from an unused root meaning to portion out; a sort, i.e. species; kind. Compare מִן.
Transliteration:mîyn
Pronunciation:meen
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word מִין (mîyn), `{{H4327}}`, is derived from an unused root that conveys the sense of "to portion out." This etymological root illuminates its primary meaning as "a sort," "species," or "kind." The core semantic range of מִין thus revolves around the concept of distinct classification and categorization within the created order, particularly emphasizing the inherent boundaries and unique identities of biological entities. It signifies a divinely established demarcation, ensuring the preservation of specific types.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The most significant and foundational occurrences of מִין are found in the creation narrative of Genesis 1, where it appears ten times in the recurring phrase "after its kind" (לְמִינֵהוּ). This phrase is applied to:
* Vegetation: "herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind" [[Genesis 1:11]], [[Genesis 1:12]].
* Sea creatures and birds: "every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after its kind" [[Genesis 1:21]].
* Land animals: "the living creature after its kind, cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing of the earth after its kind" [[Genesis 1:24]], [[Genesis 1:25]].
The consistent repetition of "after its kind" in this foundational text emphasizes the divine ordering and the inherent capacity of each created entity to reproduce within its specific, divinely appointed boundaries. This implies a fixed identity for each "kind," distinct from others.
Beyond Genesis, מִין is also used extensively in the dietary laws of Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, where it distinguishes between various clean and unclean animals, birds, and insects. For example:
* "every raven after its kind" [[Leviticus 11:15]], [[Deuteronomy 14:14]].
* "the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after its kind" [[Leviticus 11:16]], [[Deuteronomy 14:15]].
* "the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind" [[Leviticus 11:22]].
In these contexts, מִין reinforces the concept of distinct categories, which in turn informs Israel's understanding of purity and separation as a holy nation set apart by God. Its singular occurrence in [[Ezekiel 47:10]] also refers to distinct "kinds" of fish, further underscoring its usage in biological classification.
### Related Words & Concepts
The definition of מִין notes a comparison with the preposition מִן (min), `{{H4480}}`, meaning "from" or "out of." While not directly related semantically in most contexts, the shared root implication of "portioning out" or "separation" could subtly link the two, as מִין denotes a class separated *from* others.
Conceptually, מִין is closely tied to other creation vocabulary, such as:
* בָּרָא (bārā’), `{{H1254}}`, "to create," highlighting the divine origin of these distinct kinds.
* עָשָׂה (‘āśāh), `{{H6213}}`, "to make," emphasizing the specific formation of each kind.
* בָּדַל (bāḏal), `{{H914}}`, "to separate," which describes God's act of dividing light from darkness, waters from waters, and implicitly, one "kind" from another. The very act of defining distinct "kinds" is an act of separation and ordering.
The concept of מִין provides a foundational biblical understanding of biological diversity, not as a continuous spectrum, but as distinct, divinely established categories.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of מִין is profound and multi-layered:
1. **Divine Order and Wisdom:** The repeated insistence that creatures reproduce "after its kind" in Genesis 1 powerfully communicates God's meticulous design and sovereign ordering of creation. It reflects a universe not born of chaos, but structured with purpose, precision, and inherent boundaries, testifying to the infinite wisdom of the Creator.
2. **Immutability of Created Kinds:** The phrase "after its kind" strongly implies a fixed boundary for biological reproduction. While variations and adaptations within a "kind" are observed, the biblical text suggests that one "kind" does not transition into another. This concept has significant implications for understanding the origin of species within a biblical framework, emphasizing the stability and integrity of God's original creative acts.
3. **Holiness and Distinction:** In the Mosaic Law, the application of מִין to clean and unclean animals extends its theological reach beyond mere biology. It reinforces the principle of distinction and separation that is central to holiness. God establishes clear boundaries for what is acceptable and unacceptable, reflecting His own character and guiding His people toward a life of purity set apart from the nations.
4. **Witness to God's Sustaining Power:** The ongoing ability of each "kind" to reproduce faithfully, generation after generation, serves as a continuous witness to God's sustaining power and the enduring design embedded within His creation. It points to a Creator who not only brought all things into being but actively upholds their inherent nature.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מִין (mîyn), `{{H4327}}`, fundamentally denotes a "kind" or "species," emphasizing distinct, divinely ordained categories within creation. Its most prominent occurrences in Genesis 1, through the recurring phrase "after its kind" ([[Genesis 1:11]], [[Genesis 1:21]], [[Genesis 1:24]]), highlight God's deliberate act of ordering and classifying life forms, ensuring their reproduction within specific, fixed boundaries. This repetition underscores the divine establishment of immutable biological "kinds," reflecting God's wisdom and sovereign design in a meticulously structured universe. In the Mosaic Law, particularly in dietary regulations, מִין continues to signify distinct categories, reinforcing principles of separation and purity for the people of God ([[Leviticus 11:14]], [[Deuteronomy 14:13]]). Theologically, מִין attests to the divine order, the integrity of created "kinds," and God's meticulous provision for a diverse yet structured world, all bearing witness to His creative power, wisdom, and the call for His people to live distinctly.
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