Bible Word Study
מִן
min · null
מִן
Definition
The word מִן (min) is an Aramaic preposition meaning 'from,' 'out of,' or 'by.' It indicates separation, origin, or source, such as in Ezra 4:12, where it denotes the Jews coming 'from' the province. It can also express comparison, as in 'more than' or 'greater than,' and is used to show agency or cause, meaning 'by' or 'because of,' as seen in contexts of actions performed by someone. In some passages, it takes on partitive sense, meaning 'some of' or 'a part from,' highlighting a selection from a larger group.
Biblical Usage
מִן is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, primarily in the books of Ezra and Daniel. It functions as a versatile preposition, appearing in contexts of origin (Ezra 4:12, 'from you'), comparison (implied in contrasts), agency (Ezra 5:12, 'by the hand of'), and cause. Its usage is consistent with Aramaic grammar, often introducing phrases that specify sources, reasons, or actors, with over 80 occurrences concentrated in historical and prophetic Aramaic texts.
Etymology
מִן is the Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew preposition מִן (min, H4480), both deriving from a common Semitic root meaning 'from.' It shares functional similarities with its Hebrew counterpart, used to indicate separation or origin. The Aramaic form is adapted within the biblical text to fit Aramaic syntax and vocabulary, reflecting the linguistic shift in post-exilic writings where Aramaic was a lingua franca.
Semantic Range
In its cultural setting, מִן reflects the Aramaic language's influence during the Persian Empire, when Aramaic was used for official communication, as seen in the book of Ezra. Its usage in biblical texts underscores the historical context of Jewish exile and restoration, where Aramaic became part of daily life and administrative records, bridging Hebrew traditions with broader Near Eastern culture. מִן (min, H4480) — Hebrew equivalent with identical core meaning but used in Hebrew biblical texts; לְ (le, H0) — Aramaic preposition 'to' or 'for,' indicating direction or benefit, distinct in function.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]