4490. manah
Lexical Summary
manah: To count, number, reckon, assign, appoint

Original Word: מָנָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: manah
Pronunciation: mah-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-naw')
KJV: such things as belonged, part, portion
NASB: portions, portion, food
Word Origin: [from H4487 (מָנָה - appointed)]

1. (properly) something weighed out
2. (generally) a division
3. (specifically, of food) a ration
4. (also) a lot

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
such things as belonged, part, portion

From manah; properly, something weighed out, i.e. (generally) a division; specifically (of food) a ration; also a lot -- such things as belonged, part, portion.

see HEBREW manah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from manah
Definition
part, portion
NASB Translation
food (1), portion (5), portions (6).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מָנָה noun feminine part, portion; — ׳מ Exodus 29:26 4t.; (on מְנָָֽתֿ Jeremiah 13:25, compare Psalm 16:5, see מְנָת); plural מָנוֺת 1 Samuel 1:4 5t.; suffix מָֽנוֺתֶ֫הָ Esther 2:9; — part, portion, especially choice portion, Exodus 29:26; Leviticus 7:33; Leviticus 8:29 (all of sacrificial animal; all P); compare 2 Chronicles 31:19; also 1 Samuel 1:4,5; of distributive of choice bits Nehemiah 8:10,12; Esther 9:19,22; compare also Esther 2:9 (see Daniel 1:5,10).

Topical Lexicon
Semantic scope

מָנָה denotes an allotted share that is intentionally prepared and measured out for someone. Whether food on a table, meat from a sacrifice, gifts at a festival, or a destiny from the hand of God, the word always carries the idea of a portion that has been thoughtfully assigned by a superior or host.

Levitical and priestly portions

In the sacrificial system מָנָה safeguards the livelihood of the priesthood. The wave breast in Exodus 29:26 and the right thigh in Leviticus 7:33 are called “your portion,” underscoring that priestly service is met by divine provision, not left to chance or human benevolence. As Moses records, “It will be your share” (Exodus 29:26). The distribution in Leviticus 8:29 models orderly support for ministers of the sanctuary and foreshadows the New Testament principle that “the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14).

Household love and covenant solidarity

When Elkanah gives sacrificial meat in Shiloh, “he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, but to Hannah he would give a double portion” (1 Samuel 1:4-5). Here מָנָה expresses marital affection and covenant care within the family. The extra share given to barren Hannah also prefigures God’s gracious reversal of human barrenness both physically and spiritually.

Festal generosity and communal care

Nehemiah revitalizes post-exilic worship by commanding, “Send portions to those who have nothing prepared” (Nehemiah 8:10). Obedience follows immediately: “All the people … sent portions and celebrated with great joy” (Nehemiah 8:12). Likewise in Esther 9:19,22 the Jews “send portions of food to one another” to commemorate deliverance. מָנָה thus functions as practical mercy that knits a redeemed community together, echoing the later apostolic exhortation to share with the saints in need (Romans 12:13).

Royal favor and courtly hospitality

Samuel instructs the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you … set it before you” (1 Samuel 9:23). The special share set aside for Saul before his anointing highlights מָנָה as a tangible sign of royal favor and divine election. In Esther 2:9, the young queen receives “her portion” from the royal provisions, demonstrating how measured generosity advances God’s providential plan even in a pagan court.

The LORD as the believer’s portion

David turns the vocabulary heavenward: “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure” (Psalm 16:5). Here מָנָה transcends material allotments to declare that God Himself is the believer’s ultimate share. The idea ripens in the New Covenant where Christ becomes “all in all” (Colossians 3:11).

Portion in judgment

Jeremiah employs the term in a stern oracle: “This is your lot, the portion I have measured out for you” (Jeremiah 13:25). Rebellion earns a negative מָנָה just as faithfulness secures blessing. Both outcomes proceed from the same sovereign hand, affirming divine justice and covenant accountability.

Ministry implications

1. Provision for servants: God consistently ordains a portion for those who serve Him, encouraging churches to honor and support their ministers.
2. Family worship: Distributing household portions fosters gratitude and solidarity; intentional generosity remains a practical expression of love.
3. Compassionate celebration: Biblical feasts always overflow toward the needy. Authentic worship still pairs rejoicing with relief for the vulnerable.
4. Christ-centered satisfaction: While temporal portions vary, the believer’s unchanging inheritance is the Lord Himself. Ministry must point hearts to that supreme share.
5. Warning and comfort: The same God who allots blessing also measures judgment. Faithful proclamation holds both truths in balance, urging repentance and offering hope.

In every context מָנָה reminds the people of God that life’s portions are neither random nor self-made; they are graciously—or righteously—assigned by the Lord of the covenant.

