מִנְחָה
a sacrificial offering
Definition
The Hebrew word מִנְחָה (minchâh) primarily refers to a sacrificial offering, specifically a grain or meal offering presented to God. In its broadest sense, it can denote a gift or tribute, as seen when it is offered to a king or superior (Daniel 2:46). In the two biblical Aramaic passages where this form appears, it carries this dual sense of a religious oblation and a secular gift. In Ezra 7:17, it is used for offerings to be presented at the temple in Jerusalem, while in Daniel 2:46, King Nebuchadnezzar offers a מִנְחָה to Daniel as an act of homage.
Biblical Usage
This Aramaic form of מִנְחָה is used only twice in the Old Testament, both in post-exilic Aramaic sections. In Ezra 7:17, it refers to religious offerings (grain, drink, etc.) for the temple service, continuing the cultic usage of its Hebrew counterpart. In Daniel 2:46, it describes a gift of tribute (incense and offerings) given by a pagan king to honor Daniel and his God. This shows the word's application in both sacred and royal contexts as a gift acknowledging superiority.
Etymology
This is the Aramaic form corresponding directly to the Hebrew noun מִנְחָה (H4503). The root is likely related to giving or bestowing a gift. In Hebrew, the word developed from a general term for a gift or tribute to a specialized term for a grain offering in Israel's sacrificial system (Leviticus 2). The Aramaic form retains the broader semantic range.
Semantic Range
The concept of מִנְחָה is central to understanding worship as an offering to God. It represents devotion, gratitude, and acknowledgment of God's provision and sovereignty. In Daniel 2:46, a pagan king's מִנְחָה to Daniel points to the supremacy of the God of Israel, even in a foreign court. Understanding this word enriches reading by highlighting that offerings are not merely ritual but symbolic acts of homage and dependence.
In the ancient Near East, presenting a מִנְחָה was a common cultural practice to show loyalty, pay tribute, or seek favor from a deity or monarch. Unlike modern gifts, these offerings were formal, often prescribed, and carried significant social and religious weight. The grain offering in Israel was typically unleavened, symbolizing purity, and was often accompanied by oil and frankincense (Leviticus 2:1).
קָרְבָּן (qorbān, H7133) — a more general term for any offering or thing brought near. תְּרוּמָה (terûmâh, H8641) — a contribution or heave offering, often a portion lifted up. עֹלָה (ʿôlâh, H5930) — the burnt offering, wholly consumed on the altar. זֶבַח (zevach, H2077) — a sacrifice, often involving the slaughter of an animal.
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 →