מִין

מִין

a sort, i.e. species

Definition

The Hebrew noun מִין (mîyn) fundamentally means 'kind' or 'species,' referring to a distinct category or class of created things. Its primary biblical use is in the creation narrative of Genesis 1, where it describes the reproductive boundaries of plants, sea creatures, birds, and land animals, each producing 'according to its kind' (Genesis 1:11-12, 21, 24-25). This establishes the concept of fixed, divinely ordained categories. Later, in the laws of Leviticus and the narrative of Noah's ark, it is used to classify clean and unclean animals (Leviticus 11:14-16, 22; Genesis 6:20, 7:14), emphasizing distinction and separation.

Biblical Usage

מִין is used 18 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in the Pentateuch (Genesis and Leviticus). Its usage consistently revolves around divinely established classifications within the natural world. In Genesis 1, it is a key term in the creation account, repeated ten times to underscore the order and permanence of biological kinds. In the flood narrative (Genesis 6:20, 7:14), it specifies the animals preserved in the ark. In Leviticus 11, it helps categorize animals for dietary and sacrificial laws, distinguishing between clean and unclean 'kinds.'

Etymology

The word מִין (mîyn) is derived from an unused root meaning 'to portion out' or 'to separate.' This root sense is clearly reflected in its meaning of a distinct class or category. It is linguistically related to the preposition מִן (min, H4480), which means 'from' or 'out of,' sharing the core idea of separation or distinction.

Semantic Range

מִין is theologically significant as it establishes the foundational biblical concept of 'kinds' in God's creation. It implies divinely instituted order, boundaries, and stability in the natural world, with each kind reproducing faithfully after itself. This challenges notions of fluid, unlimited biological change and supports the doctrine of creation. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the intentional design and categorical separation God built into creation, which later informs laws on purity and distinction for His people. In its ancient Near Eastern context, the concept of 'kind' would have been a practical observation of stable, recognizable categories in agriculture and animal husbandry. The biblical use, however, elevates this observation into a theological principle, attributing the origin and fixity of these categories directly to God's creative command, contrasting with surrounding mythological views of a more chaotic or metamorphic natural world. זֶרַע (zeraʿ, H2233) — 'seed' or 'offspring'; focuses on lineage and propagation, whereas מִין focuses on the categorical class itself. מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah, H4940) — 'family' or 'clan'; a social or genealogical grouping, not a biological species. סוּג (sûg, H?) — a later Hebrew word for 'type' or 'kind,' not used in the biblical text.

Word Details