Lexical Summary maadan or maadannah: Delicacy, Delight, Luxurious Food Original Word: מַעֲדָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dainty, delicately, delight Or (feminine) maadannah {mah-ad-an-naw'}; from adan; a delicacy or (abstractly) pleasure (adverbially, cheerfully) -- dainty, delicately, delight. see HEBREW adan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as eden Definition a dainty (food), delight NASB Translation dainties (1), delicacies (1), delight (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מַעֲדָן] noun [masculine] dainty (food), delight only plural; — מַעֲדַגֵּי מֶלָךְ Genesis 49:20 royal dainties; הָאֹכְלִים לְמַעֲדַנִּים Lamentations 4:5 those who ate (according to dainties) daintily; more Generally וְיִתֵּן מַעֲדַנִּים לְנַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ Proverbs 29:17 he shall give delight to thy soul ("" וִינִידֶ֑ךָ). — מַעֲדַנּוֺת, also below ענד. II. עדן (√ of following; compare perhaps Assyrian edinu, plain (in word-lists), SchrCot Genesis 2:8, DlPa 79 f.; other views see DiGenesis 2:8). Topical Lexicon Concept and Semantics מַעֲדָן describes that which gives pleasure—most plainly “delicacies” of food, yet by extension any agreeable or delightful experience. Its four scriptural appearances gather around blessing, self-assurance, parental reward, and national judgment, portraying delight as a gift that may be enjoyed, abused, or removed by the LORD. Occurrences and Narrative Settings 1. Genesis 49:20 – In Jacob’s prophetic blessing Asher is promised agricultural abundance that will supply “royal delicacies,” highlighting covenantal prosperity within Israel’s land allotments. Covenantal Provision The Asher oracle roots delight in the LORD’s promise. Fertile coastal slopes, olive groves, and trade routes enabled Asher to furnish “royal delicacies,” blessing not only the tribe but the wider nation. The verse frames prosperity as a stewardship to serve the kingly purpose of God. False Security Unmasked Agag’s “pleasant” demeanor stands in contrast to the gravity of his crimes. His reliance on former luxuries cannot shield him from Samuel’s obedience to the prophetic word. The account warns that earthly delights, unsubmitted to God, lull the heart into fatal presumption. Family Discipline and Joy Proverbs pairs correction with delight: parental faithfulness cultivates children who refresh the soul more than any festive table. Here מַעֲדָן underscores the sweetness of righteousness, teaching that true pleasure grows out of loving boundaries and wisdom. National Reversal Lamentations laments Judah’s nobles who once feasted on delicacies yet now scavenge. The imagery intensifies the book’s theology of retribution: pleasures formerly received with ingratitude are stripped away, calling survivors to repentance and renewed hope in covenant mercy. Thematic Threads • Delight is divine in origin, intended for service (Genesis 49). Together the passages affirm that pleasure finds its safest expression inside covenant loyalty and parental discipleship, anticipating the eschatological banquet where redeemed delight will never be lost. Ministry Applications 1. Stewardship – Encourage believers to view material abundance as a means to bless others, modeling Asher’s “royal delicacies.” Christological Perspective Jesus embodies the perfect Asher, providing bread that satisfies eternally (John 6:35). He faced the Agag-like presumption of rulers and overcame it in righteous judgment. Through His disciplining love (Hebrews 12:6) He makes disciples who are a delight to the Father, and He will welcome them to the marriage supper of the Lamb, where “delicacies” are no longer fleeting but everlasting. Forms and Transliterations לְמַ֣עֲדַנִּ֔ים למעדנים מַֽעֲדַנֵּי־ מַעֲדַנִּ֣ים מַעֲדַנֹּ֑ת מעדני־ מעדנים מעדנת lə·ma·‘ă·ḏan·nîm ləma‘ăḏannîm leMaadanNim ma‘ăḏannê- ma‘ăḏannîm ma‘ăḏannōṯ ma·‘ă·ḏan·nê- ma·‘ă·ḏan·nîm ma·‘ă·ḏan·nōṯ maadannei maadanNim maadanNotLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 49:20 HEB: וְה֥וּא יִתֵּ֖ן מַֽעֲדַנֵּי־ מֶֽלֶךְ׃ ס NAS: And he will yield royal dainties. KJV: and he shall yield royal dainties. INT: and he will yield dainties royal 1 Samuel 15:32 Proverbs 29:17 Lamentations 4:5 4 Occurrences |
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