מִנְחָה (min.chah)
min.chah
offering
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun minchah refers to a gift or offering, specifically one presented to God through a representative. While it can denote a general present, in biblical usage it most often points to a meal offering, such as grain or bread brought by the people.
Although this word appears frequently elsewhere in Scripture, the provided data highlights its occurrence in only two verses within Ezra and Daniel. In these contexts, it describes the formal act of presenting tribute or worship to the divine through established ritual channels.
The term emphasizes the relational aspect of giving, where a gift serves as a tangible sign of reverence or acknowledgment. Its presence in post-exilic books like Ezra and Daniel underscores its role in maintaining proper worship practices during a period of significant religious restructuring.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word minchah reminds us that giving is more than a transaction; it is a way of honoring God with what we have. In Ezra, this offering supported the rebuilding of worship in Jerusalem, showing that our resources can help restore places where people meet the Lord. It invites you to consider how your time and gifts might support the church’s mission today.
Even when faced with powerful leaders like Nebuchadnezzar, the act of offering highlights reverence. While Daniel received honor from a king, true worship belongs to God alone. This distinction helps us keep our focus on Him, recognizing that every good thing we offer comes from His grace and returns to His glory.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ offering1×
- and/ grain offerings/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מִנְחָתְ/ה֖וֹן1×
- וּ/מִנְחָה֙1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 7:17
Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
This verse shows minchah as part of the material support needed to restore proper worship in Jerusalem after the exile.
-
Daniel 2:46
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him.
Here the offering is directed toward a human king, highlighting a contrast between honoring leaders and giving ultimate reverence to God.