מֵאָה
𐤌𐤀𐤄
Mêʼâh
H3968 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: Meah – the name of a specific tower mentioned in Jerusalem, likely denoting a physical structure or defensive feature within the city's walls. The term's use as a name is distinct from its meaning as the common noun for 'hundred'; in this context, it designates a toponym rather than a numeral.
Semantic Range
name of a tower in Jerusalem, topographical designation, derived from numerical 'hundred'
Root / Etymology
Root: מאה. The root מאה primarily means 'hundred' in Biblical Hebrew. In the case of מֵאָה as a proper noun, the name is likely derived from this root, possibly referencing measurement (distance, quantity, or height), a numerical association, or a symbolic meaning. However, as a place name, the precise reason for its application is not explicitly stated in the biblical text, and thus this derivation is assumed based on form.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מֵאָה as a proper noun occurs in Nehemiah 3:1 and 12:39, referring to 'the Tower of Meah' (מִגְדַּל מֵאָה) in Jerusalem during the post-exilic period. The tower was part of Jerusalem's fortifications mentioned in the context of city repair and ritual processions. The etymological relationship to the common noun for 'hundred' may suggest the tower's height, number of steps, proximity to a measurement unit, or some commemorative function, but the biblical text does not clarify this. Later translations (including the KJV) simply transliterate the name as 'Meah.' The site is known only from these references and does not appear in earlier monarchic texts, indicating the term's use is specific to the post-exilic period's urban geography. It is distinct from the common noun מאה (hundred), which is used throughout the Hebrew Bible. No evidence links the tower's name directly to any other ethnic or religious group, and the term 'Meah' reflects a local topographical designation rather than any broader identity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as מֵאָה; Meah, a tower in Jerusalem; Meah.
Bantu Hebrew
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מאה (m-ʾ-h) — hundred, to count by hundreds, to measure by hundreds
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3969 | מְאָה | two hundred |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3968-01 |
הַ/מֵּאָה֙ | hameah | HTd/Acbsa |
of the Hundred | the Hundred | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3968-01 |
Nehemiah 3:1 | הַ/מֵּאָה֙ | hameah | HTd/Acbsa |
of the Hundred | the Hundred | |
H3968-01 |
Nehemiah 12:39 | הַ/מֵּאָ֔ה | hameah | HTd/Acbsa |
of the Hundred | the Hundred |