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מַרְאֶה

𐤌𐤓𐤀𐤄

marʼeh

H4758 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Visual aspect, appearance, or form perceived by the eye or inward vision; refers both to the act of seeing ('seeing, sight') and what is seen ('appearance, form, vision'). In different contexts, מַרְאֶה can denote physical features or attractiveness, a visible manifestation, a pattern or model to be reproduced, or a supernatural vision.

Semantic Range

appearance, outward form, visual impression, visible feature, vision (supernatural), pattern/blueprint, act of seeing, sight, countenance, model, (sometimes) attractiveness or comeliness

Root / Etymology

From the root ר-א-ה (ראה), 'to see, perceive.' מַרְאֶה is a nominal formation (pattern: מַקְטֵל), indicating the result of the action: 'that which is seen,' 'appearance,' or 'act of viewing.' The root meaning ('to see') underlies both concrete and abstract senses of the noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In narrative and legal texts, מַרְאֶה most often describes the outward appearance, form, or visual impression of people (e.g., attractiveness or physical stature, 1 Samuel 16:7), objects, or phenomena (e.g., rainbows, clouds). In cultic or architectural contexts, it may refer to a divinely revealed pattern or blueprint (Exodus 25:9, 'according to the appearance/model shown on the mountain'). In prophetic literature, its use as 'vision' indicates a supernatural perception, though more technical prophetic terms (e.g., חָזוֹן, מַחֲזֶה) are sometimes preferred for formal visions. מַרְאֶה contrasts with צֶלֶם (image, statue) in its emphasis on visual impression or experience over material object. The standard translation 'appearance' or 'form' generally fits, but 'vision' is preferable in prophetic or theophanic contexts. The English term 'countenance' (for facial appearance) reflects older usage and is not always appropriate. Meaning remained stable across periods, though later biblical usage increasingly associates מַרְאֶה with supernatural or extraordinary appearances.

Translation Consistency

primary "appearance" 49 occurrences

"Appearance" is the most frequent and natural English noun covering the typical senses of מַרְאֶה — outward form, visual impression, countenance, and what is seen (including metaphorical or supernatural sight). It is broad enough to supply a consistent rendering across literal and figurative contexts while sounding natural in English; alternatives like "vision" are narrower and less typical.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"appearance-of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָאָה; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision; [idiom] apparently, appearance(-reth), [idiom] as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

ראה (Moriyah) — to see, to perceive, to look at

Root ראה to see, to perceive, to show
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4179 מוֹרִיָּה the Seen-of-Yah
H4759 מַרְאָה in the visible-manifestation
H4760 מֻרְאָה his prominent crop
H7200 רָאָה I will cause you to see
H7202 רָאֶה and see

Word Forms

24 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4758-08 מַרְאֶֽה mareeh HNcmsa appearance visible appearance visible appearance 23
H4758-04 כְּ/מַרְאֵה kemareeh HR/Ncmsc like the appearance like appearance of like appearance of 19
H4758-02 הַ/מַּרְאֶֽה hamareeh HTd/Ncmsa the vision the appearance the appearance 8
H4758-10 מַרְאֵ֛/הוּ mareehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms its appearance his appearance his appearance 8
H4758-16 וּ/מַרְאֵה֙ umareeh HC/Ncmsc and the appearance and appearance of and appearance of 8
H4758-03 כַּ/מַּרְאֶ֕ה kamareeh HRd/Ncmsa like-the-appearance like the appearance like the appearance 5
H4758-05 לְ/מַרְאֵ֣ה lemareeh HR/Ncmsc at the sight for appearance for appearance 4
H4758-01 בַּ/מַּרְאֶֽה bamareeh HRd/Ncmsa in the vision in the appearance in the appearance 3
H4758-11 מַרְאֵי/הֶם֙ mareeyhem HNcmsc/Sp3mp their appearance their visible appearance their appearance 3
H4758-14 מִ/מַּרְאֵ֥ה mimareeh HR/Ncmsc from appearance-of from appearance-of from appearance-of 3

