4809. Meribah

Strong's Lexicon

Meribah: Meribah

Original Word: מְרִיבָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Mriybah
Pronunciation: meh-ree-BAH
Phonetic Spelling: (mer-ee-baw')
Definition: Meribah
Meaning: Meribah

Word Origin: Derived from the Hebrew root רִיב (riv), meaning "to strive" or "to contend."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Greek equivalent for Meribah, but the concept of "strife" or "contention" can be related to Greek words like ἔρις (eris), meaning "strife" or "contention."

Usage: Meribah means "quarreling" or "strife." It is used in the Bible to refer to two specific locations where the Israelites quarreled with God due to a lack of water. These incidents highlight moments of testing and contention between the Israelites and God during their wilderness journey.

Cultural and Historical Background: The name Meribah is associated with two significant events during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. The first Meribah is located at Rephidim, where the Israelites complained about the lack of water, and Moses struck the rock to bring forth water (Exodus 17:1-7). The second Meribah is at Kadesh in the Desert of Zin, where Moses, in frustration, struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it as God commanded, leading to his prohibition from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:1-13). These events underscore the recurring theme of Israel's lack of faith and obedience, as well as God's provision and holiness.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from rib
Definition
"place of strife," two places in the desert
NASB Translation
Meribah (8), Meribah-kadesh* (1), Meribath-kadesh* (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. מְרִיבָה proper name, of a location (place of strife); —

1 at Rephidim, ׳מַסָּה וּמ Exodus 17:7 (J), Λοιδόρησις.

2 at Kadesh, especially in מֵי מְרִיבָה water of M. (ᵐ5 ὕδωρ ἁντιλογίας) Deuteronomy 33:8; Numbers 20:13 (P) Psalm 81:8; Psalm 106:32, also (ᵐ5 ὕδωρ τῆς λοιδορίας ᵐ5^L as above) Numbers 20:24 (P); ׳מ construct in מֵי מְרִיבַת קָדֵשׁ (ᵐ5 ὕδωρ ἁντιλογίας [ἑν] Καδης) Numbers 27:14; Deuteronomy 32:51 (both P), and (ᵐ5 ὕδωρ βαριμωθ Καδης Ezekiel 48:28; so מֵי מְרִיבוֺת ׳ק Ezekiel 47:19 (ᵐ5 ὕδωρ Μαριμωθ Καδης); Deuteronomy 33:2 see קֹדֶשׁ near the end; מְרִיבָה along, only Psalm 95:8 (παραπικρασμός; "" יוֺם מַסָּה).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Meribah

The same as mriybah; Meribah, the name of two places in the Desert -- Meribah.

see HEBREW mriybah

Forms and Transliterations

וּמְרִיבָ֑ה ומריבה מְרִיבַ֥ת מְרִיבָ֔ה מְרִיבָ֣ה מְרִיבָֽה׃ מריבה מריבה׃ מריבת mə·rî·ḇāh mə·rî·ḇaṯ mərîḇāh mərîḇaṯ meriVah meriVat ū·mə·rî·ḇāh ūmərîḇāh umeriVah

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 17:7
HEB: הַמָּק֔וֹם מַסָּ֖ה וּמְרִיבָ֑ה עַל־ רִ֣יב ׀
NAS: Massah and Meribah because
KJV: Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding
INT: the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel

Numbers 20:13
HEB: הֵ֚מָּה מֵ֣י מְרִיבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ רָב֥וּ
NAS: [were] the waters of Meribah, because
KJV: the water of Meribah; because the children
INT: Those the waters of Meribah because contended

Numbers 20:24
HEB: פִּ֖י לְמֵ֥י מְרִיבָֽה׃
NAS: My command at the waters of Meribah.
KJV: my word at the water of Meribah.
INT: my command the waters of Meribah

Numbers 27:14
HEB: הֵ֛ם מֵֽי־ מְרִיבַ֥ת קָדֵ֖שׁ מִדְבַּר־
NAS: are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh
KJV: that [is] the water of Meribah in Kadesh
INT: (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh the wilderness

Deuteronomy 33:8
HEB: עַל־ מֵ֥י מְרִיבָֽה׃
NAS: at the waters of Meribah;
KJV: at the waters of Meribah;
INT: at the waters of Meribah

Psalm 81:7
HEB: עַל־ מֵ֖י מְרִיבָ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃
NAS: you at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
KJV: thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
INT: at the waters of Meribah Selah

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4809
6 Occurrences

mə·rî·ḇāh — 4 Occ.
mə·rî·ḇaṯ — 1 Occ.
ū·mə·rî·ḇāh — 1 Occ.