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מְרִי

𐤌𐤓𐤉

mᵉrîy

H4805 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מרה to rebel, to be disobedient, to resist authority

Definition

Intense opposition or resistance, particularly in the sense of deliberate disobedience or defiance against authority. The term is most often used to describe an attitude or act of willful rebellion, especially against divine command or authority. It can also encompass the notions of obstinacy, stubbornness, and recalcitrance.

Semantic Range

rebellion, defiance, willful disobedience, obstinacy, recalcitrance, opposition to authority

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root מָרָה (marah), which carries the core meaning 'to be disobedient, to resist, to be rebellious.' מְרִי is a nominal form built from this root, denoting the abstract or concrete state of rebellion or defiance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מְרִי most frequently designates rebelliousness in the context of the relationship between the Israelite people (or individuals) and their deity, especially relating to the covenant. It is used to describe both collective and individual acts of resistance against divine instruction (e.g., Ezekiel 2:5, 2:8, 3:9), underscoring an active, obstinate attitude rather than inadvertent wrongdoing. The term appears almost exclusively in exilic or post-exilic prophetic literature, particularly Ezekiel, to characterize the nation or audience as 'rebellious.' It occurs less frequently in pre-exilic texts. English translations often render it as 'rebellion' or 'rebelliousness,' though the term has a broader sense of persistent defiance. While etymologically related to the idea of 'bitterness,' the semantic range in the Hebrew Bible centers on opposition and rebelliousness, rather than emotional bitterness. Related words include מָרָה (to rebel, disobey), but מְרִי conveys the abstract or collective nature of such defiance. Later translations (including some English versions) occasionally conflate this term with emotional bitterness, but this does not reflect its primary biblical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from מָרָה; bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious; bitter, (most) rebel(-lion, -lious).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מרה (m-r-h) — to rebel, to be disobedient, to resist authority

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4754 מָרָא rebelling woman
H4784 מָרָה the rebelling ones
H4811 מְרָיָה Yah is rebellious
H4812 מְרָיוֹת to Merayoth

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4805-04 מֶ֑רִי meri HNcmsa rebellious willful rebellion 15
H4805-02 הַ/מֶּ֑רִי hameri HTd/Ncmsa of rebellion the rebellion 6
H4805-03 מֶרְיְ/ךָ֔ mereyekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your rebellion your rebellion 1
H4805-01 בְּ/מִרְיָ֑/ם bemireyam HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp in rebellion in their rebellion 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4805-04 Numbers 17:25 מֶ֑רִי meri HNcmsa rebellion willful rebellion
H4805-03 Deuteronomy 31:27 מֶרְיְ/ךָ֔ mereyekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your rebellion your rebellion
H4805-04 1 Samuel 15:23 מֶ֔רִי meri HNcmsa is rebellion willful rebellion
H4805-04 Isaiah 30:9 מְרִי֙ meri HNcmsa rebellious willful rebellion
H4805-04 Ezekiel 2:5 מְרִ֖י meri HNcmsa rebellion willful rebellion
H4805-04 Ezekiel 2:6 מְרִ֖י meri HNcmsa rebellious willful rebellion
H4805-04 Ezekiel 2:7 מְרִ֖י meri HNcmsa rebellious willful rebellion
H4805-04 Ezekiel 2:8 מֶ֖רִי meri HNcmsa rebellious willful rebellion
H4805-02 Ezekiel 2:8 הַ/מֶּ֑רִי hameri HTd/Ncmsa of rebellion the rebellion
H4805-04 Ezekiel 3:9 מְרִ֖י meri HNcmsa rebellious willful rebellion
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