מְנִי (me.ni)
me.ni
Destiny
N:N-M-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-T
Word Overview
The noun meni refers to a deity associated with fate or fortune, specifically understood as a god of apportionment. In the Hebrew Bible, this term appears only once, marking it as a rare and specific reference to foreign worship rather than a general theological concept.
This single occurrence is found in Isaiah 65:11, where the prophet condemns Israel for abandoning Yahweh to serve other gods. The text identifies menî alongside another deity, gad, highlighting the syncretism that had taken hold among the people. Here, the word does not describe a metaphorical destiny but names an actual object of pagan veneration.
Lexical sources identify this figure as a god of fate worshipped in Babylonia. The name likely derives from a root meaning to divide or allot, reflecting the belief that this deity controlled the distribution of human fortune. By invoking menî, the biblical text points to a specific historical context where Jewish exiles or returnees may have adopted Mesopotamian religious practices.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word meni appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 65:11. It names a specific deity associated with fate, reflecting the dangerous allure of seeking control over one's future through powers other than God. This rare term highlights how easily people can drift toward trusting in luck or fortune rather than relying on divine providence.
For your faith, this serves as a gentle reminder to anchor your life in Yahweh alone. When anxiety about the future arises, it is natural to look for guarantees, but true peace comes from surrendering our plans to the one who holds all things. Trusting in God's sovereignty frees us from the burden of trying to predict or manipulate what lies ahead.
This single occurrence invites reflection on where we place our ultimate hope. By remembering that God alone determines the course of history, we can find comfort in His faithful care, even when paths seem uncertain.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- for <the>/ Destiny1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַ/מְנִ֥י1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 65:11
“But you who forsake Yahweh, who forget my holy mountain, who prepare a table for Fortune, and who fill up mixed wine to Destiny;
This verse uniquely identifies meni as a foreign deity of fate that Israel was serving instead of Yahweh.