Lexical Summary maen: refuse Original Word: מָאֵן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance refuse From ma'en; unwilling -- refuse. see HEBREW ma'en NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom maen Definition refusing NASB Translation refuse (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָאֵן verbal adjective refusing, followed by Infinitive, and always of disobeying ׳י; Exodus 7:27; Exodus 9:2; Exodus 10:4 (all J), Jeremiah 38:21. Topical Lexicon OverviewThe root מָאֵן appears only four times in the Old Testament, always portraying an emphatic, willful refusal in the face of clear divine instruction. Whether voiced by Pharaoh or Zedekiah, the term underscores deliberate resistance to the expressed will of God and thereby invites a cascade of covenant consequences. Usage in Exodus: The Stubbornness of Pharaoh Three of the four occurrences cluster in the plague narrative (Exodus 8:2; 9:2; 10:4). Each instance marks a fresh level of obstinacy, linking Pharaoh’s “refusal” directly to escalating judgment. • Exodus 8:2 – “But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs.” The literary rhythm is intentional: God announces a warning, Pharaoh refuses, judgment intensifies. This pattern magnifies both divine patience and divine justice. Pharaoh’s repeated מָאֵן signals a hardening that is simultaneously self-chosen and judicial (Exodus 9:34–35), demonstrating that human defiance never overturns God’s redemptive purpose for His people. Theological Implications of Pharaoh’s Refusal 1. Sovereign Glory – Each plague exposes Egypt’s gods, vindicating the LORD as supreme (Exodus 12:12). Jeremiah 38: The King’s Reluctance and the Prophet’s Warning Jeremiah 38:21 relocates the term from Egypt’s throne room to Judah’s: “But if you keep refusing to surrender, this is the word that the LORD has shown me:” Here King Zedekiah’s refusal is set against the looming Babylonian siege. Unlike Pharaoh, Zedekiah receives an offer of mercy—surrender and live (Jeremiah 38:17). His continued מָאֵן seals Jerusalem’s downfall (Jeremiah 39:1-7). The contrast between divine rescue offered and ruin chosen illustrates that covenant judgment falls not only on Gentile oppressors but also on covenant breakers within Israel. Patterns of Human Defiance in Scripture Though limited in frequency, the verb joins a broader biblical motif of refusal: • Israel refuses to enter the land (Deuteronomy 1:26, using a different Hebrew root). The recurrence across eras stresses that hard-heartedness, when met with truth, incurs escalating discipline. Christological and Pastoral Reflections 1. Greater Exodus – Pharaoh’s refusal heightens the typology of deliverance that ultimately finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who liberates His people from a harsher bondage (Luke 9:31; Colossians 1:13). Applications for Ministry • Preaching – Use the Exodus cycle to warn against incremental hardening. Conclusion מָאֵן is a succinct yet sobering term. In Pharaoh it manifests unrelenting rebellion; in Zedekiah, tragic vacillation. Both portraits reinforce a single truth: to refuse God’s revealed path is to invite increasing judgment, while yielding opens the door to deliverance and life. Forms and Transliterations מָאֵ֥ן מאן mā’ên mā·’ên maEnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 8:2 HEB: וְאִם־ מָאֵ֥ן אַתָּ֖ה לְשַׁלֵּ֑חַ NAS: But if you refuse to let [them] go, KJV: And if thou refuse to let [them] go, INT: if refuse you to let Exodus 9:2 Exodus 10:4 Jeremiah 38:21 4 Occurrences |
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