מַנְגִּינָה (man.gi.nah)
man.gi.nah
mocking
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun manginah refers specifically to a mocking or derisive song. It is not merely spoken ridicule, but a lyrical form of scorn intended to entertain an audience at the expense of another’s suffering. This rare word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, located in Lamentations 3:63.
In that context, the poet describes how his adversaries watch him and listen to their whispered plans, while all who sit in the gate hear this "manginah." The imagery suggests a public performance of contempt, where the community’s pain becomes entertainment for its enemies. Translators typically render it as "mocking song" or "derisive ditty," preserving the musical nature of the insult.
Its singular usage highlights the depth of humiliation in Lamentations. The word captures a specific cultural reality: that victory often included composing songs to celebrate the downfall of foes. Here, the poet turns the mirror back, noting that even his enemies’ triumph is marked by this cruel artistry, leaving him exposed to their joyful scorn.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we face ridicule or public scorn, it can feel as though our pain is being turned into entertainment for others. The Hebrew word manginah captures this specific kind of hurt—a mocking song meant to delight an audience at the expense of someone’s suffering. It reminds us that humiliation was a real and sharp weapon in ancient times, used to strip away dignity and isolate the victim.
Yet even in this dark moment, there is hope. The poet in Lamentations does not hide from this pain; he brings it before God. He knows that God sees every whisper and every song of scorn. Your suffering is never invisible or uncounted. When you feel mocked or misunderstood, remember that the One who hears all things also holds your worth far above any cruel words spoken against you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [am] mocking song/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַנְגִּינָתָֽ/ם\׃\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 3:63
You see their sitting down and their rising up. I am their song.
This verse highlights how the poet’s entire life became the subject of a derisive song, showing the depth of his public humiliation.