Strong's H3985 · Hebrew
מָאֵן
mâʼên · /maw-ane'/
Definition
to refuse
KJV: refuse, [idiom] utterly.
Root / derivation: a primitive root;
KJV usage breakdown
How the Authorized (KJV) translators rendered מָאֵן across 39 verses.
Every occurrence (KJV)
39 verses use this word, grouped by book — the translated form is highlighted.
Genesis3 verses
And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
Genesis 39:8But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
Genesis 48:19And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. multitude: Heb. fulness
Exodus5 verses
And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
Exodus 7:14And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
Exodus 10:3And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.
Exodus 16:28And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
Exodus 22:17If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. pay: Heb. weigh
Numbers3 verses
Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
Numbers 22:13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
Numbers 22:14And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
1 Samuel2 verses
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
1 Samuel 28:23But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
2 Samuel2 verses
Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
2 Samuel 13:9And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
1 Kings2 verses
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.
1 Kings 21:15And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
Psalms2 verses
Proverbs3 verses
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Proverbs 21:7The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. destroy: Heb. saw them, or, dwell with them
Proverbs 21:25The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Isaiah1 verse
Jeremiah9 verses
Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
Jeremiah 5:3O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
Jeremiah 8:5Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.
Jeremiah 9:6Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 11:10They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
Jeremiah 15:18Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? fail: Heb. be not sure?
Jeremiah 25:28And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.
Jeremiah 31:15Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
Jeremiah 50:33Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.
Topics that use this word
Frequently asked questions
What does Strong's H3985 (mâʼên) mean?
to refuse
How many times does H3985 appear in the Bible?
Strong's H3985 (מָאֵן) appears in 39 verses of the King James Version, most often translated “refused.”
How is mâʼên translated in the KJV?
In the KJV, Strong's H3985 is rendered as “refused” (24×), “refuse” (10×), “refuseth” (5×), “refusedst” (1×), among other words.
Where does the Hebrew word מָאֵן come from?
a primitive root;