Original Word: מִדְיָנִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Midyaniy
Pronunciation: mid-yaw-NEE
Phonetic Spelling: (mid-yaw-nee')
KJV: Midianite
NASB: Midianite, Midianites, Midianite woman
Word Origin: [patronymical or patrial from H4080 (מִדיָן - Midian)]

1. a Midjanite or descend. (native) of Midjan

Midianite

Patronymical or patrial from Midyan; a Midjanite or descend. (native) of Midjan -- Midianite. Compare Mdaniy.

see HEBREW Midyan

see HEBREW Mdaniy

Word Origin
from Midyan
Definition
a desc. of Midian
NASB Translation
Midianite (3), Midianite woman (2), Midianites (3).

מִדְיָנִי adjective, of a people Midianite — Numbers 10:29 (J); feminine מִדְיָנִית Numbers 25:6,14,15 (P); plural מִדְיָנִים Genesis 37:28 (JE) Numbers 25:17; Numbers 31:2 (P), מְדָנִים Genesis 37:36 (E).

Overview

The term מִדְיָנִי (mid·ya·ni) designates a Midianite—one belonging to the nomadic people descending from Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2). Scripture presents the Midianites as both occasional allies and frequent adversaries of Israel, illustrating the tension between covenant faithfulness and surrounding pagan influence.

Principal Old Testament Occurrences

• Genesis 37:28, 36 – “When the Midianite merchants passed by, they pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him…”. The Midianites function as the human agents who transport Joseph toward the divinely-ordained preservation of Israel in Egypt.
• Numbers 10:29 – Moses pleads, “Leave us not, I ask you, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you shall be our eyes.” Here a Midianite (Hobab, son of Reuel) serves Israel as guide, showing that fellowship is possible when hearts turn toward the LORD.
• Numbers 25:6; 25:14-15 – A Midianite woman, Cozbi, joins Zimri in blatant immorality at Shittim, precipitating a lethal plague.
• Numbers 25:17; 31:2 – “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel.” Midian becomes the object of holy war because of its calculated seduction of Israel into idolatry.

Ethnological Identity

Midianites ranged across the Arabian Peninsula, controlling caravan routes between Canaan and Egypt. Their patriarch Midian was Abraham’s fourth son by Keturah, making them distant kin to Israel (Genesis 25:1-4). The kinship explains episodes of cooperation (Hobab, Jethro) while their independent tribal confederation accounts for later conflicts.

Historical Interactions with Israel

1. Commercial Contact – The caravan that purchased Joseph reveals Midian’s mercantile skill. God employs their trade network to transfer Joseph to Egypt, demonstrating providence over international economics.
2. Covenantal Assistance – Jethro, priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, acknowledged the LORD’s supremacy (Exodus 18:10-12). Hobab’s guidance (Numbers 10:29-32) depicts Midianites who submit to Yahweh’s purposes.
3. Moral Corruption – At Peor, Midianite women deliberately entice Israeli men into Baal worship. This state-sponsored seduction aligns Midian with Moab in opposition to divine holiness (Numbers 25:1-3, 17-18).
4. Divine Retribution – Numbers 31 records Israel’s punitive campaign. The execution of Midian’s kings and the prophet Balaam underscores the seriousness of leading God’s people astray.

Theological Significance

• Covenant Separation – Midian illustrates the perpetual challenge of maintaining holiness amid surrounding cultures. Their downfall serves as a warning that proximity and kinship do not substitute for covenant loyalty.
• Sovereign Instrumentality – God employs Midian for both blessing (Joseph’s deliverance, Moses’ refinement in exile, wilderness navigation) and judgment (testing Israel’s fidelity). The dual role highlights divine sovereignty over nations.
• Typology of Seduction – The Peor incident foreshadows later prophetic denunciations of spiritual adultery. Midian’s enticement exemplifies how idolatry masquerades under relational or commercial ties.

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

1. Guard Spiritual Borders – Fellowship must never compromise obedience to God’s revealed will; discernment protects the covenant community from assimilation.
2. Engage but Test – Like Moses with Hobab, believers may cooperate with outsiders who honor God’s mission, provided allegiance to Scripture remains paramount.
3. Confront Idolatry Decisively – Phinehas’ zeal (Numbers 25:7-13) and the subsequent judgment on Midian teach leaders to address sin swiftly to preserve communal holiness.
4. Trust God’s Providence – What appears as exploitative (Joseph’s sale) may conceal divine orchestration for deliverance and eventual blessing.

Summary

The Midianites emerge in Scripture as complex relatives—sometimes guides, often tempters, ultimately illustrative of God’s unwavering demand for covenant purity. Their account urges the people of God to remain distinct yet missional, discerning yet hospitable, always upholding the LORD’s exclusive claim upon His redeemed.

הַמִּדְיָנִ֑ים הַמִּדְיָנִ֔ית הַמִּדְיָנִ֖ית הַמִּדְיָנִי֮ המדיני המדינים המדינית וְהַ֨מְּדָנִ֔ים והמדנים מִדְיָנִ֜ים מדינים ham·miḏ·yā·nî ham·miḏ·yā·nîm ham·miḏ·yā·nîṯ hammidyaNi hammiḏyānî hammidyaNim hammiḏyānîm hammidyaNit hammiḏyānîṯ miḏ·yā·nîm midyaNim miḏyānîm veHammedaNim wə·ham·mə·ḏā·nîm wəhamməḏānîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts