מַעֲנָה
a furrow
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַעֲנָה (maʻănâh) refers primarily to a furrow, which is a long, narrow trench made in the ground by a plow for planting seeds. In its two biblical occurrences, it consistently carries this agricultural sense. In 1 Samuel 14:14, it describes the physical furrows within a plot of land, setting the scene for Jonathan's battle. In Psalm 129:3, it is used metaphorically, where the wicked 'plowed upon my back,' making long furrows as an image of prolonged suffering and oppression.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in narrative and poetic contexts. In 1 Samuel 14:14, it appears in a historical narrative, quantifying the area ('within as it were half a furrow of land') where Jonathan defeated Philistines, emphasizing a confined space. In Psalm 129:3, it is used in a lament psalm as a powerful metaphor for persecution, where the enemies of Israel are said to have 'plowed upon my back' and 'made long their furrows,' symbolizing deep and repeated affliction.
Etymology
Derived from the root עָנָה (ʿānâ, H6031), which has a core meaning of 'to answer' or 'to be occupied with.' In this specific nominal form, it draws from a secondary sense of the root related to bending down, depression, or tilling the soil, hence the connection to a plowed furrow. The development highlights the physical action of creating a depression in the earth for cultivation.
Semantic Range
While a simple agricultural term, its metaphorical use in Psalm 129:3 gives it theological weight. It vividly portrays the suffering of the righteous at the hands of the wicked, contributing to the biblical theme of lament and crying out to God for justice. Understanding this concrete image of a plow cutting into the earth deepens the reader's appreciation for the psalmist's description of prolonged, painful oppression and the hope for God's deliverance.
In an agrarian society, the furrow was a fundamental unit of cultivated land and a symbol of labor, provision, and sometimes hardship. The 'half a furrow' measurement in 1 Samuel 14:14 reflects a rough, practical way to estimate a small area of land. The metaphor in Psalm 129:3 would have been immediately visceral to an ancient audience familiar with plowing, making the image of cruelty and violation powerfully concrete.
תֶּלֶם (telem, H8525) — another word for furrow or ridge, used more frequently (e.g., Job 31:38, 39:10, Psalm 65:10).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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