Lexical Summary Medani: Medanite Original Word: מְדָנִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Midianite A variation of Midyaniy -- Midianite. see HEBREW Midyaniy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as Midyani, q.v. Topical Lexicon Root and Meaning Strong’s Hebrew 4092, מְדָנִי (mədānī), is an adjectival form built on the noun מָדוֹן (madon, “strife, contention”). Though מְדָנִי itself is unattested in the canon, its root family appears more than thirty times, painting a rich picture of interpersonal conflict that God repeatedly condemns and counters with His call to peace. Strife in the Patriarchal Period Even before Israel existed as a nation, the seeds of מָדוֹן were visible. Genesis 13:7 records that “there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock.” Abram’s conciliatory response—“Please let there be no strife between you and me” (Genesis 13:8)—sets an early canonical model for de-escalation and generous self-limitation. The same theme surfaces with Isaac, whose servants repeatedly quarrel over wells (Genesis 26:20-22); only when the contention ceases does Isaac rejoice, naming the well Rehoboth, “For now the LORD has made room for us.” National Strife in Israel’s History · During the wilderness wanderings, מָדוֹן erupts against Moses at Meribah, where “the people contended with Moses” (Numbers 20:3) and God’s holiness is vindicated. · In the period of the Judges, tribal jealousies (Judges 8:1; 12:1-6) expose how quickly covenant brothers can turn weapons on one another when self-interest overrules shared identity. · David’s reign is scarred by intra-familial conflict—Saul’s persecution (1 Samuel 18:8-9), Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15)—revealing that unchecked bitterness breeds escalating מָדוֹן that destabilizes even God-appointed leadership. Wisdom Literature on Contention Proverbs is the Bible’s most concentrated commentary on מָדוֹן. Key observations include: These maxims reveal God’s heart: wisdom seeks reconciliation, while folly delights in tension. Prophetic Witness Isaiah rebukes fasting that culminates “in strife and contention” (Isaiah 58:4), exposing the hypocrisy of outward religiosity married to relational hostility. Zechariah similarly urges, “Do not plot evil in your hearts against one another, and do not love perjury, for all these are what I hate” (Zechariah 8:17). In every age, covenant fidelity is inseparable from peacemaking. Christological Fulfillment Where fallen humanity produces מָדוֹן, Jesus embodies shalom. At His birth the angels proclaim, “on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14). At the cross He “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20), reconciling Jews and Gentiles into “one new man, thus making peace” (Ephesians 2:15). The Prince of Peace reverses the curse of strife, creating a community indwelt by the Spirit whose fruit is peace (Galatians 5:22). Apostolic Exhortation New Covenant writers consistently warn against a מְדָנִי spirit: Pastoral and Ministry Application 1. Guard the heart. Contention seldom begins with theology but with unchecked desires (James 4:1). Related Hebrew and Greek Terms • מָדוֹן (madon) – strife, quarrel (e.g., Proverbs 17:14). Together these words trace a canonical trajectory from human conflict to God’s ultimate gift of peace in Christ. Summary Though מְדָנִי (Strong’s 4092) itself never surfaces in the Old Testament text, its root family amplifies one of Scripture’s great moral contrasts: the destructive power of strife versus the life-giving beauty of peace. From Genesis to Revelation, God opposes a contentious spirit and calls His people—now empowered by the reconciling work of Jesus Christ—to be agents of peace in a world still marked by division. Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance ham·miḏ·yā·nîṯ — 3 Occ.miḏ·yā·nîm — 1 Occ. wə·ham·mə·ḏā·nîm — 1 Occ. bam·mə·ḏō·ḵāh — 1 Occ. maḏ·mên — 1 Occ. maḏ·mê·nāh — 1 Occ. maḏ·mê·nāh — 1 Occ. maḏ·man·nāh — 1 Occ. ū·maḏ·man·nāh — 1 Occ. mə·ḏā·nîm — 2 Occ. ū·mə·ḏān — 1 Occ. bə·mad·dā·‘ă·ḵā — 1 Occ. mad·dā‘ — 2 Occ. ū·mad·dā‘ — 2 Occ. wə·ham·mad·dā‘ — 1 Occ. kə·maḏ·qə·rō·wṯ — 1 Occ. ham·maḏ·rê·ḡāh — 1 Occ. ham·maḏ·rê·ḡō·wṯ — 1 Occ. miḏ·raḵ — 1 Occ. bə·miḏ·raš — 1 Occ. |