The Hebrew word Menashshiy is the gentilic adjective meaning "of Manasseh" or "Manassite," referring to members of the tribe descended from Manasseh, the firstborn son of Joseph (Genesis 41:51). The name Manasseh itself means "one who causes to forget," given because God made Joseph forget the hardship of his father's house. The tribe received territory both east and west of the Jordan River.
The Manassites play a significant role in Israel's history. As the half-tribe, they straddled both sides of the Jordan — a geographic reality with spiritual implications about commitment and identity. Gideon was a Manassite, demonstrating that God raises up deliverers from unexpected places. The tribe's dual territory became a test case for covenant unity: when the eastern Manassites built an altar by the Jordan, it nearly caused civil war until they explained it was a memorial, not a rival worship site (Joshua 22). Their story illustrates the tension between proximity to the Promised Land and full participation in covenant community.