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Hebrew verb · H3985

מָאֵן

maenmaw-ane'

to refuse

41 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Concordance spelling: mâʼên

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H3985is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 17 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 32
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H3985

to refuse

The King James renders it: refuse, [idiom] utterly.

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

maen is rendered "to refuse". It stands 41 times in the Hebrew text, across seventeen books.

  • Ten of the uses stand in Jeremiah, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Genesis 37:35All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.
  • The Greek text spells it thirty-two different ways.

The first use

All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

Genesis 37:35וַיְמָאֵן֙

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

The word stands in seventeen of the 39 Old Testament books.

The other 22 Old Testament books never use the word.

What the word means

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • and he refused8
  • he has refused4
  • they have refused4
  • they refused4
  • and they refused3
  • and you refused2
  • have you refused2
  • they refuse2
  • absolutely refuse1
  • and it refused1
  • and she refused1
  • he refused1

and 8 more, 41 uses in all

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

מָאֵןmaenrefusingUses4

Other numbers on this spelling

Strong gave these words the same spelling and different numbers, so the site counts and defines them apart.

All 41, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

32 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • מֵאֲנ֖וּ6
  • וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ3
  • וַיְמָאֵ֣ן2
  • מֵאֲנ֥וּ2
  • וַיְמָאֵן֙1
  • וַיְמָאֵ֗ן1
  • וַיְמָאֵ֖ן1
  • וַיְמָאֵ֥ן1
  • וַיְמָאֵ֓ן׀1
  • וַיְמָאֵ֣ן׀1
  • וַיְמָאֵֽן׃1
  • וַתְּמָאֵ֖ן1

and 20 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • verb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common plural10HVpp3cp
  • Hc/Vpw3ms9Hc/Vpw3ms
  • verb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singular5HVpp3ms
  • verb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person feminine singular4HVpp3fs
  • Hc/Vpw3mp3Hc/Vpw3mp
  • Hc/Vpw2mp1Hc/Vpw2mp
  • Hc/Vpw2ms1Hc/Vpw2ms
  • Hc/Vpw3fs1Hc/Vpw3fs
  • verb · intensive (piel), infinitive (“to…”)1HVpcc
  • verb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine plural1HVpi2mp
  • verb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine plural1HVpi3mp
  • verb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singular1HVpi3ms

Genesis

three uses
  • All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

    Genesis 37:35

    • וַיְמָאֵן֙vaymaenHc/Vpw3mstagged: and he refused
  • But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care.

    Genesis 39:8

    • וַיְמָאֵ֓ן׀vaymaenHc/Vpw3mstagged: and he refused
  • But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”

    Genesis 48:19

    • וַיְמָאֵ֣ןvaymaenHc/Vpw3mstagged: and he refused

Exodus

six uses
  • and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”

    Exodus 4:23

    • וַתְּמָאֵ֖ןvatemaenHc/Vpw2mstagged: and you refused
  • Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go.

    Exodus 7:14

    • מֵאֵ֖ןmeenverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he has refused
  • So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

    Exodus 10:3

    • מֵאַ֔נְתָּmeantaverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: have you refused
  • Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and instructions?

    Exodus 16:28

    • מֵֽאַנְתֶּ֔םmeantemverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 2nd person masculine pluraltagged: have you refused
  • If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.

    Exodus 22:17

    • מָאֵ֧ןmaenverb · intensive (piel), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: absolutely refuse
    • יְמָאֵ֛ןyemaenverb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he will refuse

Numbers

three uses
  • So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.

    Numbers 20:21

    • וַיְמָאֵ֣ן׀vaymaenHc/Vpw3mstagged: and it refused
  • So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

    Numbers 22:13

    • מֵאֵ֣ןmeenverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he has refused
  • And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

    Numbers 22:14

    • מֵאֵ֥ןmeenverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he has refused

Deuteronomy

one use
  • But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.”

