מָרָה
𐤌𐤓𐤄
Marah
H4785 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun denoting 'Marah,' a geographical location named due to the bitterness of its water. The word also functions as an adjective meaning 'bitter' in some contexts, especially in its underlying root. The primary lexical meaning in this form is as a toponym referencing the specific site encountered by the Israelites during their desert journey, named for the adverse water conditions encountered there.
Semantic Range
bitter (feminine), Marah (a place name), the concept of bitterness as applied to water or experience
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root מרר (marar), 'to be bitter.' 'Marah' is the feminine form of 'mar,' indicating bitterness, and in this context used as a place name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Marah appears chiefly in Exodus 15:23–25, signifying a location in the wilderness where the Israelites, after crossing the Sea of Reeds, encountered undrinkable, bitter water. The name explains the narrative circumstance—'they came to Marah, but could not drink the water...for it was bitter.' Later retellings (Numbers 33:8–9) maintain this basic sense. The noun is a toponym, not a personal or tribal designation. The adjective 'mar' ('bitter') occurs elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, and related names (cf. Naomi's lament in Ruth 1:20, 'Call me Mara') likewise derive from the same sensory experience of bitterness. English translations may render 'Marah' as 'bitter,' but this translation is contextually bound to the etymological explanation within the narrative. The term never denotes ethnic or religious identity—its usage strictly marks geography and physical experience. The episode illustrates a broader theme of wilderness hardship and divine intervention, but the lexical entry for 'Marah' pertains only to the naming rationale. See also 'mar' (H4751) for the adjective and related forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as מַר feminine; bitter; Marah, a place in the Desert; Marah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מרר (m-r-r) — to be bitter, to become harsh, to provoke bitterness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4472 | מַמְרֹר | bitternesses |
| H4751 | מַר | in bitterness |
| H4752 | מַר | like a drop |
| H4753 | מֹר | the myrrh resin |
| H4755 | מָרָא | Bitter-One |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4785-04 |
מִ/מָּרָ֔ה | mimarah | HR/Np |
from Marah | from Marah | 2 |
H4785-02 |
מָרָֽה | marah | HNp |
Marah | Marah the Bitter-place | 1 |
H4785-01 |
בְּ/מָרָֽה | bemarah | HR/Np |
at Marah | in Marah | 1 |
H4785-03 |
מָרָ֔תָ/ה | maratah | HNp/Sd |
to Marah | Marah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4785-03 |
Exodus 15:23 | מָרָ֔תָ/ה | maratah | HNp/Sd |
to Marah | Marah |
H4785-04 |
Exodus 15:23 | מִ/מָּרָ֔ה | mimarah | HR/Np |
of Marah | from Marah |
H4785-02 |
Exodus 15:23 | מָרָֽה | marah | HNp |
Marah | Marah the Bitter-place |
H4785-01 |
Numbers 33:8 | בְּ/מָרָֽה | bemarah | HR/Np |
at Marah | in Marah |
H4785-04 |
Numbers 33:9 | מִ/מָּרָ֔ה | mimarah | HR/Np |
from Marah | from Marah |