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מְרָרִי

𐤌𐤓𐤓𐤉

Merari

H4847 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מרר to be bitter, to provoke bitterness, to grieve

Definition

Merari: a personal name meaning 'bitter' or possibly 'one who is made bitter.' Merari is primarily used as a proper noun to designate the youngest son of Levi and the founding ancestor of the Merarite clan among the Levites. In narrative and genealogical contexts, the word designates either the individual or his descendants. The underlying meaning draws from the adjective 'bitter,' indicating either a personal characteristic, a circumstance, or reflecting a traditional naming convention.

Semantic Range

Merari (personal name), ancestor of a Levitical clan, eponymous ancestor; literal sense: bitter, one who is bitter

Root / Etymology

The word derives from the Hebrew root מרר (m-r-r), meaning 'to be bitter.' 'Merari' is a theophoric or attributive personal name formed from the root and a nominalizing suffix '-î,' indicating possession or association. Thus, it may mean 'bitter one,' 'my bitterness,' or 'associated with bitterness.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Merari appears in genealogical lists as the youngest son of Levi (Genesis 46:11, Exodus 6:16) and as the progenitor of the Merarite branch of Levites, who were responsible for specific duties regarding the tabernacle's framework (Numbers 3:33–37; 4:29–33). The name reflects a common pattern of biblical naming, where personal and family names express qualities, circumstances, or aspirations. The root מרר is otherwise used for literal and metaphorical bitterness. English translations tend to transliterate the name without conveying the underlying meaning. The ancestry and role of Merari are synonymous with the Merarite clan, whose duties and status develop in the priestly and post-exilic texts. The designation 'Merari' does not denote a religious identity but marks a genealogical and cultic role within Israelite society.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from מָרַר; bitter; Merari, an Israelite; Merari. See also מְרָרִי.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מרר (m-r-r) — to be bitter, to cause bitterness, to grieve

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

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4847-02 מְרָרִ֖י merari HNp Merari Bitter-One 31
H4847-03 וּ/מְרָרִֽי umerari HC/Np and Merari and Bitter-one 6
H4847-01 לִ/מְרָרִ֕י limerari HR/Np of Merari to Bitter-One 2

Occurrences in Scripture

39 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4847-03 Genesis 46:11 וּ/מְרָרִֽי umerari HC/Np and Merari and Bitter-one
H4847-03 Exodus 6:16 וּ/מְרָרִ֑י umerari HC/Np and Merari and Bitter-one
H4847-02 Exodus 6:19 מְרָרִ֖י merari HNp Merari Bitter-One
H4847-03 Numbers 3:17 וּ/מְרָרִֽי umerari HC/Np and Merari and Bitter-one
H4847-02 Numbers 3:20 מְרָרִ֛י merari HNp Merari Bitter-One
H4847-01 Numbers 3:33 לִ/מְרָרִ֕י limerari HR/Np To Merari to Bitter-One
H4847-02 Numbers 3:33 מְרָרִֽי merari HNp of Merari Bitter-One
H4847-02 Numbers 3:35 מְרָרִ֔י merari HNp of Merari Bitter-One
H4847-02 Numbers 3:36 מְרָרִי֒ merari HNp of Merari Bitter-One
H4847-02 Numbers 4:29 מְרָרִ֑י merari HNp Merari Bitter-One
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