מֹנֶה
properly, something weighed out, i.e. (figuratively) a portion of time, i.e. an instance
Definition
The Hebrew noun מֹנֶה (môneh) fundamentally means 'something weighed out' or 'a measured portion.' In its two biblical occurrences, it is used figuratively to denote a specific, measured portion of time—essentially an 'instance' or 'occasion.' In Genesis 31:7, Jacob tells Laban's daughters that their father has 'changed my wages these ten instances,' referring to ten specific, countable times. Similarly, in Genesis 31:41, Jacob states he served Laban 'for twenty years in your house,' specifying 'ten instances' for his two daughters, again highlighting discrete, measured periods of service.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in Genesis 31 within Jacob's speech to his wives (Rachel and Leah) recounting his dealings with their father, Laban. Its usage is specific to narrating repeated, countable instances of a particular action (changing wages) over a long span of time (twenty years). It functions to emphasize the precise and repeated nature of Laban's deceit, quantifying Jacob's hardship.
Etymology
מֹנֶה (môneh) is a noun derived from the root verb מָנָה (mānâ, H4487), which means 'to count, number, appoint, or prepare.' This root conveys the idea of assigning a specific, measured quantity. The noun form מֹנֶה carries the concrete sense of a 'measured portion' or 'allotment,' which is then applied abstractly to periods of time.
Semantic Range
While not a major theological term, מֹנֶה enriches the narrative of God's faithfulness in the Jacob story. By quantifying Laban's deception into specific 'instances,' the text underscores the prolonged and precise nature of Jacob's trial. This highlights God's sovereign oversight and faithfulness across every measured period of hardship, ultimately fulfilling His promise to prosper Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15). It reminds the reader that God is attentive to the details and duration of our struggles.
In an ancient pastoral economy, agreements over wages and service periods were crucial. Jacob's use of מֹנֶה reflects a cultural context where oral agreements and their fulfillment were matters of honor and justice. Counting specific 'instances' of a broken agreement would have been a powerful rhetorical device, demonstrating a clear record of grievance and establishing the legitimacy of his claim against Laban.
פַּעַם (paʿam, H6471) — A more common word for 'time' as an occurrence or footstep, used far more frequently. עֵת (ʿēt, H6256) — Refers to 'time' in a general, seasonal, or appointed sense, rather than a counted instance. שָׁנָה (shānâ, H8141) — Means 'year,' a specific unit of time, not a general instance.
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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