מָרוּק
𐤌𐤓𐤅𐤒
mârûwq
H4795 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A process or state of purification or cleansing, especially involving ritual or ceremonial removal of impurity, often by rubbing, washing, or other ablutionary means. The term can also refer to the agent or means by which purification is accomplished, with special reference to fragrant substances or ointments.
Semantic Range
purification (ritual or ceremonial), cosmetic cleansing or beautification by rubbing or anointing, the period or means of purification, the substances (ointments or oils) used in purification
Root / Etymology
מָרוּק derives from the verb מָרַק (maráq), which means 'to rub,' 'to polish,' or 'to cleanse.' The noun form מָרוּק draws on the sense of active cleansing or rubbing, particularly as related to personal grooming or ritual purification. The root concept is physical removal of impurity, but the noun is specialized in usage toward ritual and fragrant purification.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical usage, מָרוּק appears only rarely, but when it does (e.g., Esther 2:12), it refers to the regimen of purification and cosmetic treatment undergone by young women before appearing before the Persian monarch. This involved aromatic oils and ointments, linking the core idea of rubbing/polishing (for hygiene and beautification) with ritual or ceremonial fitness. The process has context-specific connotations: aesthetically (beautification for royal court) and ritually (adequacy for a sacred or socially elevated role). English translations often render the term as 'purification,' but this may obscure the strong emphasis on cosmetic or ablutionary procedures. In Esther, the distinction serves to emphasize preparation for a distinctive (royal) status, paralleling similar, though not identical, ritual purifications found elsewhere in biblical and Second Temple literature. The meaning did not significantly shift across periods, but its attestation is almost exclusively post-exilic.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָרַק; properly, rubbed; but used abstractly, a rubbing (with perfumery); purification.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מרק (m-r-q) — rub, polish, cleanse, purify
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4838 | מָרַק | polished one |
| H4839 | מָרָק | the boiled broth |
| H8562 | תַּמְרוּק | cleansing ointment |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4795-01 |
מְרוּקֵי/הֶ֑ן | meruqeyhen | HNcmpc/Sp3fp |
their beautification | their purifying rubbings | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4795-01 |
Esther 2:12 | מְרוּקֵי/הֶ֑ן | meruqeyhen | HNcmpc/Sp3fp |
their beautification | their purifying rubbings |