What does מָנָה mean in the Bible?
מָנָה is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to weigh out ; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll".
Hebrew · H4487
מָנָה
Properly, to weigh out ; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
מָנָה H4487
What does מָנָה mean in the Bible?
מָנָה is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to weigh out ; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll".
Full entry for מָנָה (H4487) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4487?
The BSB source-word alignment has 28 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include appointed (3), count (2), had appointed (2), or numbered (2), to count (2).
Where does מָנָה appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 13:16. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Chronicles (4), Jonah (4), 1 Kings (3), Daniel (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 It appointed 3× Jonah 4:6, Jonah 4:7, Jonah 4:8
count 2× Genesis 13:16, 2 Kings 12:10
had appointed 2× Daniel 1:11, Jonah 1:17
or numbered 2× 1 Kings 8:5, 2 Chronicles 5:6
to count 2× 1 Kings 3:8, 1 Chronicles 21:17
[and] take a census 1× 2 Samuel 24:1
and He was numbered 1× Isaiah 53:12
appoint 1× Psalms 61:7
are appointed 1× Job 7:3
assigned 1× Daniel 1:5
be counted 1× Ecclesiastes 1:15
can count 1× Numbers 23:10
could be counted 1× Genesis 13:16
has assigned 1× Daniel 1:10
He determines 1× Psalms 147:4
I will destine 1× Isaiah 65:12
must raise 1× 1 Kings 20:25
of the one who counts them 1× Jeremiah 33:13
Others were put 1× 1 Chronicles 9:29
to count [the men] 1× 1 Chronicles 27:24
to number 1× Psalms 90:12
to take a census 1× 1 Chronicles 21:1
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 13:16 לִמְנוֹת֙ to count Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Genesis 13:16 יִמָּנֶֽה׃ to could be counted Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Numbers 23:10 מָנָה֙ to can count Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 2 Samuel 24:1 מְנֵ֥ה to [and] take a census Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular 1 Kings 3:8 יִמָּנֶ֛ה to to count Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 1 Kings 8:5 יִמָּנ֖וּ to or numbered Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 1 Kings 20:25 תִֽמְנֶה־ to must raise Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 2 Kings 12:10 וַיִּמְנ֔וּ to count Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1 Chronicles 9:29 מְמֻנִּים֙ to Others were put Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural 1 Chronicles 21:1 לִמְנ֖וֹת to to take a census Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 13:16
Aligned rows 28
Books represented 14
Genesis 2 Numbers 1 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 3 2 Kings 1 1 Chronicles 4 2 Chronicles 1 Job 1 Psalms 3 Ecclesiastes 1 Isaiah 2 Jeremiah 1 Daniel 3 Jonah 4
Source forms
וַיְמַ֤ן 2x way·man Jonah 1:17, Jonah 4:7
יִמָּנ֖וּ 2x yim·mā·nū 1 Kings 8:5, 2 Chronicles 5:6
לִמְנוֹת֙ 2x lim·nō·wṯ Genesis 13:16, 1 Chronicles 27:24
לִמְנ֣וֹת 2x lim·nō·wṯ 1 Chronicles 21:17, Psalms 90:12
וַיְמַן֩ 1x way·man Daniel 1:5
וַיְמַ֣ן 1x way·man Jonah 4:6
וַיְמַ֨ן 1x way·man Jonah 4:8
וַיִּמְנ֔וּ 1x way·yim·nū 2 Kings 12:10
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 5x Daniel 1:5, Jonah 1:17, Jonah 4:6, Jonah 4:7
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct 5x Genesis 13:16, 1 Chronicles 21:1, 1 Chronicles 21:17, 1 Chronicles 27:24
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 2x 1 Kings 8:5, 2 Chronicles 5:6
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Genesis 13:16, 1 Kings 3:8
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular 2x Daniel 1:10, Daniel 1:11
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2x Psalms 147:4, Jeremiah 33:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular 1x Isaiah 65:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x 2 Kings 12:10
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. properly, to weigh out ; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll
Source Gloss
properly, to weigh out ; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll BDB: count Usage: appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell.
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 groups 4 Aligned forms 15
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 5×
Imperfect 1Kgs 3:8 · Gen 13:16 · 1Kgs 8:5 · 2Chr 5:6 4×
Perfect Isa 53:12 1×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 4×
Perfect Dan 1:10 · Dan 1:11 · Job 7:3 3×
Sequential imperfect Ps 61:8 1×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 5×
Participle active Jer 33:13 · Ps 147:4 2×
Imperfect 1Kgs 20:25 1×
Sequential imperfect 2Sam 24:1 1×
Perfect Num 23:10 1×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 1×
Participle passive 1Chr 9:29 1×
Word Origins
מָנָה 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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain