מְרָרִי
𐤌𐤓𐤓𐤉
Merari
H4848 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper ethnicon designating a member of the Levitical family descended from Merari, one of the sons of Levi; refers specifically to individuals or groups within the clan/family known as the Merarites, with primary nuance of ancestry and group identity rather than a generic tribal identity.
Semantic Range
descendant of Merari, Merarite clan member, collective designation for the Merarite group of Levites, named ethnicon for members of the Merari line
Root / Etymology
From the root מָרַר (to be bitter, to be strong), the noun מְרָרִי is a patronymic deriving from the proper name מְרָרִי (Merari), itself formed from the root meaning 'bitter' or 'strength, hardship' with the typical ending –ִי denoting relationship or descent (i.e., 'descendant of Merari'). The proper name is most likely a personal name, interpreted literally as 'bitter' or perhaps 'one who brings bitterness,' but the exact nuance in the naming context is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the context of Israelite tribal structure, מְרָרִי designates both the individual ancestor (Merari, son of Levi) and the collective of his descendants—the Merarite division within the Levites (Numbers 3:17, 20, 33-37). The term does not carry a generalized meaning outside of this genealogical or tribal context. The Merarites had distinct clan duties related to the transport and care of the tabernacle's structural elements (as described in Numbers and elsewhere), setting them apart from the Gershonite and Kohathite Levites. The English 'Merarite' accurately translates the ethnicon, though it sometimes obscures the personal/genealogical origin of the term. In later periods, the historical Merarite identity diminished in practical significance as Levitical tribal distinctions blurred after the exile.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מְרָרִי; a Merarite (collectively), or decendants of Merari; Merarites.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מרר (m-r-r) — bitterness, strength, hardship
| 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
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4848-01 |
הַ/מְּרָרִֽי | hamerari | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Merarite | the Merari-descendant | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4848-01 |
Numbers 26:57 | הַ/מְּרָרִֽי | hamerari | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Merarite | the Merari-descendant |