Jump to: Smith's • ISBE • Easton's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Meni is a term found in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Isaiah. The reference to Meni appears in Isaiah 65:11, where it is mentioned alongside Gad, another deity. The verse in the Berean Standard Bible reads: "But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny."Context and Meaning In Isaiah 65:11, Meni is translated as "Destiny" in the BSB. The passage is a rebuke from God directed towards the Israelites who have turned away from Him and engaged in idolatrous practices. The setting of a table for "Fortune" (Gad) and filling bowls for "Destiny" (Meni) indicates the worship of foreign deities, which was a common temptation for the Israelites as they interacted with surrounding cultures. The term "Meni" is often associated with fate or destiny, suggesting a belief in a predetermined course of events controlled by this deity. This belief system was contrary to the teachings of the God of Israel, who emphasized His sovereignty and personal relationship with His people, rather than an impersonal fate. Historical and Cultural Background The worship of deities like Meni and Gad reflects the syncretism that occurred when the Israelites adopted religious practices from neighboring nations. These practices often included rituals and offerings intended to secure favor or manipulate outcomes, which were in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh, who required exclusive devotion and trust in His providence. The mention of Meni in Isaiah serves as a warning against the dangers of idolatry and the abandonment of faith in the one true God. It highlights the Israelites' tendency to seek security and prosperity through means other than reliance on God, a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament. Theological Implications From a theological perspective, the reference to Meni underscores the biblical theme of God's sovereignty versus human attempts to control or predict the future through idolatrous practices. The Bible consistently teaches that God alone is the author of history and the one who holds the future in His hands. The worship of Meni, therefore, represents a rejection of this truth and a failure to trust in God's plan and provision. The passage in Isaiah 65:11 serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the consequences of forsaking God for false idols. It challenges believers to examine their own lives for modern equivalents of Meni—those things or beliefs that might take precedence over faith in God and His promises. Smith's Bible Dictionary Meni(fate, fortune). (Isaiah 65:11) This word is a proper name, and is also the proper name of an object of idolatrous worship cultivated by the Jews in Babylon. Easton's Bible Dictionary Isaiah 65:11, marg. (A.V., "that number;" R.V., "destiny"), probably an idol which the captive Israelites worshipped after the example of the Babylonians. It may have been a symbol of destiny. LXX., tuche. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia DESTINY, (MENI)des'-ti-ni: A god of Good Luck, possibly the Pleiades. MENI me'-ni: Destiny, a god of Good Luck, possibly the Pleiades (Isaiah 65:11 margin). Greek 3376. men -- a month ... (men) -- 2 Occurrences. (mena) -- 2 Occurrences. (menas) -- 14 Occurrences. (meni) -- 1 Occurrence. 3375, 3376. men. 3377 . Strong's Numbers. //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3376.htm - 6k Strong's Hebrew 4507. Meni -- "award," a heathen god... 4506c, 4507. Meni. 4508 . "award," a heathen god. Transliteration: Meni Phonetic Spelling: (men-ee') Short Definition: destiny. ... 4506c, 4507. Meni. 4508 > ... /hebrew/4507.htm - 6k Library Appendices The Greek of the Septuagint. The Greek Versions as Aids to Biblical Study. The Peter of History and the Peter of Fiction. Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober ... Thesaurus Meni (1 Occurrence)... LXX., tuche. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DESTINY, (MENI). des'-ti-ni: A god of Good Luck, possibly the Pleiades. See ASTROLOGY, 10; MENI. MENI. ... /m/meni.htm - 7k Te'meni (1 Occurrence) Chance (78 Occurrences) Astrology Destiny (6 Occurrences) Gad (78 Occurrences) Temper (14 Occurrences) Forgetting (8 Occurrences) Forsaking (29 Occurrences) Temeni (1 Occurrence) Resources Who was Gad in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Meni (1 Occurrence)Isaiah 65:11 Subtopics Related Terms |
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