    Deuteronomy 25:7

    • מֵאֵ֨יןmeeinverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he has refused

1 Samuel

two uses
  • Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

    1 Samuel 8:19

    • וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּvaymaanuHc/Vpw3mptagged: and they refused
  • Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

    1 Samuel 28:23

    • וַיְמָאֵ֗ןvaymaenHc/Vpw3mstagged: and he refused

2 Samuel

two uses
  • But Asahel refused to turn away; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

    2 Samuel 2:23

    • וַיְמָאֵ֣ןvaymaenHc/Vpw3mstagged: and he refused
  • Then she brought the pan and set it down before him, but he refused to eat. “Send everyone away!” said Amnon. And everyone went out.

    2 Samuel 13:9

    • וַיְמָאֵ֖ןvaymaenHc/Vpw3mstagged: and he refused

1 Kings

two uses
  • Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.

    1 Kings 20:35

    • וַיְמָאֵ֥ןvaymaenHc/Vpw3mstagged: and he refused
  • When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.”

    1 Kings 21:15

    • מֵאֵן֙meenverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he refused

2 Kings

one use
  • But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.

    2 Kings 5:16

    • וַיְמָאֵֽן׃vaymaenHc/Vpw3mstagged: and he refused

Nehemiah

one use
  • They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.

    Nehemiah 9:17

    • וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּvaymaanuHc/Vpw3mptagged: and they refused

Esther

one use
  • Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.

    Esther 1:12

    • וַתְּמָאֵ֞ןvatemaenHc/Vpw3fstagged: and she refused

Job

one use
  • My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.

    Job 6:7

    • מֵאֲנָ֣הmeanahverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: it refuses

Psalms

two uses
  • In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted.

    Psalms 77:2

    • מֵאֲנָ֖הmeanahverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: it refused
  • They failed to keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law.

    Psalms 78:10

    • מֵאֲנ֥וּmeanuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they refused

Proverbs

three uses
  • Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,

    Proverbs 1:24

    • וַתְּמָאֵ֑נוּvatemaenuHc/Vpw2mptagged: and you refused
  • The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.

    Proverbs 21:7

    • מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּmeanuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they refuse
  • The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.

    Proverbs 21:25

    • מֵאֲנ֖וּmeanuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they refuse

Isaiah

one use
  • But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

    Isaiah 1:20

    • תְּמָאֲנ֖וּtemaanuverb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 2nd person masculine pluraltagged: you will refuse

Jeremiah

ten uses
  • Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to be ashamed.

    Jeremiah 3:3

    • מֵאַ֖נְתְּmeantverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 2nd person feminine singulartagged: you refused
  • O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.

    Jeremiah 5:3

    • מֵאֲנ֖וּmeanuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they refused
    • מֵאֲנ֖וּmeanuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they refused
  • Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return.

    Jeremiah 8:5

    • מֵאֲנ֖וּmeanuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they have refused
  • You dwell in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the LORD.

    Jeremiah 9:6

    • מֵאֲנ֥וּmeanuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they have refused
  • They have returned to the sins of their forefathers who refused to obey My words. They have followed other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their fathers.

    Jeremiah 11:10

    • מֵֽאֲנוּ֙meanuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they refused
  • Why is my pain unending, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become like a mirage to me—water that is not there.

    Jeremiah 15:18

    • מֵֽאֲנָה֙meanahverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: it has refused
  • If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink it, you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘You most certainly must drink it!

    Jeremiah 25:28

    • יְמָאֲנ֛וּyemaanuverb · intensive (piel), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: they will refuse
  • This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

    Jeremiah 31:15

    • מֵאֲנָ֛הmeanahverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: she has refused
  • This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to release them.

    Jeremiah 50:33

    • מֵאֲנ֖וּmeanuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they have refused

Hosea

one use
  • Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?

    Hosea 11:5

    • מֵאֲנ֖וּmeanuverb · intensive (piel), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they have refused

Zechariah

one use
  • But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.

    Zechariah 7:11

    • וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּvaymaanuHc/Vpw3mptagged: and they refused

The letters

Gematria 91· 741 mispar gadol

Where it leads

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →