4784. marah
Lexical Summary
marah: To rebel, be disobedient, be contentious

Original Word: מָרָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: marah
Pronunciation: mah-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-raw')
KJV: bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoke(-ing), (be) rebel (against, -lious)
NASB: rebelled, rebellious, rebel, disobeyed, rebels, became disobedient, bitter
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant)
2. (figuratively) to rebel (or resist
3. causatively, to provoke)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoking

A primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke) -- bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoke(-ing), (be) rebel (against, -lious).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be contentious or rebellious
NASB Translation
became disobedient (1), bitter (1), disobedient (1), disobeyed (2), provocation (1), rebel (6), rebelled (18), rebellious (12), rebels (2), very rebellious (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מָרָה verb be contentious, refractory, rebellious (Late Hebrew id., Hiph`il; Arabic III. dispute with; Syriac Pa`el contend with); —

Qal. Perfect3masculine singular מָרָה 1 Kings 13:26; feminine מָֽרְתָה Hosea 14:1; מָרָ֑תָה Jeremiah 4:17; 2masculine singular מָרִיתָ 1 Kings 13:21 11t. perfect; Infinitive absolute מָרוֺ Lamentations 1:20; Participle מֹרֶה 2 Kings 14:26 (but read מר, √ מרר, KmpKau כִּי מַר הוּא); מוֺרֶה Deuteronomy 21:18 3t.; feminine מֹרְאָה Zephaniah 3:1 (read מֹרָה; metaplastic form according to Ges§ 75 R. 22); plural מֹרִים Numbers 20:10; — be disobedient, rebellious:

1 בֵּן סוֺרֵר וּמֹרֶה Deuteronomy 21:18,20 stubborn and rebellious son (towards father).

2 elsewhere towards God: דֹּר סוֺרֵר וּמֹרֶה Psalm 78:8; ׳לֵב סורר ומ Jeremiah 5:23; מוֺרְאָה ונגאלה הָעִיר Zephaniah 3:1; הַמֹּרִים Numbers 20:10 ye rebels (P); absolute Isaiah 50:5; Isaiah 63:10; Lamentations 1:20 (twice in verse); "" מאן Isaiah 1:20; פשׁע Lamentations 3:42; with בְּ person Hosea 14:1; Psalm 5:11, elsewhere accusative of person Jeremiah 4:17; ׳יs words Psalm 105:28; מרה (את) פי Numbers 20:24; Numbers 27:14 (P), 1 Samuel 12:15; 1 Kings 13:21,26 (D2) Lamentations 1:18. — In Hosea 4:4 read perhaps מָרוּ בִי have rebelled against me (for ᵑ0 כִּמְרִיבֵי), so RSProph. iv. n. 8 Che (for other views see ריב).

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine plural הִמְרוּ Psalm 106:33; Psalm 107:11; Imperfect יַמְרֶה Joshua 1:18; feminine וַתֶּ֫מֶר Ezekiel 5:6; 2masculine singular תַּמֵּר (as if √ מרר) Exodus 23:21, read תֶּ֫מֶר Di and others; 3 masculine plural יַמְרוּ Psalm 106:43 6t; suffix יַמְרוּהוּ Psalm 78:40; 2masculine plural תַּמְרוּ 1 Samuel 12:14 3t.; Infinitive construct לַמְרוֺת Isaiah 3:8; Psalm 78:17; suffix הַמְּרוֺתָם (Ges§ 20. 2b) Job 17:2; Participle plural מַמְרִים Deuteronomy 9:7 2t.; — shew disobedience, rebelliousness, always toward God: absolute Nehemiah 9:26. ("" מרד), Psalm 106:7; Psalm 106:43; Job 17:2; with בְּ person Exodus 23:21; Ezekiel 20:8,13,21; עִם Deuteronomy 9:7,24; Deuteronomy 31:27; elsewhere accusative of God or his commands: Isaiah 3:8; Ezekiel 5:6; Psalm 78:17; Psalm 78:40; Psalm 78:56; Psalm 107:11; המרה את פי Deuteronomy 1:26,43; Deuteronomy 9:23; Joshua 1:18; 1 Samuel 12:14 (D2), אתרֿוחוֺ Psalm 106:33 (compare Ephr 4:30); perhaps Psalm 139:20 (see אָמַר 1).

Topical Lexicon
Definition in Context

Though lexically “marah” denotes rebellion, its scriptural portrait goes beyond mere civil insubordination to describe willful, covenant‐breaking defiance against the revealed will of God. Approximately forty-five appearances form a cohesive testimony that links individual hardness of heart with national apostasy, producing a theology of rebellion that threads through the Pentateuch, the historical books, the Psalms, and the Prophets.

