Hebrew word · H4362
מִכְמָן
bemikhmanei
hidden
Hidden or concealed stores; treasure kept out of sight. The word occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible. Its meaning comes from the root k-m-n, 'to hide, lie concealed', which is found in Aramaic and Arabic (per BDB and HALOT).
Appears once in the Hebrew Old Testament. ·
What it means
hidden stores, hidden treasure
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 Daniel 11:43
- Range of meaning
Hidden or concealed stores; treasure kept out of sight. The word occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible. Its meaning comes from the root k-m-n, 'to hide, lie concealed', which is found in Aramaic and Arabic (per BDB and HALOT).
- Against the English
KJV, WEB, YLT and BSB say 'treasures'. That is accurate but loses the sense of 'hidden'. The point is not only that Egypt was rich but that its secured, locked-away hoards are opened to him.
- Used elsewhere in the period
It is not found elsewhere in biblical Hebrew. The Greek translations render it with words for 'hidden things' or 'places' of gold (Theodotion is usually cited as ἐν τοῖς ἀποκρύφοις, 'in the hidden things'), which confirms the 'concealed' sense. Compare the related idea in Isaiah 45:3, 'treasures of darkness and hidden riches' (different Hebrew words, same picture).
Where it appears
Daniel · 1
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Daniel 11:43 בְּמִכְמַנֵּי֙ over [the] treasures of
He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Cushites will also submit to him.
Here: This word appears only here in the Hebrew Bible. It comes from a root meaning 'to hide' and refers to concealed stores: treasuries, vaults, wealth kept out of sight. The picture is of locked-away royal and temple hoards being opened to the conqueror.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.