← H4802 H4804 →

מָרַט

𐤌𐤓𐤈

mâraṭ

H4803 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make bare by removing the covering layer, especially by stripping, peeling, or plucking; to cause to be smooth or polished by scraping or rubbing. Used both in literal physical contexts (such as making a head bald, stripping bark, or exposing flesh by rubbing off hair/skin) and metaphorically for uncovering or exposing. Semantic range includes to make bald, to strip (of hair, bark, surface covering), to polish (by making smooth), and to scrape with resulting exposure.

Semantic Range

to make bald, to strip (off), to peel, to pluck off (hair), to polish, to scrape so as to expose, to make smooth, to gall (wear away the skin), to furbish

Root / Etymology

From the root מ-ר-ט, which denotes the sense of stripping, making bare, or polishing. The root conveys the idea of removal, particularly of a natural surface layer such as hair, bark, or skin, resulting in exposure or smoothness. The derived forms maintain this central semantic notion of exposing by removing an outer layer.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מָרַט appears in relatively few passages in the Hebrew Bible. Its literal use relates to removing hair from the head (as in making bald by plucking or shaving) and to the stripping or peeling of a surface layer, such as bark or skin (Job 19:20; Ezekiel 29:18). The term may also be applied more generally to the act of polishing or making something bare by rubbing. Metaphorically, it can signify humiliation or disgrace (as with being made bald in some ancient Near Eastern mourning or punitive rituals). In contrast with verbs such as גָּלַח (to shave) or קָצַף (to scrape, peel), מָרַט uniquely emphasizes stripping resulting in exposure. English translations often render it as 'make bald,' 'peel,' or 'strip,' though 'polish' appears in some contexts. In later Hebrew, the usage narrows, often relating primarily to hair loss or baldness, while in biblical contexts, the broader range—physical and metaphorical—remains active. There is no evidence that it carried the religious or social connotations later attached to baldness or hair removal in post-biblical Judaism.

Translation Consistency

primary "strip" 1 occurrence

’Strip’ is a natural, broad English verb that covers removing a covering layer (hair, bark, skin, clothing) and thus fits the primary literal and figurative uses of מָרַט. It is concise, common, and maps well to both ‘make bald/pluck off’ and ‘strip/peel/expose’ senses across the attested occurrences.

Alternatives (11 occurrences):
"polished" (4x) "stripped bare" (3x) "those who pluck" (1x) "stripped-bare" (1x) "stripped off" (1x) "plucked" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to polish; by implication, to make bald (the head), to gall (the shoulder); also, to sharpen; bright, furbish, (have his) hair (be) fallen off, peeled, pluck off (hair).

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

מרט (m-r-ṭ) — to strip, make bare, expose, polish

Root מרט to strip, make bare, expose, polish
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4804 מְרַט they stripped bare

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4803-04 מְרוּטָֽה merutah HVqsfsa polished stripped-bare is polished 3
H4803-08 יִמָּרֵ֖ט yimaret HVNi3ms is plucked/balding he will be stripped bare he will be stripped bare 2
H4803-05 מֹרָ֑טָּה moratah HVPp3fs polished she was stripped bare it was stripped bare 2
H4803-01 לְ/מָרְטָ֖ה lemaretah HR/Vqc to be sharpened to strip bare to strip bare 1
H4803-02 לְ/מֹֽרְטִ֑ים lemoretim HR/Vqrmpa to those who pluck to those stripping to those who pluck 1
H4803-07 וָֽ/אֶמְרְטֵ֑/ם vaemeretem HC/Vqw1cs/Sp3mp and I plucked them and I stripped them bare and I plucked them 1
H4803-06 וָ/אֶמְרְטָ֞/ה vaemeretah HC/Vqw1cs/Sh and I plucked off and I stripped off and I stripped off 1
H4803-03 מְמֹרָֽט memorat HVPsmsa polished thoroughly stripped polished 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4803-08 Leviticus 13:40 יִמָּרֵ֖ט yimaret HVNi3ms loses his hair he will be stripped bare he will be stripped bare
H4803-08 Leviticus 13:41 יִמָּרֵ֖ט yimaret HVNi3ms is plucked/balding he will be stripped bare he will be stripped bare
H4803-03 1 Kings 7:45 מְמֹרָֽט memorat HVPsmsa polished thoroughly stripped polished
H4803-02 Isaiah 50:6 לְ/מֹֽרְטִ֑ים lemoretim HR/Vqrmpa to those who pluck to those stripping to those who pluck
H4803-04 Ezekiel 21:14 מְרוּטָֽה merutah HVqsfsa polished stripped-bare is polished
H4803-05 Ezekiel 21:15 מֹרָ֑טָּה moratah HVPp3fs polished she was stripped bare polished
H4803-01 Ezekiel 21:16 לְ/מָרְטָ֖ה lemaretah HR/Vqc to be sharpened to strip bare to strip bare
H4803-05 Ezekiel 21:16 מֹרָ֔טָּה moratah HVPp3fs sharpened she was stripped bare it was stripped bare
H4803-04 Ezekiel 21:33 מְרוּטָ֔ה merutah HVqsfsa polished stripped-bare polished
H4803-04 Ezekiel 29:18 מְרוּטָ֑ה merutah HVqsfsa rubbed bare stripped-bare stripped-bare
← H4802 Hebrew Lexicon H4804 →