מַעֲדָן (ma.a.dan)
ma.a.dan
delicacy
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun maʿădan refers to a choice or delicious food, something considered a true delicacy. In the Hebrew Bible it describes not just any meal, but one that is particularly pleasing or satisfying to the palate. The word appears in only three verses, carrying a sense of refined enjoyment rather than mere sustenance.
Its usage highlights the value placed on good food in ancient Israelite culture. For instance, Genesis 27:4 records Isaac asking Esau to prepare a "delicacy" (maʿădan) from his hunt so he might bless him before dying. Similarly, Lamentations 5:11 mentions women being forced to bear children as a form of hardship, contrasting sharply with the earlier image of enjoying such delights. The word underscores how physical pleasure was recognized and valued in daily life.
Etymologically, maʿădan likely derives from a root meaning "to be sweet" or "pleasant." This connection reinforces its association with sensory enjoyment. Translators often render it as "dainty," "delicacy," or "delight," depending on context. While rare, the term provides insight into how ancient texts portrayed moments of comfort and indulgence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
God cares about your joy, not just your survival. Scripture has a word for the kind of food that is more than fuel—it is a genuine treat. The Hebrew maʿădan describes a delicacy, something that delights the senses and lifts the spirit. When Jacob blessed his son Asher, he declared, “Asher’s food will be rich; he will produce royal dainties” (Genesis 49:20). This promise wasn’t merely about having enough to eat; it pictured a life where God’s goodness overflowed into moments of pleasure.
But this same word in Lamentations shows the reverse: those who once ate delicacies are now desolate, embracing dunghills. The loss of such simple gifts marks a deeper separation from God’s blessing. So the word invites us to receive daily pleasures—a good meal, a shared laugh, a child’s wisdom—as quiet reminders of a Creator who loves to give good things. You are not meant to live on mere survival. These small graces point ahead to a feast of joy where every longing will finally be satisfied.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- delights1×
- delicacies of1×
- <to>/ delicacies1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַעֲדַנִּ֣ים1×
- מַֽעֲדַנֵּי\־1×
- לְ/מַ֣עֲדַנִּ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 49:20
“Asher’s food will be rich. He will produce royal dainties.
This blessing over Asher uses maʿădan for the 'royal dainties' his land would yield, painting a picture of abundance and delight as part of God's covenant provision.
-
Proverbs 29:17
Correct your son, and he will give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul.
Here maʿădan becomes 'delight' to the soul, showing how the word's sense of physical pleasure can describe the deep satisfaction a wise child brings.
-
Lamentations 4:5
Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets. Those who were brought up in purple embrace dunghills.
The word names the literal delicacies eaten by the once-wealthy, whose desolation now contrasts sharply with their former luxury, underscoring the cost of lost blessing.