מָנַחַת
Manachath, the name of an Edomite and of a place in Moab
Definition
מָנַחַת (Mânachath) is a proper noun referring primarily to a geographical location and secondarily to an individual. As a place name, it designates a settlement in the territory of Moab, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:6 as part of the genealogy of Benjamin, indicating a location to which some Benjamites were exiled. As a personal name, it refers to an Edomite chieftain, a son of Shobal and descendant of Seir the Horite, as recorded in the genealogical lists of Genesis 36:23 and 1 Chronicles 1:40. The dual usage reflects the common ancient practice of naming locations after clan founders or significant ancestors.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in Old Testament genealogical and historical records. It appears three times: twice as the name of an Edomite clan chief (Genesis 36:23, 1 Chronicles 1:40) and once as a place name associated with the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:6). Its usage is confined to contexts that trace lineage and territorial holdings, highlighting connections between ancestral figures and the lands inhabited by their descendants.
Etymology
The name מָנַחַת is derived from the Hebrew root נוּחַ (nûach, H5117), meaning 'to rest,' 'to settle down,' or 'to be quiet.' It is a feminine noun form, suggesting a 'place of resting' or 'settlement.' This etymology fits both its use as a personal name, possibly denoting a character of restfulness, and as a place name, indicating an established, habitable location.
Semantic Range
While not a theologically central term, the name's connection to the root for 'rest' (נוּחַ) can enrich reading. This root is significant in contexts like God's Sabbath rest (Genesis 2:2-3) and the promise of rest in the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 12:9). Thus, the name Manachath, even in a genealogical list, subtly echoes the biblical theme of God providing a settled, peaceful dwelling for His people, connecting family history to broader divine promises.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, names were deeply meaningful, often describing character, destiny, or geographic features. A name meaning 'resting place' for a location implies it was a suitable area for settlement, perhaps with reliable water or defensible terrain. As an Edomite personal name, it may have reflected parental hopes for the child's nature or the clan's settled status. The recording of such names in biblical genealogies served to establish historical claims to land and social identity, which was crucial in tribal societies.
Noah (נֹחַ, H5146) — Shares the same root (נוּחַ) but is a distinct, major personal name. Mĕnûchâh (מְנוּחָה, H4496) — The common noun for 'resting place' or 'rest,' from the same root, denoting the abstract concept rather than a proper name.
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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