Μανασσῆς

Manasseh

Definition

Μανασσῆς (Manasseh) is a proper name referring to two significant Old Testament figures mentioned in the New Testament. First, it refers to Manasseh, the son of Joseph and founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:6). Second, it refers to King Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah and a king of Judah (Matthew 1:10). The name itself is of Hebrew origin, meaning 'causing to forget,' as Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh because God had made him forget his hardship (Genesis 41:51).

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, Μανασσῆς appears only twice, each time in a genealogical or tribal list. In Matthew 1:10, it appears in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, identifying King Manasseh as an ancestor. In Revelation 7:6, it names the tribe of Manasseh as one of the 144,000 sealed servants of God from the tribes of Israel. Its usage is strictly as a proper noun, serving to connect the New Testament narrative to its Old Testament roots and promises.

Etymology

The Greek Μανασσῆς is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew name מְנַשֶּׁה (Mĕnashsheh). The Hebrew name derives from the verb נָשָׁה (nashah), meaning 'to forget.' Thus, the name means 'one who causes to forget,' as explained in Genesis 41:51 when Joseph names his son.

Semantic Range

The mention of Manasseh connects God's covenant promises across testaments. King Manasseh, despite his notorious wickedness and idolatry (2 Kings 21), is included in Jesus's genealogy (Matthew 1:10), highlighting God's grace and the inclusion of repentant sinners in the messianic line. The tribe of Manasseh's inclusion among the sealed in Revelation 7:6 signifies the fulfillment of God's promise to preserve a remnant from all the tribes of Israel, emphasizing the continuity and faithfulness of God's covenant people.

In a first-century Jewish and Greco-Roman context, the name Manasseh would have immediately evoked the rich history of Israel. For Jewish readers, King Manasseh represented a period of great apostasy and subsequent repentance (2 Chronicles 33:10-13), while the tribal name recalled the inheritance and identity of one of the largest tribes. The Greek transliteration preserves this Hebrew identity within a Greek-language text.

Ἰωσήφ (Iōsēph, G2501) — Joseph, the father of the tribal founder Manasseh. Ἑζεκίας (Ezekias, G1478) — Hezekiah, the father of King Manasseh.

Word Details

Scripture References