מַכְבַּנַּי

a Macbannite or native of Macbena

Definition

מַכְבַּנַּי (Makbannay) is a gentilic noun meaning 'a Macbannite' or 'native of Macbena.' It identifies an individual as originating from a place called Macbena, a location mentioned in the Old Testament. The term appears only once in the Bible, specifically in 1 Chronicles 12:13, where it is used as a personal name for one of David's mighty men. As a patrial noun, its sole function is to denote geographical origin, with no additional semantic senses.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 12:13, within a list of Gadite warriors who joined David at his stronghold. It functions there as the proper name 'Machbanai,' identifying one of these valiant fighters. The usage is purely descriptive of lineage and origin, with no other contextual patterns, as it is a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once).

Etymology

מַכְבַּנַּי is derived as a patrial noun from the place name מַכְבֵּנָא (Makbena, H4343), meaning 'Macbena.' The suffix '-ay' is a common Hebrew gentilic ending indicating 'belonging to' or 'coming from' a specific location. Its formation is analogous to other biblical gentilics like 'Yehudi' (Jew, from Judah).

Semantic Range

As a gentilic, it reflects the ancient Israelite practice of identifying individuals by their clan or town of origin, a key aspect of social and tribal identity. The mention in a list of David's warriors highlights how military cohorts were often composed of men from various regions, united under the king's leadership. The specific location of Macbena is otherwise unknown, which is not uncommon for minor towns in biblical records.

No direct synonyms, but it belongs to the category of gentilic nouns like: יְהוּדִי (Yehudi, H3064) — a Jew, from Judah; מוֹאָבִי (Moavi, H4125) — a Moabite, from Moab.

Word Details

Scripture References