What does מַעַן (maʿan) mean in the Bible?
מַעַן (maʿan): Expresses purpose or motivation by focusing on the aim or intended result, not mere causation.
Hebrew · H4616
מַעַן
Properly, heed , i.e. purpose ; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
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.
מַעַן H4616
Pronunciation maʿan
What does מַעַן (maʿan) mean in the Bible?
מַעַן (maʿan): Expresses purpose or motivation by focusing on the aim or intended result, not mere causation.
Full entry for מַעַן (H4616) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4616?
The BSB source-word alignment has 272 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include so that (89), that (21), for the sake (18), to (18), . . . (14).
Where does מַעַן (maʿan) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 12:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (48), Ezekiel (37), Psalms (32), Isaiah (28).
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 so that 89× Genesis 12:13, Genesis 27:25, Genesis 37:22, Exodus 8:10
that 21× Exodus 10:1, Exodus 13:9, Numbers 16:40, Deuteronomy 2:30
for the sake 18× 1 Kings 11:12, 1 Kings 11:13, 1 Kings 11:32, 1 Kings 11:34
to 18× Deuteronomy 6:23, Deuteronomy 9:5, Deuteronomy 17:16, Deuteronomy 27:3
. . . 14× Exodus 33:13, Leviticus 20:3, Deuteronomy 8:16, Deuteronomy 14:29
because of 12× 1 Kings 8:41, 2 Kings 13:23, 2 Chronicles 6:32, 2 Chronicles 21:7
in order to 9× Genesis 50:20, Deuteronomy 8:16, Deuteronomy 8:18, 2 Kings 10:19
for the sake of 7× Genesis 18:24, Psalms 25:11, Psalms 31:3, Psalms 106:8
so 7× 2 Samuel 13:5, Proverbs 2:20, Isaiah 44:9, Jeremiah 7:10
and so that 5× Deuteronomy 6:2, Deuteronomy 11:9, Deuteronomy 29:13, Joshua 4:24
For your sake 5× Isaiah 43:14, Ezekiel 36:22, Ezekiel 36:32, Daniel 9:17
and that 4× Exodus 9:16, Exodus 10:2, Deuteronomy 4:40, Deuteronomy 5:16
for My own sake 4× 2 Kings 19:34, Isaiah 37:35, Isaiah 43:25, Isaiah 48:11
in order that 4× Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 17:20, 2 Chronicles 10:15, Ezekiel 14:11
Then 4× Exodus 11:7, Numbers 15:40, 1 Kings 8:43, 2 Chronicles 6:33
and for the sake 3× 1 Kings 11:13, 1 Kings 11:32, Isaiah 37:35
for 3× Ezekiel 12:19, Ezekiel 21:10, Ezekiel 22:27
in order 3× 2 Chronicles 32:18, Ezekiel 20:26, Ezekiel 39:12
In this way 3× Exodus 8:22, Exodus 16:4, Judges 2:22
on account of 3× Psalms 8:2, Psalms 44:26, Psalms 48:11
- 2× Joshua 11:20, Jeremiah 32:29
and for the sake of 2× 2 Kings 19:34, 2 Kings 20:6
sake 2× Isaiah 62:1
therefore 2× Jeremiah 27:15, Micah 6:16
[He did this] so that 1× Joshua 4:24
[This was] in order to 1× Jeremiah 11:5
and 1× Jeremiah 44:8
and pressed 1× Ezekiel 23:21
and so 1× Amos 2:7
As a result 1× Jeremiah 44:8
Because 1× 1 Kings 11:39
bent on 1× Ezekiel 22:9
for My sake 1× 2 Kings 20:6
For this reason 1× Leviticus 17:5
He did this 1× 2 Kings 23:24
him 1× Genesis 18:19
My very own sake 1× Isaiah 48:11
on account of you 1× Deuteronomy 3:26
on behalf 1× Isaiah 65:8
on your account 1× Job 18:4
so that they 1× Jeremiah 10:18
so that you 1× Deuteronomy 6:2
that my heart 1× Psalms 30:12
