מְנָא
to count, appoint
Definition
The Aramaic verb מְנָא (mᵉnâʼ) primarily means 'to count' or 'to number,' as seen in Daniel 5:26, where God has numbered the days of King Belshazzar's kingdom. It also carries the sense of 'to appoint' or 'to ordain' someone to a specific role or task. In Ezra 7:25, King Artaxerxes instructs Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges according to God's wisdom. This dual meaning of counting and appointing reflects the idea of assigning a specific, measured portion or responsibility.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Ezra and Daniel. It appears in contexts of royal or divine decree. In Daniel, it is used for divine numbering (Daniel 5:26) and for the king appointing officials (Daniel 2:24, 2:49, 3:12). In Ezra, it is used for a king's administrative appointment (Ezra 7:25). The pattern shows it is a formal term for authoritative assignment or enumeration.
Etymology
This is an Aramaic verb, corresponding to the Hebrew verb מָנָה (mānâ, H4487), which also means 'to count, appoint, or prepare.' The root concept involves measuring or allotting a portion. Its use in biblical Aramaic shows the linguistic overlap between Hebrew and Aramaic in the post-exilic period.
Semantic Range
מְנָא highlights God's sovereign authority over time and human authority. In Daniel 5:26, God's act of 'numbering' a kingdom underscores His ultimate control over history and kings. Conversely, when human rulers 'appoint' (as in Ezra 7:25 or Daniel 2:24), it often serves God's providential purposes, showing how earthly authority is derivative and subject to divine will. Understanding this word enriches the study of God's governance in the books of Daniel and Ezra.
In the Aramaic-speaking administrative context of the Persian Empire, this verb was a formal term for royal decrees and official appointments. The concept of 'numbering' a kingdom (Daniel 5:26) would resonate in a culture where kings measured their power and legacy by the duration and extent of their reign. The word reflects the bureaucratic language of the time.
מָנָה (mānâ, H4487) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, with identical meanings of counting and appointing. סָפַר (sāphar, H5608) — A Hebrew verb meaning 'to count, recount, or tell'; more focused on the act of counting or narrating, less on official appointment. פָּקַד (pāqad, H6485) — A Hebrew verb meaning 'to attend to, visit, or appoint'; often used for mustering troops or divine visitation, with a broader range than מְנָא.
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.
Full methodology & sources →