Hebrew word · H3986

מָאֵן

ma'en

refusing

An adjective meaning "refusing, unwilling", from the verb mēʾēn, "to refuse". The verb is used of refusing food, comfort, obedience, or a request (Gen 37:35; 39:8; Num 22:13–14). The adjective form is very rare.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

refusing, unwilling to obey

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Exodus 10:4

Range of meaning

An adjective meaning "refusing, unwilling", from the verb mēʾēn, "to refuse". The verb is used of refusing food, comfort, obedience, or a request (Gen 37:35; 39:8; Num 22:13–14). The adjective form is very rare.

Against the English

English "if you refuse" sounds like a single choice still to come. The Hebrew describes Pharaoh as "a refuser", someone already settled in refusal.

Used elsewhere in the period

It appears only in Pharaoh's warnings (Exod 7:27 Hebrew [8:2 English]; 9:2; 10:4) and in Jeremiah 38:21, where Zedekiah is warned "if you are refusing to surrender". Both settings are a king being warned about stubborn defiance. The Septuagint translates "if you do not wish".

From the study of Exodus 8:2

Range of meaning

An adjective, 'refusing, unwilling,' formed from the verb root m-'-n, 'to refuse' (H3985). The verb covers refusing to eat, to be comforted, to obey, to let go. It often carries the sense of stubborn, deliberate unwillingness rather than one passing 'no.'

Against the English

English versions say 'if you refuse,' which reads like a single choice. The Hebrew adjective is closer to 'if you are refusing' or 'if you remain unwilling,' a description of what kind of person Pharaoh is being. YLT's 'if thou art refusing' keeps this best.

Used elsewhere in the period

The adjective appears only a few times: Exod 7:27 (= English 8:2), 9:2, 10:4, and Jer 38:21. Three of those are this same warning formula to Pharaoh, 'if you are refusing to send away...' The verb form describes Pharaoh in 7:14 ('he refuses to let the people go') and comes back in 10:3 ('How long will you refuse to humble yourself?'). The Greek translation (LXX) softens it to 'if you do not wish' (ei de mē boulei).

Where it appears

Exodus · 3

  1. Exodus 8:2 מָאֵ֥ן [are] refusing

    But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs.

    Here: An adjective, not an ordinary verb: 'if you are refusing,' even 'if you are a refuser.' It describes Pharaoh's settled stance, which the narrator already reported in 7:14 ('he refuses to let the people go').

  2. Exodus 9:2 מָאֵ֥ן [are] refusing

    But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go,

  3. Exodus 10:4 מָאֵ֥ן [are] refusing

    But if you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow.

    Here: A rare word that describes someone, used of Pharaoh in these plague warnings (and once in Jeremiah 38:21). It describes Pharaoh as a man who stays in refusal. It echoes verse 3's "How long have you refused (mēʾantā)?"

Jeremiah · 1

  1. Jeremiah 38:21 מָאֵ֥ן [are] refusing

    But if you refuse to surrender, this is the word that the LORD has shown me:

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.