מֵן
a musical chord (as parted into strings)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מֵן (mên) refers to a 'string' or 'cord' of a musical instrument, specifically the individual strings that make up a chord or the instrument itself. In Psalm 45:8, it appears in a defective plural form (מְנָת, mᵉnāṯ) meaning 'strings' or 'stringed instruments,' describing the joyous music from the ivory palaces. In Psalm 150:4, the plural מִנִּים (minnîm) is used in the command to praise God 'with strings' or 'with stringed instruments,' highlighting a specific category of musical praise. The word's core idea is a divided or apportioned part, applied to the separated strings of a lyre or harp.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the Psalms. It consistently appears in contexts of musical worship and celebration. In Psalm 45:8 (a royal wedding psalm), the 'strings' are associated with joy from the king's ivory palaces. In Psalm 150:4, the plural 'strings' or 'stringed instruments' is listed among the instruments for praising God, emphasizing the variety and fullness of musical worship in the sanctuary.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to apportion, divide, or number.' The noun מֵן thus fundamentally means 'a part' or 'that which is divided.' This sense naturally applies to the individual strings of a multi-stringed instrument, which are distinct, apportioned parts making up a whole. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the meaning of 'portion' or 'kind.'
Semantic Range
While a specific musical term, מֵן contributes to the theology of worship in the Psalms. It underscores that God is worthy of praise expressed through the full range of human artistry and skill, including intricate stringed music (Psalm 150:4). Understanding it as 'strings' enriches the imagery of Psalm 45:8, where music symbolizes the Messiah's joy and royal splendor. It reminds readers that worship in the Bible is often a sensory, embodied experience involving crafted instruments.
In ancient Israel, stringed instruments like the lyre (kinnor) and harp (nēvel) were central to both royal court music and temple worship. The term מֵן reflects the technology of the time, where instruments were made with gut or sinew strings stretched over a resonating body. The 'strings' were not merely a component but could poetically represent the entire instrument. This differs from a modern abstract understanding of 'music'; it points to the physical craft and skill involved in producing worship music.
כִּנּוֹר (kinnôr, H3658) — a specific type of lyre or harp, often translated 'harp,' whereas מֵן refers to its strings. נֵבֶל (nēvel, H5035) — another stringed instrument, a 'harp' or 'lyre,' often larger; מֵן can denote the strings of such an instrument.
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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