# \*mann-: 'manna; divine food, heavenly sustenance'

> Proto-Semitic *mann-, 'manna; divine food, heavenly sustenance': reflexes in 4 language(s).

A page of the Linear A Lexicon's research wiki, in [Wiki](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/index.md>) › [Kaphtor Semitic Roots](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/index.md>) › [M](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/m/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*mann- |
| Meaning | 'manna; divine food, heavenly sustenance' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | mān (Exod 16:15, 16:31, 16:33; HALOT 596) | HALOT 596 | gloss withheld |
| Judaic Aramaic | mannā (HALOT 596; Jastrow 796) | HALOT 596; Jastrow 796 | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | mann (HALOT 596) | HALOT 596 | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | mannā 'manna' (Payne Smith 282) | Payne Smith 282 |  |

A form keeps its source's gloss only when the source is public domain or openly licensed.

## Notes

Exod 16:15 gives a folk-etymology, mān hûʔ 'what is it?', from the interrogative mān (HALOT 596, II מן, which lists Akkadian mannu 'who? what?'); the Akkadian is that interrogative, not a cognate of the substance. Arabic mann names the tamarisk exudation (Tamarix mannifera), a natural substance of Sinai.

## Linked from

- [M](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/m/index.md>)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/m/2965_manna_divine_food_heavenly_sustenance/
Licence: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as: di Mino, Tom. 2026. Linear A Lexicon. Plasma AI. https://linear-a.ai/. Data: kaphtor, commit add28e94.