What does מָאֵן · אָב mean in the Bible?
מָאֵן · אָב is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to refuse".
Hebrew · H3985, H1
מָאֵן יְמָאֵן אָבִיהָ
To refuse · father , in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
מָאֵןH3985to refuse
Pronunciationmāʾēn
To refuse persistently or firmly; often conveys stubborn resistance to divine will or covenant obligation
Open lexicon entry →אָבH1father , in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
Pronunciationʾāb
Father as both literal parent and figurative source/founder; extends to ancestor, chief, and originating authority
Open lexicon entry →What does מָאֵן יְמָאֵן אָבִיהָ (ma'en yema'en aviha) mean in the Bible?
מָאֵן · אָב is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to refuse".
Full entry for מָאֵן יְמָאֵן אָבִיהָ (H3985, H1) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H3985, H1?
H3985, H1 is connected to 1,254 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. to refuse
Source Gloss
to refuse
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms26
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action26×
PerfectHos 11:5 · Jer 5:3 · Jer 8:5 · Jer 9:5 · Jer 11:10 · Jer 50:33 · Prov 21:7 · Prov 21:25 · Ps 78:10 · 1Kgs 21:15 · Deut 25:7 · Exod 7:14 · Num 22:13 · Num 22:14 · Jer 15:18 · Jer 31:1522×
ImperfectExod 22:16 · Isa 1:20 · Jer 25:283×
Infinitive absoluteExod 22:161×
Word Origins
מָאֵן יְמָאֵן אָבִיהָ is a primitive root - no further derivation.