מָרַד
𐤌𐤓𐤃
mârad
H4775 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To rebel or revolt, especially in the sense of rising in opposition or resisting authority. In the Hebrew Bible, this verb describes the act of refusing allegiance, breaking faith, or casting off a prescribed authority, whether human (such as a king) or divine (YHWH). The term encompasses both political rebellion (as in vassal states rebelling against an overlord) and religious or covenantal infidelity (turning away from YHWH's commandments or covenant).
Semantic Range
to rebel against political authority, to revolt against an overlord, to break covenantal allegiance, to commit religious or moral rebellion, to cast off or defy authority
Root / Etymology
From the root מ־ר־ד, which carries the idea of breaking free from control, defying, or rising up against authority. The verb is a direct reflection of this core idea, meaning 'to rebel' or 'to revolt.' There are cognates in related Semitic languages (e.g., Akkadian marādu: 'to be rebellious,' 'to resist,' 'to disobey authority'), supporting the meaning of defiance or revolt.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מָרַד appears in narratives involving political upheaval, such as subordinate kings or regions rebelling against an imperial power (e.g., 2 Kings 18:7, 2 Kings 24:1). It is also employed with reference to Israelite or Judahite unfaithfulness to YHWH, highlighting the covenantal context of rebellion (Ezekiel 2:3; Ezekiel 20:8). In later periods, related nouns (e.g., מֶרֶד, 'rebellion') and participles ('rebeller,' 'rebel') take on more abstract or general applications. The standard English gloss 'rebel' or 'rebellious' accurately captures the primary meaning, but the biblical usage assumes a context of established authority, and often, a sense of grievous betrayal. מָרַד is less frequently used than other Hebrew terms for disobedience (e.g., פָּשַׁע, חָטָא) and is typically reserved for overt acts of revolt or breach of political/covenantal agreement. Unlike פָּשַׁע, which has legal connotations of criminal offense, מָרַד almost always implies active uprising or defiance. The term continued into post-biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, especially in legal or political contexts, but its core nuance of open opposition to authority remains consistent.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to rebel; rebel(-lious).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מרד (m-r-d) — rebel, revolt, rise up against, defy authority
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4776 | מְרַד | and rebellion |
| H4777 | מֶרֶד | in rebellion |
| H4778 | מֶרֶד | Rebel |
| H4779 | מָרָד | rebellious |
| H4780 | מַרְדּוּת | the rebelliousness |
Word Forms
16 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4775-16 |
וַ/יִּמְרֹ֥ד | vayimerod | HC/Vqw3ms |
and rebelled | and he rebelled | 4 |
H4775-12 |
תִּמְרֹדוּ֒ | timerodu | HVqj2mp |
rebel | you men rebel | 3 |
H4775-14 |
וַ/יִּמְרָד | vayimerad | HC/Vqw3ms |
and rebelled | and he rebelled | 2 |
H4775-04 |
לִ/מְרֹ֣ד | limerod | HR/Vqc |
to rebel | to rebel | 2 |
H4775-02 |
הַ/מּוֹרְדִ֖ים | hamoredim | HTd/Vqrmpa |
rebellious | the rebelling ones | 2 |
H4775-07 |
מָרַ֖דְתָּ | maradeta | HVqp2ms |
you have rebelled | you rebelled | 2 |
H4775-11 |
תִּמְרְד֤וּ | timeredu | HVqi2mp |
rebel | you rebel | 1 |
H4775-03 |
לִ/מְרָדְ/כֶ֥ם | limeradekhem | HR/Vqc/Sp2mp |
for rebelling you(pl) | your rebelling | 1 |
H4775-15 |
וַֽ/יִּמְרְד֜וּ | vayimeredu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and-they-rebelled | they rebelled | 1 |
H4775-09 |
מָרְדוּ | maredu | HVqp3cp |
have rebelled | they rebelled | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
25 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4775-08 |
Genesis 14:4 | מָרָֽדוּ | maradu | HVqp3cp |
they rebelled | they rebelled |
H4775-12 |
Numbers 14:9 | תִּמְרֹדוּ֒ | timerodu | HVqj2mp |
rebel | you men rebel |
H4775-03 |
Joshua 22:16 | לִ/מְרָדְ/כֶ֥ם | limeradekhem | HR/Vqc/Sp2mp |
for rebelling you(pl) | your rebelling |
H4775-11 |
Joshua 22:18 | תִּמְרְד֤וּ | timeredu | HVqi2mp |
rebel | you rebel |
H4775-12 |
Joshua 22:19 | תִּמְרֹ֗דוּ | timerodu | HVqj2mp |
rebel | you men rebel |
H4775-12 |
Joshua 22:19 | תִּמְרֹ֔דוּ | timerodu-2 | HVqj2mp |
rebel | you men rebel |
H4775-04 |
Joshua 22:29 | לִ/מְרֹ֣ד | limerod | HR/Vqc |
to rebel | to rebel |
H4775-16 |
2 Kings 18:7 | וַ/יִּמְרֹ֥ד | vayimerod | HC/Vqw3ms |
and-he-rebelled | and he rebelled |
H4775-07 |
2 Kings 18:20 | מָרַ֖דְתָּ | maradeta | HVqp2ms |
you have rebelled | you rebelled |
H4775-14 |
2 Kings 24:1 | וַ/יִּמְרָד | vayimerad | HC/Vqw3ms |
and rebelled | and he rebelled |