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מֵעֶה

𐤌𐤏𐤄

mêʻeh

H4578 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מעי to be soft (uncertain), internal organ, inner body

Definition

Internal organs located in the abdominal cavity, specifically the intestines or bowels, and by extension the entire interior of the body. In figurative usage, denotes the seat of emotion, especially compassion or deep affection, and is occasionally employed as a euphemism for the womb or the center of generative power.

Semantic Range

intestines, bowels, internal organs, abdomen, womb, center of emotion, seat of compassion, seat of procreation, inward parts

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology uncertain. Traditionally related to an unused root possibly meaning 'to be soft,' but there is no clear evidence for the existence or meaning of such a root in Biblical Hebrew. The noun מֵעֶה, used almost exclusively in the plural, refers to interior organs or the internal part of something.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מֵעֶה most often refers literally to the intestines or bowels, whether of humans or animals (Exod 12:9; Num 5:22). The term is regularly used in cultic, medical, or ritual contexts. It can also denote the inner organs collectively, not always specifying intestines versus stomach or womb strictly. In metaphorical use, the word denotes the locus of strong emotion or deep feeling—compassion, mercy, or yearning (Ps 40:9 [MT 40:8]; Isa 16:11)—in keeping with ancient Near Eastern views of the body. It is sometimes used as a synecdoche for descendants or offspring, indicating the womb or seat of procreation (Gen 15:4; 2 Sam 7:12). Unlike לב (lev, 'heart'), which predominates as the seat of thought and intentionality, מֵעֶה consistently relates to visceral emotion or physical sensation. In English translations, it is often variously rendered as 'bowels,' 'inward parts,' or 'womb,' but such translations rarely convey the full range and emotional nuance inherent to the Hebrew term across diverse genres (legal, poetic, prophetic).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

xlit mêʻâh corrected to mêʻeh; from an unused root probably meaning to be soft; used only in plural the intestines, or (collectively) the abdomen, figuratively, sympathy; by implication, a vest; by extension the stomach, the uterus (or of men, the seat of generation), the heart (figuratively); belly, bowels, [idiom] heart, womb.

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Root Family

מעי (m-ʿ-y) — internal organ, inner body, inward parts

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4578-05 מֵעַ֣/י meay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my bowels my inward parts 9
H4578-07 מֵעֶ֖י/ךָ meeykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms of your bowels your inward organs 4
H4578-06 מֵעָ֥י/ו meayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms from his bowels his inward parts 4
H4578-10 מִ/מְּעֵ֥י mimeey HR/Ncmpc from the belly from the inward parts of 3
H4578-03 בְּ/מֵעָ֣י/ו bemeayv HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms in-his-bowels in his inward parts 2
H4578-11 מִ/מֵּעֶ֔י/ךָ mimeeykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms from your body from your inward parts 2
H4578-04 בִּ/מְעֵ֣י bimeey HR/Ncmpc in the belly of in the inward parts of 1
H4578-01 בְּֽ/מֵעַ֔/י bemeay HR/Ncmpc/Sp1cs in my womb in my inward parts 1
H4578-09 מִ/מֵּעַ֖יִ/ךְ mimeayikhe HR/Ncmpc/Sp2fs from your body from your inward parts 1
H4578-08 מִ/מֵּעַ֖/י mimeay HR/Ncmpc/Sp1cs from my bowels from my inward parts 1

Occurrences in Scripture

32 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4578-11 Genesis 15:4 מִ/מֵּעֶ֔י/ךָ mimeeykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms from your own body from your inward parts
H4578-09 Genesis 25:23 מִ/מֵּעַ֖יִ/ךְ mimeayikhe HR/Ncmpc/Sp2fs from your body from your inward parts
H4578-02 Numbers 5:22 בְּֽ/מֵעַ֔יִ/ךְ bemeayikhe HR/Ncmpc/Sp2fs into your stomach in your inward parts
H4578-11 2 Samuel 7:12 מִ/מֵּעֶ֑י/ךָ mimeeykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms from your body from your inward parts
H4578-08 2 Samuel 16:11 מִ/מֵּעַ֖/י mimeay HR/Ncmpc/Sp1cs from my bowels from my inward parts
H4578-06 2 Samuel 20:10 מֵעָ֥י/ו meayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his intestines his inward parts
H4578-05 Isaiah 16:11 מֵעַ֣/י meay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my bowels my inward parts
H4578-07 Isaiah 48:19 מֵעֶ֖י/ךָ meeykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms of your inward parts your inward organs
H4578-10 Isaiah 49:1 מִ/מְּעֵ֥י mimeey HR/Ncmpc from the innards from the inward parts of
H4578-07 Isaiah 63:15 מֵעֶ֛י/ךָ meeykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms of your heart your inward organs
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