Usage Overview

1. Personal rebellion against parental or divine authority (Deuteronomy 21:18-20; Job 17:10).
2. Corporate rebellion of Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 17:10; Numbers 20:24; Psalm 78:17).
3. Apostasy under the monarchy (1 Samuel 12:15; 1 Kings 13:21).
4. Prophetic indictment of covenant breach (Isaiah 1:20; Ezekiel 20:13).
5. Confessional acknowledgment in post-exilic lament (Lamentations 1:18; 3:42).

Rebellion in the Wilderness

The wilderness narratives furnish the earliest and most graphic instances. When the people complained at Meribah, Moses addressed them as “rebels” (Numbers 20:10). The Lord later explained the gravity of that moment: “because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah” (Numbers 20:24). The event became a paradigm of distrust and disobedience (Psalm 106:33). Even the high point of Sinai revelation is framed by acts of rebellion: “Remember and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God in the wilderness. From the day you left the land of Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebelling against the LORD” (Deuteronomy 9:7).

Covenant Implications in Deuteronomy

Moses repeatedly warns that rebellion nullifies covenant blessings and invokes covenant curses:

Deuteronomy 1:26-43 – refusal to enter Canaan is labeled rebellion, a direct challenge to divine leadership.
Deuteronomy 9:23-24 – rebellion is equated with unbelief.
Deuteronomy 13:5 – false prophets entice the people to “rebel against the LORD your God.”
Deuteronomy 31:27 – impending rebellion foretold: “I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are.”

The rebellious son legislation (Deuteronomy 21:18-20) shows that marah cannot be tolerated in the household any more than in the nation; domestic order mirrors covenant order.

National Rebellion During the Monarchy

Samuel’s farewell speech crystallizes the choice before the newly established monarchy: “But if you do not obey the LORD, but rebel against the command of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you” (1 Samuel 12:15). Kings and prophets alike confront the same sin: Jeroboam’s altar incident (1 Kings 13:21, 26) and Amaziah’s pride (2 Kings 14:9-10) disclose hearts bent on marah. The chronic pattern reveals that dynastic strength offers no immunity against covenant rebellion.

Prophetic Diagnosis of Rebellion

Isaiah laments, “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword” (Isaiah 1:20). Later he adds a Trinitarian dimension: “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit” (Isaiah 63:10). Ezekiel rehearses Israel’s history with the refrain, “But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness” (Ezekiel 20:13, 21). Rebellion thus becomes the central charge in the covenant lawsuit motif: God’s people have violated their marriage vows (Jeremiah 5:23) and must be summoned to repentance or judgment.

Spiritual Anatomy of Rebellion

1. Unbelief – refusal to trust God’s word (Psalm 78:17-22).
2. Stubbornness – a stiff neck that resists correction (Deuteronomy 31:27).
3. Contempt – despising the holiness of God (Numbers 27:14).
4. False worship – idolatries that redirect allegiance (Deuteronomy 13:5; Ezekiel 20:8).
5. Grieving the Spirit – rebellion is personal, not merely legal (Isaiah 63:10).

Consequences of Marah

• Exclusion from promise (Numbers 14:23).
• Premature death (Deuteronomy 21:21).
• National exile (Isaiah 1:20; Ezekiel 20:23).
• Divine opposition: “The hand of the LORD will be against you” (1 Samuel 12:15).

Yet even in judgment God maintains a remnant, illustrating both His justice and His mercy (Ezekiel 20:38).

Pathway to Restoration

Confession is the indispensable first step: “We have sinned and rebelled” (Lamentations 3:42). The Psalms turn rebellion into prayer for mercy (Psalm 106:6). Post-exilic reforms under Ezra and Nehemiah show that covenant renewal requires the eradication of rebellion and the embrace of wholehearted obedience (Nehemiah 9:26-29).

Christological Fulfillment

The Servant of Isaiah embodies perfect obedience, standing as the antithesis to marah. Where Israel rebelled, the Messiah declares, “I delight to do Your will” (Psalm 40:8; cf. Hebrews 10:7). At Calvary He bears the curse incurred by rebels, making possible the new covenant promise: “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes” (Ezekiel 36:27).

Ministry Application

1. Preaching – underscore the seriousness of rebellion as willful defiance, not mere weakness.
2. Pastoral care – confront patterns of stubborn refusal with both truth and grace, pointing to Christ’s obedience.
3. Family discipleship – teach children that parental authority mirrors divine authority; rebellion in the home is spiritually significant.
4. Corporate worship – cultivate humility and confession to guard the church from collective marah.
5. Missions – proclaim deliverance from rebellion as part of the gospel’s call to the nations (Romans 1:5).

Summary

“Marah” reminds every reader that the heart’s natural bent is away from God. Scripture’s consistent witness—spanning desert wanderings, prophetic oracles, and redemptive fulfillment in Christ—declares that rebellion separates from blessing, yet God’s pursuing mercy invites the rebel home.