that will serve 1× Jeremiah 27:10
the Israelites to 1× Exodus 1:11
they spite 1× Jeremiah 7:19
This happened so that 1× Ezekiel 31:14
This is so that 1× Exodus 4:5
until 1× Ezekiel 24:11
vvv 1× Judges 3:2
Yet for the sake 1× 2 Kings 8:19
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 12:13 לְמַ֙עַן֙ to so that Conjunction Genesis 18:19 לְמַעַן֩ to him Conjunction Genesis 18:19 לְמַ֗עַן to in order that Conjunction Genesis 18:24 לְמַ֛עַן to for the sake of Preposition Genesis 27:25 לְמַ֥עַן to so that Conjunction Genesis 37:22 לְמַ֗עַן to so that Conjunction Genesis 50:20 לְמַ֗עַן to in order to Conjunction Exodus 1:11 לְמַ֥עַן to the Israelites to Conjunction Exodus 4:5 לְמַ֣עַן to This is so that Conjunction Exodus 8:10 לְמַ֣עַן to so that Conjunction
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 12:13
Aligned rows 272
Books represented 29
Genesis 7 Exodus 16 Leviticus 3 Numbers 4 Deuteronomy 48 Joshua 8 Judges 2 1 Samuel 2 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 16 2 Kings 9 1 Chronicles 1 2 Chronicles 9 Ezra 1 Nehemiah 3 Job 3 Psalms 32 Proverbs 3 Isaiah 28 Jeremiah 24 Ezekiel 37 Daniel 2 Hosea 1 Joel 1 Amos 4 Obadiah 1 Micah 2 Habakkuk 2 Zechariah 2
Source forms
לְמַ֣עַן 56x lə·ma·‘an Exodus 4:5, Exodus 8:10, Exodus 8:22, Exodus 9:29
לְמַ֥עַן 27x lə·ma·‘an Genesis 27:25, Exodus 1:11, Exodus 33:13, Deuteronomy 30:6
לְמַ֙עַן֙ 25x lə·ma·‘an Genesis 12:13, Exodus 11:7, Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 6:18
לְמַ֖עַן 25x lə·ma·‘an Deuteronomy 17:16, 1 Kings 11:12, 2 Kings 8:19, 2 Chronicles 25:20
לְמַ֨עַן 21x lə·ma·‘an Deuteronomy 5:29, Deuteronomy 6:2, Deuteronomy 8:1, Deuteronomy 8:2
לְמַ֗עַן 14x lə·ma·‘an Genesis 18:19, Genesis 37:22, Genesis 50:20, Exodus 10:1
לְמַ֤עַן 14x lə·ma·‘an Deuteronomy 5:33, Deuteronomy 14:29, Deuteronomy 16:20, Deuteronomy 24:19
לְמַעַן֩ 12x lə·ma·‘an Genesis 18:19, Leviticus 17:5, Deuteronomy 12:28, Deuteronomy 13:17
Parsing patterns
Conjunction 201x Genesis 12:13, Genesis 18:19, Genesis 27:25, Genesis 37:22
Preposition 52x Genesis 18:24, Deuteronomy 30:6, Joshua 4:24, 1 Kings 8:41
Conjunctive waw | Preposition 7x 1 Kings 11:13, 1 Kings 11:32, 2 Kings 19:34, 2 Kings 20:6
Preposition | first person common singular 6x 2 Kings 19:34, 2 Kings 20:6, Isaiah 37:35, Isaiah 43:25
Preposition | second person masculine plural 4x Deuteronomy 3:26, Isaiah 43:14, Ezekiel 36:22, Ezekiel 36:32
Preposition | second person masculine singular 2x Job 18:4, Daniel 9:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Expresses purpose or motivation by focusing on the aim or intended result, not mere causation.
Source Gloss
properly, heed , i.e. purpose ; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Expresses purpose or motivation by focusing on the aim or intended result, not mere causation.
properly, heed, i.e. purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that BDB: purpose Usage: because of, to the end (intent) that, for (to,... 's sake), lest, that, to.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
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