מְרָיוֹת
𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤅𐤕
Merayot
H4812 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name (Merayoth) occurring in Israelite genealogies, likely signifying 'rebellions' or 'rebellious acts,' though this is based on the assumed root. As a proper noun, it designates individuals, not a quality or action. The term appears as the name of at least two priestly ancestors in lists of returnees and lineages.
Semantic Range
personal name; 'rebellions' (if as a common noun, unattested); ancestral or priestly title in Israelite genealogies
Root / Etymology
From the root מרי (מרה), meaning 'to rebel, be disobedient,' with the ending -ות (usually a feminine plural marker) forming a noun meaning 'acts of rebellion' or 'rebellions.' With the theophoric or personal name form, it became a fixed proper name. The derivation is standard for Hebrew nouns, but the plural ending in a proper name is unusual. The personal usage may have lost connection to the direct meaning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name מְרָיוֹת (Merayoth) appears only in genealogical contexts (e.g., 1 Chronicles 6:7, 6:52; Ezra 7:3). There is no narrative or descriptive content beyond the record of descent, specifically in priestly genealogies (ancestor of Zadok). The underlying noun with plural form would mean 'rebellions,' but as a proper name, it may have functioned as a family or clan designation, possibly signifying a notable ancestor or event now lost to history. The term is not attested as a common noun. While English translations often use 'Meraioth,' this is a transliteration and does not carry over the inherent lexical sense. The KJV and other older translations read the name without reference to the root meaning. Distinct from similar roots (e.g., מרי), which also convey rebellion and occur in various forms as common nouns or adjectives.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
plural of מְרָיָה; rebellious; Merajoth, the name of two Israelites; Meraioth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מרה (m-r-h) — to rebel, be disobedient, resist
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4754 | מָרָא | rebelling woman |
| H4784 | מָרָה | the rebelling ones |
| H4805 | מְרִי | in their rebellion |
| H4811 | מְרָיָה | Yah is rebellious |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4812-02 |
מְרָיֽוֹת | merayot | HNp |
Meraioth | Merayoth | 6 |
H4812-01 |
לִ/מְרָי֖וֹת | limerayot | HR/Np |
of Meraioth | to Merayoth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4812-02 |
Ezra 7:3 | מְרָיֽוֹת | merayot | HNp |
Meraioth | Merayoth |
H4812-02 |
Nehemiah 11:11 | מְרָיוֹת֙ | merayot | HNp |
Meraioth | Merayoth |
H4812-01 |
Nehemiah 12:15 | לִ/מְרָי֖וֹת | limerayot | HR/Np |
of Meraioth | to Merayoth |
H4812-02 |
1 Chronicles 5:32 | מְרָיֽוֹת | merayot | HNp |
Meraioth | Merayoth |
H4812-02 |
1 Chronicles 5:33 | מְרָיוֹת֙ | merayot | HNp |
Meraioth | Merayoth |
H4812-02 |
1 Chronicles 6:37 | מְרָי֥וֹת | merayot | HNp |
Meraioth | Merayoth |
H4812-02 |
1 Chronicles 9:11 | מְרָיוֹת֙ | merayot | HNp |
Meraioth | Merayoth |