What does מָאֵן (māʾēn) mean in the Bible?
מָאֵן (māʾēn): To refuse persistently or firmly; often conveys stubborn resistance to divine will or covenant obligation
Hebrew · H3985
מָאֵן
To refuse
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מָאֵןH3985
Pronunciationmāʾēn
What does מָאֵן (māʾēn) mean in the Bible?
מָאֵן (māʾēn): To refuse persistently or firmly; often conveys stubborn resistance to divine will or covenant obligation
Full entry for מָאֵן (H3985) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3985?
The BSB source-word alignment has 41 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include refused (8), they refuse (4), but he refused (3), and refused (2), but they refused (2).
Where does מָאֵן (māʾēn) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 37:35. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (10), Exodus (6), Genesis (3), Numbers (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itrefused8×Genesis 48:19, Numbers 20:21, Numbers 22:14, 1 Samuel 8:19
they refuse4×Proverbs 21:7, Jeremiah 8:5, Jeremiah 9:6, Jeremiah 25:28
but he refused3×Genesis 37:35, Genesis 39:8, 2 Samuel 13:9
and refused2×Psalms 78:10, Jeremiah 5:3
but they refused2×Jeremiah 5:3, Zechariah 7:11
refuses2×Deuteronomy 25:7, Job 6:7
refusing2×Jeremiah 15:18, Jeremiah 50:33
They refused2×Nehemiah 9:17, Hosea 11:5
will you refuse2×Exodus 10:3, Exodus 16:28
. . .1×Exodus 22:17
[and] refusing1×Jeremiah 31:15
absolutely refuses1×Exodus 22:17
But [since] you have refused1×Exodus 4:23
But [the man] refused1×1 Kings 20:35
But Asahel refused1×2 Samuel 2:23
has refused1×Numbers 22:13
he refused1×2 Kings 5:16
he refuses1×Exodus 7:14
refuse1×Proverbs 21:25
Saul refused1×1 Samuel 28:23
you refuse1×Jeremiah 3:3
you refused1×Proverbs 1:24
you resist1×Isaiah 1:20
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 37:35וַיְמָאֵן֙tobut he refusedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 39:8וַיְמָאֵ֓ן׀toBut he refusedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 48:19וַיְמָאֵ֣ןtorefusedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 4:23וַתְּמָאֵ֖ןtoBut [since] you have refusedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singularExodus 7:14מֵאֵ֖ןtohe refusesVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 10:3מֵאַ֔נְתָּtowill you refuseVerb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularExodus 16:28מֵֽאַנְתֶּ֔םtowill you refuseVerb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine pluralExodus 22:17מָאֵ֧ןtoabsolutely refusesVerb - Piel - Infinitive absoluteExodus 22:17יְמָאֵ֛ןto. . .Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 20:21וַיְמָאֵ֣ן׀torefusedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 37:35
Aligned rows41
Books represented17
Genesis3Exodus6Numbers3Deuteronomy11 Samuel22 Samuel21 Kings22 Kings1Nehemiah1Esther1Job1Psalms2Proverbs3Isaiah1Jeremiah10Hosea1Zechariah1
Source forms
מֵאֲנ֖וּ6xmê·’ă·nūProverbs 21:25, Jeremiah 5:3, Jeremiah 8:5, Jeremiah 50:33
וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ3xway·mā·’ă·nū1 Samuel 8:19, Nehemiah 9:17, Zechariah 7:11
וַיְמָאֵ֣ן2xway·mā·’ênGenesis 48:19, 2 Samuel 2:23
מֵאֲנ֥וּ2xmê·’ă·nūPsalms 78:10, Jeremiah 9:6
וַיְמָאֵן֙1xway·mā·’ênGenesis 37:35
וַיְמָאֵ֗ן1xway·mā·’ên1 Samuel 28:23
וַיְמָאֵ֖ן1xway·mā·’ên2 Samuel 13:9
וַיְמָאֵ֥ן1xway·mā·’ên1 Kings 20:35
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural10xPsalms 78:10, Proverbs 21:7, Proverbs 21:25, Jeremiah 5:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular9xGenesis 37:35, Genesis 39:8, Genesis 48:19, Numbers 20:21
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular5xExodus 7:14, Numbers 22:13, Numbers 22:14, Deuteronomy 25:7
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular4xJob 6:7, Psalms 77:2, Jeremiah 15:18, Jeremiah 31:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural3x1 Samuel 8:19, Nehemiah 9:17, Zechariah 7:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural1xProverbs 1:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular1xExodus 4:23
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular1xEsther 1:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To refuse persistently or firmly; often conveys stubborn resistance to divine will or covenant obligation
Strong'sH3985
Lexical occurrences41 versesWord forms1 form26 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 21:7Source Gloss
to refuse
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To refuse persistently or firmly; often conveys stubborn resistance to divine will or covenant obligation
to refuse BDB: refuse Usage: refuse, × utterly.
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×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
The wicked refuse to do justice, describing deliberate rejection of righteous conduct
Showing 1 selected witness from 41 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מָאֵן is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.