Μαϊνάν
Menna, Mainan
Definition
Μαϊνάν (Mainan) is a proper name, a Greek transliteration of a Hebrew name, appearing only once in the New Testament. It refers to an individual in the genealogy of Jesus Christ as recorded in Luke 3:31. In this list, Mainan is listed as the son of Mattatha and the father of Melea, placing him within the Davidic line that traces back to Nathan, son of David. The name itself carries no distinct semantic meaning beyond its function as a personal identifier within this historical lineage.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the New Testament, in Luke 3:31, within the context of Jesus's genealogy. Its usage is purely onomastic (serving as a name) and genealogical, functioning to connect one generation to the next in the lineage from David to Jesus. There are no patterns of usage or different contextual meanings, as it appears solely as a proper noun in this list.
Etymology
Μαϊνάν is a direct Greek transliteration of a Hebrew name. The original Hebrew name is likely מְנַחֵם (Menahem), meaning 'comforter' or 'consoler,' though some textual traditions suggest other origins. The Greek form 'Mainan' represents how this Hebrew name was phonetically adapted into Greek, a common practice for personal names in the Septuagint and New Testament.
Semantic Range
While the name Mainan itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion in Luke's genealogy (Luke 3:23-38) is theologically significant. It serves as a vital link in establishing Jesus's legal and historical descent from King David through Nathan's line, fulfilling Old Testament messianic prophecies (e.g., 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah 11:1). Understanding that this name represents a real person in this meticulously recorded lineage underscores the historical reality of the Incarnation and Jesus's rightful claim as the Messiah.
In first-century Jewish culture, genealogies were of paramount importance for establishing lineage, tribal affiliation, inheritance rights, and, crucially, messianic claims. A name like Mainan in a formal genealogy would not have been seen as a mere historical footnote but as an essential piece of evidence validating Jesus's Davidic heritage. The preservation of such names, even those obscure to modern readers, was a serious cultural and religious practice.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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