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מֵרֵעַ

𐤌𐤓𐤏

mêrêaʻ

H4828 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רֵעַ to associate, to befriend, to tend

Definition

A person with whom one shares mutual familiarity, trust, or association; companion, associate, friend. The term primarily denotes a person joined by association, familiarity, or reciprocity, whether in private, communal, or ritual settings. While the prevailing sense is 'friend,' it can, depending on context, denote a broader social peer or companion, not always implying deep affection.

Semantic Range

friend; companion; associate; comrade; social peer

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root רֵעַ (רעע), which in its verb form (רָעָה) means 'to associate with, to befriend, to tend (as a shepherd tends).' The noun מֵרֵעַ is a masculine form indicating 'one with whom one associates' or 'an associate.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מֵרֵעַ designates a companion, friend, or social partner. The sense ranges from close personal friendship (Proverbs 18:24) to simple association or neighborly relationship (Job 16:20). It appears in wisdom literature, legal texts, and narratives, sometimes overlapping with רֵעַ but distinguished from the more formal רֵעֶהוּ ('his fellow' or 'his neighbor'). The term does not always entail emotional closeness—legal and ritual texts often use it neutrally for any social peer, especially within the Israelite community. In post-exilic literature, related words take on more nuanced social meanings, but מֵרֵעַ retains its 'companion' sense. Later translations sometimes render the term as 'friend,' but this may overstate its relational closeness; context remains crucial to proper understanding.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָעָה in the sense of companionship; a friend; companion, friend.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רעע (r-ʿ-ʿ) — to associate, to befriend, to tend

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1251 בַּר bad
H1254 בָּרָא bad
H1262 בָּרָה bad
H1283 בְּרִיעָה Beriyyah
H7200 רָאָה your badness

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4828-03 מֵֽרֵעֵ֔/הוּ mereehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his friends his associate 3
H4828-01 לְ/מֵ֣רֵעֵ֔/הוּ lemereehu HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms to his companion to his associate 2
H4828-02 לְ/מֵרֵעֶ֑/ךָ lemereekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms to your companion to your associate 1
H4828-04 מֵֽרֵעִ֔ים mereim HNcmpa companions associates 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4828-03 Genesis 26:26 מֵֽרֵעֵ֔/הוּ mereehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his adviser his associate
H4828-04 Judges 14:11 מֵֽרֵעִ֔ים mereim HNcmpa companions associates
H4828-01 Judges 14:20 לְ/מֵ֣רֵעֵ֔/הוּ lemereehu HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms to his companion to his associate
H4828-02 Judges 15:2 לְ/מֵרֵעֶ֑/ךָ lemereekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms to your companion to your associate
H4828-01 Judges 15:6 לְ/מֵרֵעֵ֑/הוּ lemereehu HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms to his companion to his associate
H4828-03 2 Samuel 3:8 מֵ֣רֵעֵ֔/הוּ mereehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his friends his associate
H4828-03 Proverbs 19:7 מְ֭רֵעֵ/הוּ mereehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his friends his associate
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