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מַר

𐤌𐤓

mar

H4752 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מרר to be bitter, to express liquid, to distill

Definition

A drop, especially a small quantity of liquid, often in reference to condensed fluid (e.g., dew or water drops); can also signify a single drop as a unit of measure or portion. The primary sense is the smallest indivisible portion of a liquid.

Semantic Range

drop (of liquid), small quantity, portion, figurative sense of insignificance or minuteness

Root / Etymology

From the root מָרַר (marar, to be bitter), though here not in the sense of bitterness but in the original sense relating to the process of distillation or expressing out a liquid. The word מַר is formed as a substantive noun indicating a discrete droplet, likely from an archaic verbal nuance tied to expressing or distilling.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, מַר appears in metaphoric or poetic passages (e.g., Isaiah 40:15, 'the isles are as a drop of a bucket'), emphasizing smallness or insignificance by reference to the minutest portion of liquid. Its usage does not convey the idea of bitterness, even though the consonants are shared with the better-known 'mar' (bitter), but rather focuses on the tangible or symbolic value of a tiny, solitary liquid drop. English translations often render מַר as 'drop,' which captures the fundamental sense, but may not highlight the subtle metaphorical use that conveys insignificance or minuteness. The term is rare and its use does not shift significantly across biblical periods, always denoting a minimal quantity in literal or comparative contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from מָרַר in its original sense of distillation; a drop; drop.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מרר (m-r-r) — to be bitter, to express liquid, to distill

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4472 מַמְרֹר bitternesses
H4751 מַר in bitterness
H4753 מֹר the myrrh resin
H4755 מָרָא Bitter-One
H4785 מָרָה in Marah

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4752-01 כְּ/מַ֣ר kemar HR/Ncmsa like a drop like a drop 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4752-01 Isaiah 40:15 כְּ/מַ֣ר kemar HR/Ncmsa like a drop like a drop
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