מְעָה
𐤌𐤏𐤄
mᵉʻâh
H4577 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The internal organs of the abdomen, particularly the digestive tract; in most contexts, refers to the bowels or entrails. The term can denote the physical belly or innards, but also functions metaphorically to refer to the seat of emotions or inward parts of a person.
Semantic Range
bowels, entrails, belly, intestines, inward parts, metaphorically: seat of affections or emotions
Root / Etymology
Aramaic מְעָה derives from the Semitic root מ־ע־ה, which also appears in Hebrew as מֵעֶה (mê‘eh), meaning 'internal organs, bowels, belly.' The root conveys the notion of interior parts, especially the organs inside the body. The Aramaic form is a cognate variant and retains the same semantic core.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְעָה occurs in Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (e.g. Daniel and Ezra), typically plural and denoting the inmost organs. The closely related Hebrew word is מֵעֶה, which occurs frequently in the Hebrew narrative and poetry, often in contexts pertaining both to the physical body and as the figurative seat of emotion, compassion, or thought. The use of מְעָה is restricted to Aramaic sections and does not appear in non-Aramaic biblical texts. English versions usually render it as 'bowels' or 'entrails,' but this may not fully communicate the metaphorical nuances common in ancient Near Eastern literature, where the belly or entrails were understood as centers of feeling and inner life. In later contexts, as in post-biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, the term continued to denote the inner organs physically and metaphorically, sometimes broadened to include the womb or inner being more generally.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) or מְעָא; (Aramaic), corresponding to מֵעֶהxlit mêʻâh corrected to mêʻeh; only in plural the bowels; belly.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מעה (m-ʿ-h) — inside, internal parts, innards, belly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4577-01 |
מְע֥וֹ/הִי | meohi | ANcmpc/Sp3ms |
belly | his innards | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4577-01 |
Daniel 2:32 | מְע֥וֹ/הִי | meohi | ANcmpc/Sp3ms |
belly | his innards |