Midvash

מַעַןmaʻan

purpose, intent, for the sake of, on account of, to the intent or in order that, only with לְ, in לְמַ֫עַן

Pronunciation: mah'-an · Hebrew/Aramaic (Old Testament) · H4616

Meanings

1. preposition

a. for the sake of, for thy life's sake (Genesis 18:24; Deuteronomy 30:6; 1 Kings 8:41)

b. In view of, on account of (Deuteronomy 3:26; 1 Kings 11:39; Psalms 5:9)

c. for the purpose of, to the intent that (Genesis 18:19; Genesis 37:22; Genesis 50:20)

2. conjunction (followed by imperfect)

a. to the end that (Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 27:3; Joshua 3:4)

c. (a), (b) (Numbers 17:5; Deuteronomy 20:18; Ezekiel 31:14)

Same root

Where it appears

Appears 272 times in the Bible.

  • Genesis 12:13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”
  • Genesis 18:19 I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
  • Genesis 18:24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?
  • Genesis 27:25 Then Isaac said, “Now, my son, bring me the wild game. Let me eat it, and then I will give you my blessing.” So Jacob took the food to his father, and Isaac ate it. He also drank the wine that Jacob served him.
  • Genesis 37:22 “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.
  • Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
See every passage

Source: Brown, Driver and Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain; markup by unfoldingWord, CC BY (github.com/unfoldingWord/Brown-Driver-Briggs-Enhanced).