Hebrew · H3985, H1 · unreviewed

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

מָאֵן H3985 to refuse
Pronunciation māʾēn
To refuse persistently or firmly; often conveys stubborn resistance to divine will or covenant obligation
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אָב H1 father , in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
Pronunciation ʾāb
Father as both literal parent and figurative source/founder; extends to ancestor, chief, and originating authority
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What does מָאֵן יְמָאֵן אָבִיהָ (ma'en yema'en aviha) mean in the Bible?

מָאֵן · אָב is a Hebrew word meaning "to refuse".

Full entry for מָאֵן יְמָאֵן אָבִיהָ (H3985, H1) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to refuse
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 26×
Perfect Hos 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 31:15 22×
Imperfect Exod 22:16 · Isa 1:20 · Jer 25:28
Infinitive absolute Exod 22:16
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 26 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Perfect 22 Imperfect 3 Infinitive absolute 1
Stem
Piel 26
Mood
Indicative 22 Indicative/jussive 3

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Sources