Original Word: מַעֲרֶכֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: ma`areketh
Pronunciation: mah-ar-eh'-keth
Phonetic Spelling: (mah-ar-eh'-keth)
Definition: Arrangement, setting, row
Meaning: an arrangement, a pile

row, showbread

From arak; an arrangement, i.e. (concretely) a pile (of loaves) -- row, shewbread.

see HEBREW arak

Word Origin
from arak
Definition
a row, line
NASB Translation
row (2), rows (1), showbread (3), showbread* (4).

מַּעֲרֶ֫נֶת noun feminine row, line; — only of the rows of 'shew'-bread; absolute ׳מ Leviticus 24:7, מַעֲרָ֑כֶת Leviticus 24:6 (P); elsewhere Chronicles: ׳לֶחֶם הַמּ 1 Chronicles 9:32; 1 Chronicles 23:29; Nehemiah 10:34, ׳שֻׁלְחַן הַמּ2Chronicles 29:18, compare 1 Chronicles 28:16; construct מַעֲרֶכֶת לֶחֶם2Chronicles 13:11 the row of bread, so ׳מ2Chron 2:3 the row of continuity, bread continually present in rows; plural absolute שׁתַּיִם מַעֲרָכוֺת Leviticus 24:6.

ערל (√ of following; meaning dubious; compare Arabic foreskin; Aramaic עוּרְלְתָא, ; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; also Egyptian karna θ a Brugsch^{ÄZ 1876, 128} Krall^{SB der Wlener Akkadian, hist.-phil. Cl. cxvi (1888), 659 f.}).

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb עָרַךְ (arak), meaning "to arrange" or "to set in order."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent of the concept of arrangement, particularly in a divine or predestined sense, can be found in Strong's Greek Number G4286, πρόθεσις (prothesis). This term is used in the New Testament to refer to God's purpose or plan, as well as the showbread in the temple (e.g., Hebrews 9:2). The connection between מַעֲרֶכֶת and πρόθεσις highlights the continuity of the theme of divine order and purpose from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

Usage: The word מַעֲרֶכֶת appears in the Hebrew Bible in contexts related to the arrangement of items, most notably the showbread. It is used to describe the orderly setting of the twelve loaves of bread on the table in the holy place, as prescribed in the Mosaic Law.

Context: מַעֲרֶכֶת is a noun that appears in the context of religious rituals and temple practices. It is most frequently associated with the "showbread" or "bread of the Presence," which was a significant element of the tabernacle and later the temple service. According to Levitical law, twelve loaves of bread were to be arranged in two rows or piles on the table of showbread every Sabbath as a perpetual offering before the Lord (Leviticus 24:5-8). This bread symbolized the covenant between God and Israel, representing God's provision and the people's dedication to Him. The term underscores the importance of order and ritual in worship practices, reflecting the structured nature of Israelite religious life.

הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֖כֶת הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֜כֶת הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֡כֶת הַֽמַּעֲרָ֑כֶת המערכת וּמַעֲרֶ֨כֶת ומערכת ham·ma·‘ă·rā·ḵeṯ ham·ma·‘ă·re·ḵeṯ hamma‘ărāḵeṯ hamma‘ăreḵeṯ hammaaRachet hammaaRechet ū·ma·‘ă·re·ḵeṯ ūma‘ăreḵeṯ umaaRechetInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts