מְרִי בַעַל
𐤌𐤓𐤉 𐤁𐤏𐤋
Meri Vaal
H4810 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'Baal contends' or 'Baal is an opponent,' used as an alternate name for Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. While the literal components suggest 'opponent of Baal' or 'Baal contends,' the name likely reflects the practice of theophoric naming, indicating a relationship to the deity Baal, rather than explicit opposition. The semantic range allows for either 'contender with Baal,' 'Baal strives,' or 'one who contends for Baal.'
Semantic Range
personal name, 'Baal contends,' 'contender with Baal,' 'one contending for Baal,' alternate name for Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan
Root / Etymology
From the root מרי (MRY), 'to contend, oppose, rebel,' and בעל (Baʿal), a Northwest Semitic term meaning 'lord, master,' and also a key deity of the region. The construction parallels other theophoric names, with the first element referring to contending or opposition, and the second invoking the deity Baal. Actual lexical sense depends on period naming conventions.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name מְרִי בַעַל (Mᵉrîy Baʿal) appears in 1 Chronicles 8:34 and 9:40 as an alternate name for Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan. Earlier Israelite personal names sometimes included the name of Baal as a generic title for 'lord' or as reference to the deity; only later, with increased opposition to the Baal cult, did scribes and editors substitute 'bosheth' ('shame') to form 'Mephibosheth,' avoiding explicit reference to Baal. In earlier periods, such names were not considered idolatrous; 'Baal' served both as a title for God or as a generic honorific. The form and usage of מְרִי בַעַל mark it as typical of Iron Age naming conventions. See also מְרִיב־בַּעַל (Merib-baal), a similar compound with a slightly different nuance ('contender with Baal'). English translations often obscure this by presenting the name as 'Mephibosheth.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מְרִי and בַּעַל; rebellion of (i.e. against) Baal; Meri-Baal, an epithet of Gideon; Meri-baal. Compare מְרִיב בַּעַל.
Bantu Hebrew
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מרא (m-r-ʾ) — to be fat, to be robust, to be abundant
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4810-01 |
וּ/מְרִי | umeri | HC/Np |
and Meri | and stall-fed ox | 1 |
H4810-02 |
בַ֖עַל | vaal | HNp |
baal | master of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4810-01 |
1 Chronicles 9:40 | וּ/מְרִי | umeri | HC/Np |
and Meri | and stall-fed ox |
H4810-02 |
1 Chronicles 9:40 | בַ֖עַל | vaal | HNp |
baal | master of |