מִרְמָה
𐤌𐤓𐤌𐤄
mirmâh
H4820 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Deliberate deception or treachery, involving the intent to mislead or defraud another, often through cunning, trickery, or falsehood. The term encompasses both the abstract concept of deceit and the practical actions or strategies used to accomplish deception. Depending on context, it may denote the general quality of craftiness, a specific act of treachery or duplicity, or the use of guile for personal gain.
Semantic Range
deceit, deception, treachery, fraud, guile, craftiness, trickery, cunning, duplicitous conduct, feigned action
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root רמה (ramah), which carries the core meaning 'to deceive, mislead, act treacherously.' The noun form מִרְמָה derives from the root and denotes the abstract and concrete manifestations of deception, emphasizing a willful intent to lead astray. The relationship between the root meaning ('to deceive') and the noun ('deceit; treachery') is direct, with the noun encapsulating both the act and the quality of deliberate deception.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, מִרְמָה is associated with intentional acts of dishonesty or betrayal, often in opposition to truth, righteousness, or faithfulness. In legal, prophetic, and wisdom contexts, it is condemned as a vice or sin—contrasted with uprightness (יֹשֶׁר, אֱמֶת). Its usage spans personal, social, and commercial relationships, including fraudulent business practices, interpersonal betrayals, and general untrustworthiness. The term is frequently used in wisdom literature (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs), where it is linked to the conduct of the wicked or the devious. The meaning remains generally stable from early to late biblical periods; however, in exilic and post-exilic texts, there is increased emphasis on social and religious integrity. English translations often render the term as 'deceit,' 'craft,' 'guile,' or 'treachery,' but these can fail to capture its range from subtle cunning to flagrant betrayal. מִרְמָה should be distinguished from related terms such as שֶׁקֶר (falsehood, lie), which may lack the nuance of craftiness or scheming implied by מִרְמָה. Unlike some later English translations, use of the term is not limited to simple dishonesty, but includes complex and premeditated forms of cunning and duplicity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָמָה in the sense of deceiving; fraud; craft, deceit(-ful, -fully), false, feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רמה (r-m-h) — to deceive, mislead, act treacherously
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4821 | מִרְמָה | deliberate deceit |
| H7411 | רָמָה | to betray me |
| H7412 | רְמָה | to cast |
| H7423 | רְמִיָּה | deceitful slackness |
| H7432 | רֶמֶת | and Remeth |
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4820-03 |
מִרְמָ֥ה | miremah | HNcfsa |
deceit | deliberate deceit | 26 |
H4820-05 |
וּ/מִרְמָֽה | umiremah | HC/Ncfsa |
and deceit | and treachery | 5 |
H4820-01 |
בְּ/מִרְמָ֑ה | bemiremah | HR/Ncfsa |
deceitfully | in treachery | 3 |
H4820-06 |
וּ/מִרְמ֣וֹת | umiremot | HC/Ncfpa |
and deceits | and treacheries | 2 |
H4820-04 |
מִ֝רְמוֹת | miremot | HNcfpa |
deceit | deceptions | 1 |
H4820-07 |
וּ/בְ/מִרְמָ֖ה | uvemiremah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and with deceit | and in treachery | 1 |
H4820-02 |
לְ/מִרְמָֽה | lemiremah | HR/Ncfsa |
deceitfully | to treachery | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
39 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4820-01 |
Genesis 27:35 | בְּ/מִרְמָ֑ה | bemiremah | HR/Ncfsa |
with deceit | in treachery |
H4820-01 |
Genesis 34:13 | בְּ/מִרְמָ֖ה | bemiremah | HR/Ncfsa |
deceitfully | in treachery |
H4820-03 |
2 Kings 9:23 | מִרְמָ֥ה | miremah | HNcfsa |
treachery | deliberate deceit |
H4820-03 |
Isaiah 53:9 | מִרְמָ֖ה | miremah | HNcfsa |
deceit | deliberate deceit |
H4820-03 |
Jeremiah 5:27 | מִרְמָ֑ה | miremah | HNcfsa |
of deceit | deliberate deceit |
H4820-03 |
Jeremiah 9:5 | מִרְמָ֑ה | miremah | HNcfsa |
of deceit | deliberate deceit |
H4820-01 |
Jeremiah 9:5 | בְּ/מִרְמָ֛ה | bemiremah | HR/Ncfsa |
in deceit | in treachery |
H4820-03 |
Jeremiah 9:7 | מִרְמָ֣ה | miremah | HNcfsa |
deceit | deliberate deceit |
H4820-07 |
Hosea 12:1 | וּ/בְ/מִרְמָ֖ה | uvemiremah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and with deceit | and in treachery |
H4820-03 |
Hosea 12:8 | מִרְמָ֖ה | miremah | HNcfsa |
of deceit | deliberate deceit |