Forms and Transliterations
הִמְר֥וּ הַמֹּרִ֔ים המרו המרים וַ֭יַּמְרוּ וַיַּמְר֖וּ וַיַּמְר֨וּ וַיַּמְרוּ־ וַתֶּ֨מֶר וַתַּמְר֕וּ וַתַּמְר֗וּ וַתַּמְרוּ֙ וּ֝בְהַמְּרוֹתָ֗ם וּמְרִיתֶ֑ם וּמְרִיתֶ֖ם וּמָרִ֔ינוּ וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה וּמֹרֶ֔ה וּמוֹרֶ֑ה וּמוֹרֶ֔ה ובהמרותם וימרו וימרו־ ומורה ומרה ומרינו ומריתם ותמר ותמרו יַמְר֣וּ יַמְר֣וּהוּ יַמְרֶ֣ה ימרה ימרו ימרוהו לַֽמְר֥וֹת לַמְר֖וֹת למרות מְרִיתֶ֥ם מְרִיתֶ֨ם מַמְרִ֤ים מַמְרִ֥ים מָ֙רָה֙ מָ֝ר֗וּ מָ֥רוּ מָר֖וֹ מָר֥וּ מָרְתָ֖ה מָרִ֑יתִי מָרִ֙יתָ֙ מָרָ֖ה מָרָ֖תָה מֹרֶ֣ה ממרים מרה מרו מרית מריתי מריתם מרתה תַמְר֖וּ תמרו ham·mō·rîm hammoRim hammōrîm him·rū himRu himrū lam·rō·wṯ lamRot lamrōwṯ mā·rā·ṯāh mā·rāh mā·rə·ṯāh mā·rî·ṯā mā·rî·ṯî mā·rōw mā·rū mam·rîm mamRim mamrîm marah mārāh maRatah mārāṯāh mareTah mārəṯāh maRita mārîṯā maRiti mārîṯî maRo mārōw Maru mārū mə·rî·ṯem meriTem mərîṯem mō·reh moReh mōreh ṯam·rū tamRu ṯamrū ū·ḇə·ham·mə·rō·w·ṯām ū·mā·rî·nū ū·mə·rî·ṯem ū·mō·reh ū·mō·w·reh ūḇəhammərōwṯām umaRinu ūmārînū umeriTem ūmərîṯem umoReh ūmōreh ūmōwreh uvehammeroTam vaiyamRu vattamRu vatTemer wat·tam·rū wat·te·mer wattamrū wattemer way·yam·rū way·yam·rū- wayyamrū wayyamrū- yam·reh yam·rū yam·rū·hū yamreh yamRu yamrū yamRuhu yamrūhū
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Numbers 20:10
HEB: שִׁמְעוּ־ נָא֙ הַמֹּרִ֔ים הֲמִן־ הַסֶּ֣לַע
NAS: now, you rebels; shall we bring forth
KJV: unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch
INT: Listen now rebels at the rock

Numbers 20:24
HEB: עַ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ מְרִיתֶ֥ם אֶת־ פִּ֖י
NAS: because you rebelled against
KJV: of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word
INT: and which rebelled my command the waters

Numbers 27:14
HEB: כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ מְרִיתֶ֨ם פִּ֜י בְּמִדְבַּר־
NAS: of the congregation, you rebelled against
KJV: For ye rebelled against my commandment
INT: you rebelled my command the wilderness

Deuteronomy 1:26
HEB: אֲבִיתֶ֖ם לַעֲלֹ֑ת וַתַּמְר֕וּ אֶת־ פִּ֥י
NAS: to go up, but rebelled against
KJV: not go up, but rebelled against the commandment
INT: willing to go rebelled the command of the LORD

Deuteronomy 1:43
HEB: וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם וַתַּמְרוּ֙ אֶת־ פִּ֣י
NAS: to you, but you would not listen. Instead you rebelled against
KJV: unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment
INT: not listen rebelled the command of the LORD

Deuteronomy 9:7
HEB: הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה מַמְרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם עִם־
NAS: you have been rebellious against
KJV: unto this place, ye have been rebellious against
INT: place this rebellious have been against

Deuteronomy 9:23
HEB: נָתַ֖תִּי לָכֶ֑ם וַתַּמְר֗וּ אֶת־ פִּ֤י
NAS: I have given you,' then you rebelled against
KJV: which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment
INT: which have given rebelled the command of the LORD

Deuteronomy 9:24
HEB: מַמְרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם עִם־
NAS: You have been rebellious against
KJV: Ye have been rebellious against the LORD
INT: rebellious have been against

