מָנָה (ma.nah)
ma.nah
portion
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read about a 'portion' in Scripture, it often points to something specific and assigned rather than random. In the Old Testament, this word described the share of food or land given to priests and Levites. It was their livelihood, provided directly by God through the community's offerings. This shows that God cares about our daily needs and provides for those who serve Him.
Psalm 16:5 offers a beautiful personal application of this idea. The psalmist declares, 'Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup.' This means your life’s circumstances, joys, and challenges are not accidents. They are under His care. Just as the priests received their share with trust, you can trust that God has given you what is best for your spiritual growth.
This word reminds us that we do not need to strive endlessly for more to feel secure. Our portion is already in His hands. It invites us to rest in the provision He has already made, finding contentment in His specific plan for our lives rather than comparing ourselves to others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- portions6×
- to/ a portion3×
- the/ portion1×
- portions/ her1×
- a portion1×
- [is] [the] portion of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָנוֹת֙2×
- לְ/מָנָֽה\׃2×
- מָנוֹתֶ֙/הָ֙1×
- מָנֽוֹת\׃1×
- מָנָ֥ה1×
- מָנ֗וֹת1×
- מָנ֖וֹת1×
- מָנ֔וֹת1×
- מְנָת\־1×
- לְ/מָנָ֔ה1×
- הַ/מָּנָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 16:5
Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.
This verse personalizes the concept by declaring God as the one who assigns and secures the believer's specific lot in life.
-
Exodus 29:26
“You shall take the breast of Aaron’s ram of consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before Yahweh. It shall be your portion.
It establishes the priestly portion as a holy right, showing that God provides for those set apart for His service.
-
I Samuel 1:5
but he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb.
Here the word highlights Hannah’s unique status through Elkanah's love, illustrating how God often honors the faithful even in difficult seasons.
-
Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”
It connects the physical act of sharing food portions with the spiritual reality that joy in the Lord is our strength.