מִקְנָה

מִקְנָה

properly, a buying, i.e. acquisition; concretely, a piece of property (land or living); also the sum paid

Definition

The Hebrew noun מִקְנָה (miqnâh) fundamentally refers to an acquisition obtained through purchase. It can denote the act of buying itself, the purchased property (whether land, as in Genesis 23:18, or a person), or the purchase price paid. In the context of people, it specifically refers to a servant or slave who has been bought, such as those circumcised in Abraham's household (Genesis 17:12-13, 23). When applied to land, as in Leviticus 25:16, it describes a field that is acquired as a possession.

Biblical Usage

This word is used 13 times, primarily in the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus). Its usage clusters around two key contexts: the acquisition of people as servants within the covenant community (Genesis 17:12-13, 23, 27; Exodus 12:44) and the purchase or redemption of land (Genesis 23:18; Leviticus 25:16, 51). It consistently carries the concrete sense of a purchased item or person, distinguishing those acquired by silver from those born into a household.

Etymology

מִקְנָה (miqnâh) is the feminine form of the more common noun מִקְנֶה (miqneh, H4735), which means 'cattle,' 'livestock,' or 'property.' Both derive from the root קָנָה (qānâ, H7069), meaning 'to acquire,' 'to buy,' or 'to create.' This etymological connection highlights how livestock served as a primary medium of exchange and basis of wealth in the ancient Near East, with the concept of 'acquisition' expanding to include all types of purchased property.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it defines the status of purchased servants within Israel's covenant community. In Genesis 17, a מִקְנָה is circumcised, marking them as part of God's covenant with Abraham. This establishes that covenant membership was not solely based on birth but could include those acquired, emphasizing the inclusive nature of God's people. The term also relates to the laws of redemption in Leviticus 25, grounding the concept of property and servitude within God's ultimate ownership of the land and His people. In its original setting, מִקְנָה reflects an economic and social system where people and land were legitimate commodities. A purchased servant (מִקְנָה) had a different social and legal status than one born into the household. The purchase of land, as with Abraham buying the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:18), involved formal contracts and public transaction, securing hereditary possession in a culture where land tenure was crucial for identity and survival. עֶבֶד (ʿeved, H5650) — a broader term for 'servant' or 'slave,' not necessarily specifying the means of acquisition. קִנְיָן (qinyān, H7075) — a more general term for 'possession' or 'property,' often acquired but not exclusively by purchase. שָׂדֶה (śādeh, H7704) — 'field' or 'land,' a general term without the connotation of being purchased.

Word Details