Occurrences in Scripture

104 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4758-05 Genesis 2:9 לְ/מַרְאֶ֖ה lemareeh HR/Ncmsa to the sight for appearance for appearance
H4758-08 Genesis 12:11 מַרְאֶ֖ה mareeh HNcmsa in appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-08 Genesis 24:16 מַרְאֶה֙ mareeh HNcmsa in appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-08 Genesis 26:7 מַרְאֶ֖ה mareeh HNcmsa of appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-08 Genesis 29:17 מַרְאֶֽה mareeh HNcmsa in appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-08 Genesis 39:6 מַרְאֶֽה mareeh HNcmsa in appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-08 Genesis 41:2 מַרְאֶ֖ה mareeh HNcmsa in appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-08 Genesis 41:3 מַרְאֶ֖ה mareeh HNcmsa of appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-02 Genesis 41:4 הַ/מַּרְאֶה֙ hamareeh HTd/Ncmsa in appearance the appearance the appearance
H4758-02 Genesis 41:4 הַ/מַּרְאֶ֖ה hamareeh-2 HTd/Ncmsa in appearance the appearance the appearance
H4758-20 Genesis 41:21 וּ/מַרְאֵי/הֶ֣ן umareeyhen HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fp and their appearance and their appearance and their appearance
H4758-02 Exodus 3:3 הַ/מַּרְאֶ֥ה hamareeh HTd/Ncmsa this great the appearance the appearance
H4758-16 Exodus 24:17 וּ/מַרְאֵה֙ umareeh HC/Ncmsc and the appearance and appearance of and appearance of
H4758-16 Leviticus 13:3 וּ/מַרְאֵ֤ה umareeh HC/Ncmsc and the appearance and appearance of and appearance of
H4758-09 Leviticus 13:4 מַרְאֶ֣/הָ mareeha HNcmsc/Sp3fs its appearance her appearance its appearance
H4758-08 Leviticus 13:12 מַרְאֵ֖ה mareeh HNcmsc appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-09 Leviticus 13:20 מַרְאֶ֨/הָ֙ mareeha HNcmsc/Sp3fs its appearance her appearance its appearance
H4758-17 Leviticus 13:25 וּ/מַרְאֶ֨/הָ֙ umareeha HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs and its appearance and her appearance and its appearance
H4758-10 Leviticus 13:30 מַרְאֵ֨/הוּ֙ mareehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms its appearance his appearance its appearance
H4758-10 Leviticus 13:31 מַרְאֵ֨/הוּ֙ mareehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms its appearance his appearance his appearance
H4758-16 Leviticus 13:32 וּ/מַרְאֵ֣ה umareeh HC/Ncmsc and the appearance and appearance of and appearance of
H4758-18 Leviticus 13:34 וּ/מַרְאֵ֕/הוּ umareehu HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms its appearance and his appearance and his appearance
H4758-04 Leviticus 13:43 כְּ/מַרְאֵ֥ה kemareeh HR/Ncmsc like the appearance like appearance of like appearance of
H4758-20 Leviticus 14:37 וּ/מַרְאֵי/הֶ֥ן umareeyhen HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fp and their appearance and their appearance and their appearance
H4758-03 Numbers 8:4 כַּ/מַּרְאֶ֗ה kamareeh HRd/Ncmsa according to the pattern like the appearance like the appearance
H4758-04 Numbers 9:15 כְּ/מַרְאֵה kemareeh HR/Ncmsc like the appearance of like appearance of like appearance of
H4758-16 Numbers 9:16 וּ/מַרְאֵה umareeh HC/Ncmsc and the appearance and appearance of and appearance of
H4758-16 Numbers 12:8 וּ/מַרְאֶה֙ umareeh HC/Ncmsa and-appearance and appearance of and appearance of
H4758-14 Deuteronomy 28:34 מִ/מַּרְאֵ֥ה mimareeh HR/Ncmsc from the sight from appearance-of from appearance-of
H4758-23 Deuteronomy 28:67 וּ/מִ/מַּרְאֵ֥ה umimareeh HC/R/Ncmsc and from sight and from appearance-of and from appearance of
H4758-05 Joshua 22:10 לְ/מַרְאֶֽה lemareeh HR/Ncmsa to be seen for appearance for appearance
H4758-18 Judges 13:6 וּ/מַרְאֵ֕/הוּ umareehu HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and his appearance and his appearance and his appearance
H4758-04 Judges 13:6 כְּ/מַרְאֵ֛ה kemareeh HR/Ncmsc like the appearance like appearance of like appearance of
H4758-10 1 Samuel 16:7 מַרְאֵ֛/הוּ mareehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his appearance his appearance his appearance
H4758-08 1 Samuel 17:42 מַרְאֶֽה mareeh HNcmsa countenance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-08 2 Samuel 11:2 מַרְאֶ֖ה mareeh HNcmsa appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-08 2 Samuel 14:27 מַרְאֶֽה mareeh HNcmsa appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-08 2 Samuel 23:21 מַרְאֶ֗ה mareeh HNcmsa of appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-05 Isaiah 11:3 לְ/מַרְאֵ֤ה lemareeh HR/Ncmsc to-appearance-of for appearance for appearance
H4758-10 Isaiah 52:14 מַרְאֵ֑/הוּ mareehu HNcmsc/Sp3ms his appearance his appearance his appearance
H4758-08 Isaiah 53:2 מַרְאֶ֖ה mareeh HNcmsa appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-12 Ezekiel 1:5 מַרְאֵֽי/הֶ֔ן mareeyhen HNcmsc/Sp3fp appearance-of-them their appearance their appearance
H4758-11 Ezekiel 1:13 מַרְאֵי/הֶ֣ם mareeyhem HNcmsc/Sp3mp their-appearances their visible appearance their appearance
H4758-04 Ezekiel 1:13 כְּ/מַרְאֵ֣ה kemareeh HR/Ncmsc like-appearance like appearance of like appearance of
H4758-04 Ezekiel 1:14 כְּ/מַרְאֵ֖ה kemareeh HR/Ncmsc like the appearance like appearance of like appearance of
H4758-08 Ezekiel 1:16 מַרְאֵ֨ה mareeh HNcmsc appearance visible appearance visible appearance
H4758-19 Ezekiel 1:16 וּ/מַרְאֵי/הֶם֙ umareeyhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp and their appearances and their visible-forms and their appearances
H4758-04 Ezekiel 1:26 כְּ/מַרְאֵ֥ה kemareeh HR/Ncmsc as-appearance-of like appearance of like appearance of
H4758-04 Ezekiel 1:26 כְּ/מַרְאֵ֥ה kemareeh-2 HR/Ncmsc like-the-appearance-of like appearance of like appearance of
H4758-04 Ezekiel 1:27 כְּ/מַרְאֵה kemareeh HR/Ncmsc like appearance-of like appearance of like appearance of
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