Forms and Transliterations
הַמָּנָ֔ה המנה לְמָנָ֔ה לְמָנָֽה׃ למנה למנה׃ מְנָת־ מָנ֔וֹת מָנ֖וֹת מָנ֗וֹת מָנָ֥ה מָנֽוֹת׃ מָנוֹת֙ מָנוֹתֶ֙הָ֙ מנה מנות מנות׃ מנותה מנת־ ham·mā·nāh hammaNah hammānāh lə·mā·nāh lemaNah ləmānāh mā·nāh mā·nō·w·ṯe·hā mā·nō·wṯ maNah mānāh maNot manoTeha mānōwṯ mānōwṯehā mə·nāṯ- mənāṯ- menot
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Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 29:26
HEB: וְהָיָ֥ה לְךָ֖ לְמָנָֽה׃
NAS: the LORD; and it shall be your portion.
KJV: the LORD: and it shall be thy part.
INT: the LORD become shall be your portion

Leviticus 7:33
HEB: שׁ֥וֹק הַיָּמִ֖ין לְמָנָֽה׃
NAS: thigh shall be his as [his] portion.
KJV: shoulder for [his] part.
INT: thigh the right shall be his as portion

Leviticus 8:29
HEB: לְמֹשֶׁ֤ה הָיָה֙ לְמָנָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה
NAS: it was Moses' portion of the ram
KJV: it was Moses' part; as the LORD
INT: Moses' become portion after had commanded

1 Samuel 1:4
HEB: בָּנֶ֛יהָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֖יהָ מָנֽוֹת׃
NAS: he would give portions to Peninnah
KJV: and her daughters, portions:
INT: her sons daughters portions

1 Samuel 1:5
HEB: וּלְחַנָּ֕ה יִתֵּ֛ן מָנָ֥ה אַחַ֖ת אַפָּ֑יִם
NAS: a double portion, for he loved
KJV: a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah:
INT: to Hannah give portion a A double

1 Samuel 9:23
HEB: תְּנָה֙ אֶת־ הַמָּנָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי
NAS: Bring the portion that I gave
KJV: Bring the portion which I gave
INT: to the cook Bring the portion which gave

2 Chronicles 31:19
HEB: בְּשֵׁמ֑וֹת לָתֵ֣ת מָנ֗וֹת לְכָל־ זָכָר֙
NAS: to distribute portions to every
KJV: to give portions to all the males
INT: name to distribute portions to every male

Nehemiah 8:10
HEB: מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים וְשִׁלְח֤וּ מָנוֹת֙ לְאֵ֣ין נָכ֣וֹן
NAS: and send portions to him who has nothing
KJV: and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared:
INT: of the sweet and send portions has nothing prepared

Nehemiah 8:12
HEB: וְלִשְׁתּוֹת֙ וּלְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָנ֔וֹת וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת שִׂמְחָ֣ה
NAS: to send portions and to celebrate
KJV: and to send portions, and to make
INT: to drink to send portions celebrate festival

Esther 2:9
HEB: תַּמְרוּקֶ֤יהָ וְאֶת־ מָנוֹתֶ֙הָ֙ לָתֵ֣ת לָ֔הּ
NAS: her with her cosmetics and food, gave
KJV: her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven
INT: quickly her cosmetics and food provided her seven

Esther 9:19
HEB: ט֑וֹב וּמִשְׁל֥וֹחַ מָנ֖וֹת אִ֥ישׁ לְרֵעֵֽהוּ׃
NAS: and sending portions [of food] to one
KJV: and of sending portions one
INT: good and sending portions one another

Esther 9:22
HEB: וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמִשְׁל֤וֹחַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ
NAS: and sending portions [of food] to one
KJV: and of sending portions one
INT: and rejoicing and sending portions one another

Psalm 16:5
HEB: יְֽהוָ֗ה מְנָת־ חֶלְקִ֥י וְכוֹסִ֑י
KJV: The LORD [is] the portion of mine inheritance
INT: the LORD the portion of my inheritance and my cup

Jeremiah 13:25
HEB: זֶ֣ה גוֹרָלֵ֧ךְ מְנָת־ מִדַּ֛יִךְ מֵֽאִתִּ֖י
KJV: This [is] thy lot, the portion of thy measures
INT: This is your lot the portion measured declares

14 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4490
14 Occurrences


ham·mā·nāh — 1 Occ.
lə·mā·nāh — 3 Occ.
mā·nāh — 1 Occ.
mā·nō·wṯ — 6 Occ.
mā·nō·w·ṯe·hā — 1 Occ.
mə·nāṯ- — 2 Occ.

4489
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