Bible Dictionaries
Manaen

Holman Bible Dictionary

(man' uh ehn) Greek form of Menahem (“Comforter”); the name of a prophet and teacher in the early church at Antioch (Acts 13:1 ). Manaen is described as the syntrophos of Herod the tetrarch (Herod Antipas, reigned 4 B.C. to A.D. 37). The term literally means “one who eats with.” In the Old Testament, those who shared the king's table were persons recognized as valued members of the court ( 2 Samuel 9:10-13; 2 Samuel 19:28; 1 Kings 2:7; 2 Kings 25:29; Nehemiah 5:17 ). The earliest Greek translation uses syntropoi to refer to those generals who were reared with Alexander ( 1 Maccabees 1:6 ) as well as for members of court (2 Maccabees 9:29 ). The meanings “member of court” and “childhood companion” are both possible for Acts 13:1 . A less likely alternative is the early Greek translation's use of syntrophoi for fellow Israelites to mean, “kin” ( 1 Kings 12:24 ).