Word/name | Hebrew |
---|---|
Related names | Manasseh |
Manasses or Manasseh (/mə.ˈnæs.ə/;Hebrew: מְנַשֵּׁה "Mnaše") is a Biblical Hebrew name for men meaning "causing to forget". It is the given name of seven people of the Bible, the name of a tribe of Israel, and the name of one of the apocryphal writings. It is also the name of several more modern people.
Manasses (Hebrew: מנשה; Septuagint: Manassê; c. 2nd millennium BC) was the eldest son of Joseph and the Egyptian Aseneth (Genesis 41:50-51; 46:20). The name means "he that causes to forget"; Joseph assigned the reason for its bestowal: "God hath made me to forget all my toils, and my father's house" (Genesis 41:51). Jacob blessed Manasses (Genesis 48); but gave preference to the younger son Ephraim, despite the father's protestations in favour of Manasses. By this blessing, Jacob put Manasses and Ephraim in the same class with Ruben and Simeon (verses 3-5), and gave foundation for the admission of the tribes of Manasses and Ephraim.
Manasses, Judith's husband, died of sunstroke in Bethulia (Judith 8:2-3).
Manasses was a character in the Story of Ahikar (not in Vulgata, but in Septuagint) told by Tobias on the point of death. The Vatican Manuscript mentions Manasses (Manassês) as one "who gave alms and escaped the snare of death". The Sinaitic Manuscript mentions no one, but clearly refers the almsgiving and escape to Achiacharus (Ahikar). The reading of the Vatican Manuscript may be an error.