מְרָיָה
𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤄
Merayah
H4811 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name referring to an Israelite individual, most likely conveying the idea of 'Yahweh is rebellious/unruly' or 'Yahweh makes rebellious.' The nuance is shaped by its root association, so the name may mark a period or ethos where names reflected struggle or defiance. Appears as an Israelite priest in post-exilic genealogies.
Semantic Range
proper name of an Israelite priest, personal name, component elements indicating 'Yahweh is rebellious' or 'Yahweh makes rebellious'
Root / Etymology
Formed from the root מָרָה (to be rebellious, to resist, defy) and the theophoric suffix יָה (Yah, shortened form of the divine name Yahweh), yielding 'Yahweh is rebellious' or 'Yahweh makes rebellious.' The name parallels constructions like Jeremiah (יְרֵמְיָה), where a root verb joins with the divine name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name מְרָיָה appears in post-exilic genealogical lists, specifically in Nehemiah 12:12, where Meraiah is listed as the head of a priestly family in the time after the return from exile. This period saw a revival of theophoric names among Judean leadership. English translations (e.g., KJV 'Meraiah') transliterate the name without indicating its etymological sense. The core root meaning does not imply any negative characterization of the individual bearing the name; rather, it reflects traditional Israelite naming patterns that combined the theophoric element with a range of verb roots, sometimes expressing struggle or even resistance, as seen in other names from the same period. Compare also יִמְרָה (Yimrah), which shares a related root and construction. The use of 'Jew' for such individuals in English is anachronistic for the biblical context; the man bearing this name was a member of the post-exilic Israelite priesthood inhabiting Yehud (the Persian province), commonly referred to as a Judean.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָרָה; rebellion; Merajah, an Israelite; Meraiah. Compare יִמְרָה.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מרה (m-r-h) — rebellion, resistance, defiance
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4754 | מָרָא | rebelling woman |
| H4784 | מָרָה | the rebelling ones |
| H4805 | מְרִי | in their rebellion |
| H4812 | מְרָיוֹת | to Merayoth |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4811-01 |
מְרָיָ֔ה | merayah | HNp |
Meraiah | Yah is rebellious | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4811-01 |
Nehemiah 12:12 | מְרָיָ֔ה | merayah | HNp |
Meraiah | Yah is rebellious |