Deuteronomy 21:18
HEB: בֵּ֚ן סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֣נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֔עַ
NAS: a stubborn and rebellious son
KJV: have a stubborn and rebellious son,
INT: son A stubborn and rebellious even listen

Deuteronomy 21:20
HEB: זֶה֙ סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ
NAS: of ours is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey
KJV: [is] stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey
INT: This is stubborn and rebellious will not obey

Deuteronomy 31:27
HEB: עִמָּכֶ֜ם הַיּ֗וֹם מַמְרִ֤ים הֱיִתֶם֙ עִם־
NAS: you have been rebellious against
KJV: with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD;
INT: against today rebellious have been against

Joshua 1:18
HEB: אִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ יַמְרֶ֣ה אֶת־ פִּ֗יךָ
NAS: who rebels against
KJV: Whosoever [he be] that doth rebel against thy commandment,
INT: Whosoever who rebels your command and does not

1 Samuel 12:14
HEB: בְּקֹל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א תַמְר֖וּ אֶת־ פִּ֣י
NAS: to His voice and not rebel against
KJV: his voice, and not rebel against the commandment
INT: to his voice and not rebel against the command

1 Samuel 12:15
HEB: בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֔ה וּמְרִיתֶ֖ם אֶת־ פִּ֣י
NAS: of the LORD, but rebel against
KJV: of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment
INT: to the voice of the LORD rebel against the command

1 Samuel 30:6
HEB: לְסָקְל֔וֹ כִּֽי־ מָ֙רָה֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ כָּל־
INT: of stoning because bitter the soul for all

1 Kings 13:21
HEB: יַ֗עַן כִּ֤י מָרִ֙יתָ֙ פִּ֣י יְהוָ֔ה
NAS: Because you have disobeyed the command
KJV: Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth
INT: as for have disobeyed the command of the LORD

1 Kings 13:26
HEB: ה֔וּא אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָרָ֖ה אֶת־ פִּ֣י
NAS: who disobeyed the command
KJV: of God, who was disobedient unto the word
INT: he who disobeyed the command of the LORD

2 Kings 14:26
HEB: עֳנִ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֹרֶ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְאֶ֤פֶס
NAS: [which was] very bitter; for there was neither
KJV: [that it was] very bitter: for [there was] not
INT: the affliction of Israel bitter very neither

Nehemiah 9:26
HEB: וַיַּמְר֨וּ וַֽיִּמְרְד֜וּ בָּ֗ךְ
NAS: But they became disobedient and rebelled
KJV: Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled
INT: became and rebelled and cast

Job 17:2
HEB: הֲ֭תֻלִים עִמָּדִ֑י וּ֝בְהַמְּרוֹתָ֗ם תָּלַ֥ן עֵינִֽי׃
NAS: gazes on their provocation.
KJV: continue in their provocation?
INT: mockers against their provocation gazes and my eye

Psalm 5:10
HEB: הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ כִּי־ מָ֥רוּ בָֽךְ׃
NAS: thrust them out, For they are rebellious against You.
KJV: of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
INT: thrust for are rebellious

Psalm 78:8
HEB: דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה דּ֭וֹר לֹא־
NAS: A stubborn and rebellious generation,
KJV: a stubborn and rebellious generation;
INT: generation A stubborn and rebellious A generation did not

Psalm 78:17
HEB: לַחֲטֹא־ ל֑וֹ לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃
NAS: to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High
KJV: yet more against him by provoking the most High
INT: still to sin to rebel the Most the desert

Psalm 78:40
HEB: כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ
NAS: How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness
KJV: How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness,
INT: How rebelled the wilderness and grieved

Psalm 78:56
HEB: וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־ אֱלֹהִ֣ים
NAS: Yet they tempted and rebelled against
KJV: Yet they tempted and provoked the most high
INT: tempted and rebelled God the Most

45 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4784
45 Occurrences


ham·mō·rîm — 1 Occ.
him·rū — 2 Occ.
lam·rō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
mam·rîm — 3 Occ.
mā·rāh — 2 Occ.
mā·rā·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
mā·rə·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
mā·rî·ṯā — 1 Occ.
mā·rî·ṯî — 3 Occ.
mā·rōw — 1 Occ.
mā·rū — 3 Occ.
mə·rî·ṯem — 2 Occ.
mō·reh — 1 Occ.
ṯam·rū — 1 Occ.
ū·mā·rî·nū — 1 Occ.
ū·mə·rî·ṯem — 2 Occ.
ū·mō·w·reh — 4 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ham·mə·rō·w·ṯām — 1 Occ.
way·yam·rū — 6 Occ.
wat·tam·rū — 3 Occ.
wat·te·mer — 1 Occ.
yam·reh — 1 Occ.
yam·rū — 1 Occ.
yam·rū·hū — 1 Occ.

4783
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