מִנְחָה

From the study of Numbers 28:5

Range of meaning

In ordinary speech, a gift given to win favour or show respect (Jacob to Esau, Gen 32:13–21; Joseph's brothers to the Egyptian official, Gen 43:11), and tribute paid by a subject to an overlord (Ehud's tribute to Eglon, Judg 3:15–18; Moab to David, 2 Sam 8:2). In older narrative it can be any offering to God, animal or plant: both Cain's produce and Abel's flock are called minchah (Gen 4:3–5). In the priestly laws (Lev 2; 6:14–23; Num 15) it narrows to a technical term for the grain offering: flour, oil, frankincense, or baked cakes.

Against the English

BSB, NIV, ESV and NASB say 'grain offering', which is accurate for the priestly sense. WEB has 'meal offering' (meal = ground grain). YLT's 'present' keeps the underlying gift-and-tribute sense. KJV's 'meat offering' misleads modern readers (see drift).

How it drifted

In 1611 English 'meat' meant food in general (compare 'meat and drink'). The word later narrowed to animal flesh, so KJV's 'meat offering' now suggests the opposite of what it names, a bloodless offering of grain.

Used elsewhere in the period

The LXX usually renders it thysia ('sacrifice') or dōron ('gift') and, in some contexts, transliterates it manaa. The tribute sense of the same root is attested in Ugaritic (mnḥ). In the Mishnah, tractate Menachot is devoted to these offerings, and the grain offering that accompanies an animal sacrifice is called minchat nesakhim.

From the study of Psalm 141:2

Range of meaning

Basically a gift or tribute presented to a superior: Jacob's gift to Esau (Gen 32:13), tribute to a king (Judg 3:15; 1 Kgs 5:1 [Eng 4:21]), and offerings to God of any kind (Gen 4:3–5, including Abel's animals). In priestly law it is narrowed to the grain offering of flour, oil and incense (Lev 2). 'The evening minchah' became the name of the fixed afternoon or evening temple rite (1 Kgs 18:29, 36; 2 Kgs 16:15; Ezra 9:4–5; Dan 9:21).

Against the English

KJV and WEB say 'sacrifice', BSB 'offering', YLT 'present'. 'Present' or 'gift' keeps the tribute idea. 'Sacrifice' makes modern readers think of killing, or of giving up something costly.

How it drifted

The Greek translation rendered minchah here as thysia ('sacrifice') and the Latin as sacrificium vespertinum, and English versions inherited 'evening sacrifice' from them.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 29:38–42 prescribes the 'continual' (tamid) offering: one lamb at morning and one 'between the evenings', each with a grain offering and a drink offering. 2 Kgs 16:15 distinguishes 'the morning burnt offering' from 'the evening minchah', so the evening rite as a whole could be called 'the minchah'. Daniel, in exile with no temple, prays and is answered 'at the time of the evening minchah' (Dan 9:21). Later the Jewish afternoon prayer service was named Minchah after it (b. Berakhot 26b links the daily prayers to the tamid offerings).

From the study of Daniel 9:21

Range of meaning

Gift, present, or tribute paid to a superior (Gen 32:13; Judg 3:15). In the priestly law it is the grain offering (Lev 2). In the phrase 'the evening minḥah' (1 Kgs 18:29, 36; 2 Kgs 16:15; Ezra 9:4–5; Ps 141:2) it names the daily afternoon offering and therefore a fixed hour of the day.

Against the English

BSB, NIV and ESV say 'evening sacrifice.' KJV has 'oblation' and YLT 'present,' which keep the sense of a gift. 'Sacrifice' is acceptable as the name of the service, but it hides the original sense of tribute offered to a king.

Used elsewhere in the period

Elijah prays 'at the time of the offering of the minḥah' (1 Kgs 18:36). Ezra rises from his fasting and confesses 'at the evening minḥah' (Ezra 9:5). Psalm 141:2 compares lifted hands to the evening minḥah. Josephus (Antiquities 14.65) puts the afternoon daily offering at about the ninth hour. In later Judaism the afternoon prayer service is called Minḥah after this offering.