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מְרִיא

𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤀

mᵉrîyʼ

H4806 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מרא to be fat, to be robust, to be abundant

Definition

A fattened ox or steer, specifically an animal that has been stall-fed or specially fattened for sacrifice, ceremonial use, or feasting. The term implies an animal of prime quality due to deliberate feeding and care, as opposed to animals grazing freely.

Semantic Range

fattened ox, stall-fed steer, specially fattened cattle for sacrifice or feasting; by extension, animal of prime quality

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root מרא, generally connected with meanings related to fatness, abundance, or strength. While the root conveys a sense of 'being stout, fat, or vigorous,' the noun מְרִיא refers concretely to a well-fed, fattened bovine.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מְרִיא occurs rarely and is used mainly in poetic or cultic contexts (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:14, Isaiah 11:6, 34:7). The word highlights the special status of the animal—its purpose as a choice offering or the luxury of consumption, distinguishing it from ordinary cattle (בָּקָר or שׁוֹר). English translations (e.g., 'stall-fed cattle,' 'fatling,' or archaically 'beeves') may obscure the nuance of deliberate fattening or the cultural value of such animals among ancient Israelites. Unlike later or popular terms for 'ox' or 'cow,' מְרִיא carries implications of ritual or festive abundance, and its usage fades after the biblical period. In later Jewish literature, the word is not common.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from מָרָא in the sense of grossness, through the idea of domineering (compare מָרֵא); stall-fed; often (as noun) a beeve; fat (fed) beast (cattle, -ling).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מרא (m-r-ʾ) — fatness, robustness, abundance

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4471 מַמְרֵא Mamre
H4756 מָרֵא master of
H4810 מְרִי בַעַל and stall-fed ox

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4806-04 וּ/מְרִֽיא umeri HC/Ncmsa and fatlings and a stall-fed steer 5
H4806-03 מְרִיאִ֑ים meriim HNcmpa of fed animals stall-fed oxen 1
H4806-02 מְרִיאֵי/כֶ֖ם merieykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp offerings of your fatlings your stall-fed oxen 1
H4806-01 מְרִיאֵ֥י meriey HNcmpc fatlings fattened oxen of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4806-04 2 Samuel 6:13 וּ/מְרִֽיא umeri HC/Ncmsa and a fatling and a stall-fed steer
H4806-04 1 Kings 1:9 וּ/מְרִ֔יא umeri HC/Ncmsa and fatlings and a stall-fed steer
H4806-04 1 Kings 1:19 וּֽ/מְרִיא umeri HC/Ncmsa and fatlings and a stall-fed steer
H4806-04 1 Kings 1:25 וּֽ/מְרִיא umeri HC/Ncmsa and fatlings and a stall-fed steer
H4806-03 Isaiah 1:11 מְרִיאִ֑ים meriim HNcmpa of fed animals stall-fed oxen
H4806-04 Isaiah 11:6 וּ/מְרִיא֙ umeri HC/Ncmsa and fatling and a stall-fed steer
H4806-01 Ezekiel 39:18 מְרִיאֵ֥י meriey HNcmpc fatlings fattened oxen of
H4806-02 Amos 5:22 מְרִיאֵי/כֶ֖ם merieykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp offerings of your fatlings your stall-fed oxen
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