manoah
Very LowFormal, Literary, Religious
Definition
Meaning
A proper noun referring to a Biblical figure, the father of Samson.
In contemporary usage, occasionally used as a given name, primarily within religious or cultural communities familiar with the Biblical narrative.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is exclusively a proper noun. Its usage outside of direct reference to the Biblical character or as a given name is extremely rare and likely to cause confusion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. The name is equally rare and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Primarily connotes Old Testament/Biblical scholarship, religious tradition, or (when used as a first name) a strong religious or cultural heritage.
Frequency
Vanishingly rare in general language corpora. Frequency is marginally higher in texts focused on theology or Biblical studies.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Proper noun; typically used in apposition (e.g., Manoah, the Danite) or with a possessive (e.g., Manoah's wife).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used almost exclusively in theological, religious studies, or historical literature discussing the Book of Judges.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation unless discussing the specific Biblical story or meeting someone with this name.
Technical
Not applicable in technical fields.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is a story about Manoah.
- In the Bible, Manoah was the father of a very strong man named Samson.
- Manoah and his wife were visited by an angel who foretold the birth of their son.
- The narrative of Manoah's sacrificial offering illustrates the theme of divine-human encounter in the Book of Judges.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MAN Offereth A Hymn' - Manoah offered a sacrifice after an angelic visit.
Conceptual Metaphor
A figure representing faithful obedience (to divine instructions) and parental dedication.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'мануал' (manual) or 'мано' (Mano). It is a transliterated proper name: Маной.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'Manoa' (a place in Hawaii).
- Mispronouncing the stress as on the first syllable (/ˈmæn.oʊ.ə/).
Practice
Quiz
In which book of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament is Manoah primarily mentioned?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely low-frequency proper noun known primarily from the Biblical text.
No, it functions exclusively as a proper noun (a name).
The standard pronunciation is /məˈnoʊ.ə/ in American English, with the primary stress on the second syllable.
He is the father of Samson, a Nazirite judge, and his story emphasizes faith and obedience to divine instructions.