feminine of מִקְנֶה; properly, a buying, i.e. acquisition; concretely, a piece of property (land or living); also the sum paid; (he that is) bought, possession, piece, purchase.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **miqnâh**, represented by `{{H4736}}`, refers to the act of buying or acquisition. Appearing **15 times** across **13 unique verses**, its meaning encompasses a purchase, a possession, or the price paid for something. This term is used for tangible assets, including both property and people who are brought into a household.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H4736}}` is used in two primary contexts: the acquisition of people and the purchase of land. In Genesis, the term consistently refers to those "bought with money" who, through their acquisition, become part of Abraham's household and are included in the covenant of circumcision ([[Genesis 17:13]], 17:23). This status is reiterated in the law of the Passover, where a servant "bought for money" may partake after he is circumcised [[Exodus 12:44]]. The word also signifies a formal land transaction, most notably in Jeremiah's purchase of a field, where the "evidence of the purchase" is carefully documented and preserved as a sign of future hope ([[Jeremiah 32:12]], 32:14).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the concept of acquisition and its legal context:
* `{{H3701}}` **keçeph** (money, price, silver): This word for money is frequently paired with `{{H4736}}` to specify that an acquisition was made through a monetary transaction, as in the case of a servant "bought for money" [[Genesis 17:12]].
* `{{H4376}}` **mâkar** (to sell): This verb represents the opposite side of a transaction. In Leviticus, the price `{{H4736}}` of a field is determined by its productive years when a person does "sell" `{{H4376}}` it [[Leviticus 25:16]].
* `{{H5612}}` **çêpher** (book, evidence, register, scroll): This term highlights the legal and formal nature of a purchase. In Jeremiah, the prophet takes the "evidence (çêpher) of the purchase (miqnâh)" to make the land acquisition official [[Jeremiah 32:11]].
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{H4736}}` carries significant conceptual weight in scripture.
* **Inclusion by Acquisition:** The concept demonstrates that membership in the covenant community was not limited to birth. Individuals could be brought into the household of faith through a "purchase," granting them the responsibilities and privileges of the covenant, such as circumcision [[Genesis 17:27]].
* **Tangible Hope:** Jeremiah’s land "purchase" during a time of national crisis served as a powerful prophetic act. Securing the legal deed signified God's promise that the people would one day return to their land and resume normal life, including the buying and possessing of property [[Jeremiah 32:14]].
* **Legal and Economic Value:** The term is embedded in Israel's legal code, establishing principles for setting a "price" based on value and for redeeming a person based on the "money that he was bought for" ([[Leviticus 25:16]], 25:51). This connects the act of purchase to concepts of justice and redemption.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4736}}` moves beyond a simple definition of "purchase." It is a term that encompasses the acquisition of both people and property, linking the act to legal rights, covenantal inclusion, and profound theological hope. Whether describing a servant brought into Abraham's family or a field bought in faith, **miqnâh** illustrates how a physical transaction could establish new relationships and serve as a testament to God's enduring promises.
TRV