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מָרָה

𐤌𐤓𐤄

mârâh

H4784 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To act rebelliously, to defy authority or expressed instruction, especially with reference to defiance against divinely sanctioned leadership or commands. The term denotes intentional disobedience or willful resistance, frequently in the context of covenantal relationships, particularly between the Israelite community and their deity or divinely appointed leaders. It can also refer more broadly to an attitude or act of provocation or stubborn resistance.

Semantic Range

to rebel (open or covert defiance), to refuse to obey, to act provocatively (against authority), to be stubborn/disobedient, to provoke (especially divine wrath), to act resolutely against command

Root / Etymology

From the root מ-ר-ה (מרה), which at its core connotes a sense of resistance, opposition, or defiance. The verb מָרָה derives directly from this root and conveys an action of rebelling or disobeying authority, most often in a relational or covenantal context. The root does not inherently mean 'to be bitter' in the sense of taste—rather, it pertains to being obstinate or resisting authority. Hebrew employs a distinct root, מרר, for 'bitterness' in the sensory sense.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מָרָה appears frequently in narratives and legal material describing the relationship between the Israelite people and their deity, particularly emphasizing the gravity of rejecting divine commandments or appointed leaders such as Moses. It is not a generic term for civil rebellion but focuses on defiant, willful transgression—often carrying religious or moral implications. Usage peaks in periods of crisis or transition (e.g., wilderness wanderings, prophetic indictments). English renderings such as 'rebel' or 'provoke' can understate the nuance of intentionality and covenantal violation. The term may be used both for individuals (e.g., children toward parents) and groups (e.g., Israelites toward their deity), but always within established relational structures. The sense of 'making bitter' or 'provoking bitterness' found in Strong's and some translations is largely figurative and contextual rather than lexical.

Translation Consistency

primary "rebel" 5 occurrences

mârâh primarily denotes deliberate, often communal defiance or disobedience against authority (especially divine or covenantal leadership). “Rebel” best captures the typical sense of open/stubborn resistance and fits the majority P2 renderings while remaining natural English for all forms of the verb.

Alternatives (40 occurrences):
"rebelled" (24x) "rebelling" (4x) "rebellious" (2x) "rebelling ones" (1x) "rebellious ones" (1x) "bitter" (1x) "defied" (1x) "rebelling one" (1x) "provoke rebellion" (1x) "provoked rebellion" (1x) "rebelled against" (1x) "provoking defiance" (1x) "acted rebelliously" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke); bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoke(-ing), (be) rebel (against, -lious).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מרה (m-r-h) — to resist, to oppose, to defy, to disobey

Root מרה to resist, to oppose, to be defiant, to disobey
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4754 מָרָא rebelling woman
H4805 מְרִי in their rebellion
H4811 מְרָיָה Yah is rebellious
H4812 מְרָיוֹת to Merayoth

Word Forms

24 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4784-21 וַ/יַּמְרוּ vayameru HC/Vhw3mp and they rebelled and they acted defiantly and they rebelled 6
H4784-17 וּ/מוֹרֶ֔ה umoreh HC/Vqrmsa and rebellious and defying and rebelling 4
H4784-09 מָרִ֑יתִי mariti HVqp1cs I-have-rebelled I rebelled I rebelled 3
H4784-19 וַ/תַּמְר֕וּ vatameru HC/Vhw2mp and you rebelled and you defied and you rebelled 3
H4784-04 מַמְרִ֥ים mamerim HVhrmpa rebellious those provoking rebellion rebellious 3
H4784-11 מָר֥וּ maru HVqp3cp rebelled they defied they rebelled 3
H4784-16 וּ/מְרִיתֶ֖ם umeritem HC/Vqq2mp and rebel and you rebelled and you rebelled 2
H4784-03 לַ/מְר֖וֹת lamerot HR/Vhc to rebel to provoke rebellion to provoke rebellion 2
H4784-12 מְרִיתֶ֥ם meritem HVqp2mp you rebelled you rebelled you rebelled 2
H4784-02 הִמְר֥וּ himeru HVhp3cp they rebelled they defied they rebelled 2

Occurrences in Scripture

45 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4784-01 Numbers 20:10 הַ/מֹּרִ֔ים hamorim HTd/Vqrmpa you rebels the rebelling ones the rebelling ones
H4784-12 Numbers 20:24 מְרִיתֶ֥ם meritem HVqp2mp you rebelled you rebelled you rebelled
H4784-12 Numbers 27:14 מְרִיתֶ֨ם meritem HVqp2mp you rebelled you rebelled you rebelled
H4784-19 Deuteronomy 1:26 וַ/תַּמְר֕וּ vatameru HC/Vhw2mp and you rebelled and you defied and you rebelled
H4784-19 Deuteronomy 1:43 וַ/תַּמְרוּ֙ vatameru HC/Vhw2mp and-you-rebelled and you defied and you rebelled
H4784-04 Deuteronomy 9:7 מַמְרִ֥ים mamerim HVhrmpa rebelling those provoking rebellion those making others rebel
H4784-19 Deuteronomy 9:23 וַ/תַּמְר֗וּ vatameru HC/Vhw2mp but you rebelled and you defied and you rebelled
H4784-04 Deuteronomy 9:24 מַמְרִ֥ים mamerim HVhrmpa rebellious those provoking rebellion rebellious ones
H4784-17 Deuteronomy 21:18 וּ/מוֹרֶ֔ה umoreh HC/Vqrmsa and rebellious and defying and rebelling
H4784-17 Deuteronomy 21:20 וּ/מֹרֶ֔ה umoreh HC/Vqrmsa and rebellious and defying and rebelling
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