מְנַשֶּׁה

מְנַשֶּׁה

Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory

Definition

מְנַשֶּׁה (Menashsheh) is a proper name with three primary biblical meanings. First, it refers to Joseph's firstborn son, born in Egypt (Genesis 41:51). Second, it denotes the tribe descended from him, which split into two half-tribes, one settling east of the Jordan River and the other west (Joshua 13:29-31, Joshua 17:1-13). Third, it identifies the territory allocated to these tribes. The name also refers to a later king of Judah (2 Kings 21:1), who is a different individual entirely.

Biblical Usage

The name appears 133 times, primarily in Genesis, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, and the historical books. In Genesis, it focuses on the individual and Jacob's blessing that surprisingly elevates the younger Ephraim (Genesis 48:14-20). In Numbers and Joshua, it details the tribe's census, inheritance, and territorial boundaries. Later historical books record the tribe's actions and eventual exile. The wicked king of Judah, a key figure in the Deuteronomistic history, is also named Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:1-20).

Etymology

Derived from the root נָשָׁה (nāshâ, H5382), meaning 'to forget.' Joseph explicitly states the name means 'causing to forget,' as God made him forget his hardship and his father's house (Genesis 41:51). It is a qal participle form expressing the causative sense.

Semantic Range

The name and its story are theologically significant. Joseph's declaration of being made to 'forget' hardship highlights God's redemptive comfort. The reversal of blessing by Jacob (Genesis 48:14-20), favoring the younger Ephraim over the firstborn Manasseh, underscores God's sovereign election, a pattern seen with Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau. The tribe's division into two half-tribes illustrates the complexity of God's promises regarding land and inheritance. The later King Manasseh represents the depths of apostasy but also the possibility of profound repentance (2 Chronicles 33:12-13). In ancient Israelite culture, the naming of a child often commemorated a significant event or divine action, as seen with Menashsheh. The right of the firstborn to a double inheritance and primary blessing was a powerful cultural norm, making Jacob's deliberate reversal a shocking act that signaled God's independent choice. The tribe's large size and split inheritance east and west of the Jordan made it a dominant and sometimes contentious force in Israel's tribal confederation. Ephraim (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Menashsheh's younger brother, whose tribe is often paired with or even supersedes Manasseh in prophetic references. Yosef (Yôsēph, H3130) — Their father, whose single tribe is sometimes counted as the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.

Word Details