4809. Meribah
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

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Meribah

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

see HEBREW mriybah

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 ᵐ5L 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).

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

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Greek equivalents for the proper noun "Meribah" in the Strong's Greek lexicon, as it is a specific Hebrew place name. However, the concept of "strife" or "contention" can be related to Greek terms such as ἔρις (eris, Strong's Greek 2054), meaning "strife" or "contention."

Usage: The term "Meribah" is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to two distinct locations where the Israelites quarreled with God due to a lack of water. These events are pivotal in the narrative of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness.

Context: Meribah at Rephidim: This is the first instance of Meribah, located at Rephidim. The Israelites, having left Egypt, found themselves without water and quarreled with Moses. In response, God instructed Moses to strike the rock at Horeb, from which water miraculously flowed. This event is recorded in Exodus 17:1-7. The place was named "Massah and Meribah" because of the contention of the Israelites and their testing of the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" (Exodus 17:7, BSB).

Meribah at Kadesh: The second instance occurs at Kadesh in the Desert of Zin. Here, the Israelites again complained about the lack of water. God commanded Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water. However, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, disobeying God's command. As a result, God declared that Moses and Aaron would not lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. This event is detailed in Numbers 20:1-13. The waters were called "the waters of Meribah," where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed Himself holy among them (Numbers 20:13, BSB).

Significance: Meribah serves as a symbol of human disobedience and divine provision. It highlights the recurring theme of Israel's lack of faith and God's continued faithfulness despite their rebellion. The events at Meribah are referenced in other biblical passages, such as Deuteronomy 33:8 and Psalm 95:8, as reminders of the Israelites' contentious nature and the importance of obedience to God.

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
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
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.















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