מְנַשִּׁי (me.nash.shi)
me.nash.shi
Manassite
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The term meṇassî refers to a member of the tribe of Manasseh, specifically identifying those descendants who settled on the eastern side of the Jordan River. While the name Manasseh itself carries the meaning "causing to forget," reflecting Joseph’s hope that God would make him forget his hardships in Egypt, the tribal designation marks a distinct geographical and political identity within Israel.
Lexical sources note that this gentilic form appears rarely in Scripture, occurring in only three verses across books like Deuteronomy, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Kings. In these contexts, it serves as a precise label for the half-tribe that received its inheritance east of the Jordan, distinguishing them from their brothers who remained west of the river.
This specific usage highlights how biblical geography often shaped tribal identity. The word does not refer to the entire tribe collectively, but rather isolates the eastern settlement group, underscoring the unique role this segment played in the broader narrative of Israel’s history and territorial distribution.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Manasseh carries a deep sense of relief, rooted in Joseph’s prayer that God would make him forget his afflictions in Egypt. When we look at the specific group known as the Manassites, we see this theme of new beginnings taken to a geographical level. Settled east of the Jordan, they were not just defined by their land, but by a history of survival and divine provision that allowed them to start fresh.
In 1 Chronicles, we see these descendants serving faithfully as overseers for both spiritual matters and royal affairs. This shows that identity in God’s people is not static; it involves active stewardship. Whether you are navigating a new season or carrying past burdens, this word reminds us that our heritage can become a platform for service rather than just a memory of hardship.
It is encouraging to remember that even those living on the edge of the promised land played a vital role in Israel’s structure. Their story invites us to consider how our own backgrounds and current locations can be used for good, trusting that God places us where we are needed most.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Manassite[s]1×
- for the/ Manassite[s]1×
- and/ the/ Manassite[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַֽ/מְנַשִּֽׁי\׃1×
- וְ/הַֽ/מְנַשִּׁ֑י1×
- הַֽ/מְנַשִּׁ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 4:43
Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
This verse establishes the specific territorial identity of the Manassites by assigning them Golan as a city of refuge, highlighting their distinct legal standing east of the Jordan.
-
II Kings 10:33
from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.
Here the term appears in a historical summary of Assyrian conquests, showing how the Manassites were grouped with neighboring tribes under political pressure from the east.
-
I Chronicles 26:32
His relatives, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers’ households, whom King David made overseers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.
This occurrence uniquely describes the Manassites as overseers appointed by David for religious and civil duties, illustrating their continued administrative importance in Judah.