מְנַעֲנֵעַ (me.na.na)
me.na.na
castanets
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mena‘ne‘a refers to a specific type of musical rattle, appearing only once in the entire Old Testament at 2 Samuel 6:5. In this context, it is listed alongside other instruments like lyres and harps as part of the ensemble accompanying David’s procession bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The term describes an object designed to produce sound through shaking or rattling, likely consisting of small pieces of metal or stone inside a container.
Its form suggests a reduplicative root, hinting at the repetitive motion required to play it. This single occurrence highlights the joyous, celebratory nature of the scene, where music and dance were central to honoring God. The word serves as a rare glimpse into ancient Israelite worship practices, illustrating how physical instruments contributed to communal praise.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mena‘ne‘a refers to a small hand-held rattle or castanet, appearing only once in Scripture at 2 Samuel 6:5. It was part of the joyful noise made as David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. This single mention reminds us that worship in Israel was not silent or reserved; it involved loud, rhythmic celebration using every available instrument.
For your faith life, this word invites you to bring your whole self into praise. Whether through singing, clapping, or playing music, God welcomes expressions of joy that reflect the heart’s delight in His presence. You do not need to hide your enthusiasm; instead, let your worship be as full and vibrant as the ancient ensemble that honored Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ on/ rattles1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בִ/מְנַֽעַנְעִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 6:5
David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.
This verse uniquely places castanets among other instruments to show the full range of celebratory sounds used when honoring God's presence.