniel’s official appointment to authority, illustrating how God elevates His servants to positions of influence for His purposes.
-
Ezra 7:25
You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, who all know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them.
In this context, the verb refers to appointing magistrates based on wisdom, highlighting the practical application of order and justice in community life.