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מָרָק

𐤌𐤓𐤒

mârâq

H4839 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מרק to rinse, to wash, to draw out

Definition

A liquid food preparation made by boiling meat, vegetables, or grain, often serving as broth, soup, or stock in various contexts. The term primarily refers to the liquid result, especially as prepared for consumption. While often translated as 'broth' or 'soup', it can in some contexts refer more generally to a savory cooking liquid.

Semantic Range

broth, soup, cooking liquid, stock, boiled extract

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root מָרַק (marak, 'to rinse, wash'). מָרָק is a nominal form, referring to what is drawn off by rinsing or boiling—hence, a broth or soup as the liquid produced by cooking. The link to the root emphasizes the idea of extraction or drawing out, reflective of broth made by boiling. See also פָּרָק (paraq, 'to break off, deliver'), indicating separate but sometimes lexically confounded roots.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מָרָק occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Judges 6:19–20), where it describes a boiled preparation of meat—likely a broth—prepared for a visiting guest. While traditional English translations use 'broth' or 'soup', the term embraces any liquid resulting from boiling meat, vegetables, or grain, rather than a purely modern 'soup'. In later Hebrew and Jewish culinary tradition, 'marak' continues as the general term for soup, but this is a broadening from the more specific usage in the biblical context. In contrast, other Hebrew terms like נָזִיד (nazid) may emphasize a thicker stew or porridge; מָרָק is the more liquid result. No special ethnic or religious connotations are attached to the term itself, nor does it vary significantly across periods; its meaning is tied to culinary practice rather than ritual.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from מָרַק; soup (as if a rinsing); broth. See also פָּרָק.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מרק (m-r-q) — to rinse, to wash, to draw out

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4795 מָרוּק their purifying rubbings
H4838 מָרַק polished one
H8562 תַּמְרוּק cleansing ointment

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4839-01 הַ/מָּרַ֖ק hamaraq HTd/Ncmsa broth the boiled broth 1
H4839-02 וּ/מְרַ֥ק umeraq HC/Ncmsc broth and extract-broth of 1
H4839-03 וְ/הַ/מָּרַ֖ק vehamaraq HC/Td/Ncmsa and the broth and the broth 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4839-03 Judges 6:19 וְ/הַ/מָּרַ֖ק vehamaraq HC/Td/Ncmsa and the broth and the broth
H4839-01 Judges 6:20 הַ/מָּרַ֖ק hamaraq HTd/Ncmsa broth the boiled broth
H4839-02 Isaiah 65:4 וּ/מְרַ֥ק umeraq HC/Ncmsc broth and extract-broth of
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