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מִרְיָם

𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤌

Mireyam

H4813 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מרי (possibly, but uncertain) to rebel, be disobedient (if derived from מרי; etymology uncertain)

Definition

A personal feminine name, Miriam, most prominently borne by the sister of Moses and Aaron in the Exodus narrative. The name identifies specific Israelite women and serves as a marker of their lineage or role within narratives, without directly carrying a descriptive or lexical meaning beyond its function as a proper name. The semantic range is generally restricted to its use as a personal name.

Semantic Range

proper name for an Israelite woman, specifically the sister of Moses and Aaron; later, applied to other women bearing the same name

Root / Etymology

Hebrew root uncertain; traditional suggestions have linked it to the root מְרִי (meri, 'rebellion'), possibly giving an associative meaning of 'rebelliousness.' However, the etymology is uncertain and the name may also have Egyptian origins, possibly relating to terms for 'beloved' or 'love,' as seen in other New Kingdom Egyptian names. The linkage to the root מ-ר-ה (m-r-h, 'to be rebellious') is traditional but not linguistically secure.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Miriam appears as the sister of Moses and Aaron and is a prominent female figure in the Exodus narratives (Exodus, Numbers). As with many biblical names, its primary function is identificatory, and it is not used as a common noun. While ancient interpretations (including some found in later rabbinic tradition and reflected in Strong's Concordance) associated the name with the concept of rebellion, this is not supported by direct lexical evidence or by contextual usage in the Hebrew Bible. Some modern scholars argue for an Egyptian origin in light of the historic setting of the Exodus and the prevalence of Egyptian names among Israelites of that period. The name is later borne by other Israelite women and becomes common in both Hebrew and later traditions (as Maryam or Mariam). English translations often use 'Miriam'; the Greek Septuagint renders it as Μαριάμ (Mariam). Later Christian traditions confuse the name with 'Mary' due to transliteration similarities, but these should be carefully distinguished in biblical contexts. There is no doctrinal or religious content attached to the meaning of the name in the biblical texts themselves.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from מְרִי; rebelliously; Mirjam, the name of two Israelitesses; Miriam.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מרי (m-r-y) — rebellion, disobedience (uncertain etymology)

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4813-02 מִרְיָ֨ם mireyam HNp Miriam Miryam 11
H4813-03 וּ/מִרְיָ֔ם umireyam HC/Np and Miriam and Miriam 3
H4813-01 לְ/מִרְיָ֑ם lemireyam HR/Np to Miriam to Miriam 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4813-02 Exodus 15:20 מִרְיָ֨ם mireyam HNp Miriam Miryam
H4813-02 Exodus 15:21 מִרְיָ֑ם mireyam HNp Miriam Miryam
H4813-02 Numbers 12:1 מִרְיָ֤ם mireyam HNp Miriam Miryam
H4813-02 Numbers 12:4 מִרְיָ֔ם mireyam HNp Miriam Miryam
H4813-03 Numbers 12:5 וּ/מִרְיָ֔ם umireyam HC/Np and-Miriam and Miriam
H4813-02 Numbers 12:10 מִרְיָ֖ם mireyam HNp Miriam Miryam
H4813-02 Numbers 12:10 מִרְיָ֖ם mireyam-2 HNp Miriam Miryam
H4813-02 Numbers 12:15 מִרְיָ֛ם mireyam HNp Miriam Miryam
H4813-02 Numbers 12:15 מִרְיָֽם mireyam-2 HNp Miriam Miryam
H4813-02 Numbers 20:1 מִרְיָ֔ם mireyam HNp Miriam Miryam
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