4579. maah

Lexicon

maah: To reject, refuse, despise

Original Word: מֵעָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: me`ah
Pronunciation: mah-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (may-aw')
Definition: To reject, refuse, despise
Meaning: the belly, interior

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

gravel

Feminine of me'ah; the belly, i.e. (figuratively) interior -- gravel.

see HEBREW me'ah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as meeh
Definition
a grain (of sand)
NASB Translation
grains (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[מָעָה] noun feminine grain (of sand), si vera lectio (Late Hebrew מָעָה, seed (of melon, etc.), coin, Aramaic , מָעָא coin); — only feminine plural suffix: וַיְהִי כַחוֺל זֵרְעֶ֔ךָ וְצֶאֱצָאֵי מֵעֶיךָ כִּמְעֹתָיוּ Isaiah 48:19 and thy seed had been like the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the grains thereof, compare ᵑ9 ᵑ7 De Di Du and others > plural of [מֵעֶה] the entrails of it (i.e. the sea) AE Ges Hi Che^Comm. — ᵐ5 ὡς ὁ χοῦς τῆς γῆς, whence Gr כְּעפרותיו.

מָעוֺג see עוג. מָעוֺז, מָעֹז see עוז (compare עזז).

I, II. מָעוֺן, מְע(וֺ)נָה, מְעוֺנֹתַי see עון.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be soft.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Greek Number 2836: κοιλία (koilia) • This Greek term is often used in the New Testament to refer to the belly or womb, similar to the Hebrew "me'ah." It appears in passages such as John 7:38, where it is used metaphorically to describe the innermost being: "Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Streams of living water will flow from within him.'"

By examining the usage and context of "me'ah" in the Hebrew Bible, one gains insight into the ancient understanding of the human body and emotions, reflecting a holistic view of human nature that encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions.

Usage: The word "me'ah" is used in various contexts within the Hebrew Bible, often to describe the physical belly or the inner parts of a person. It can also be used metaphorically to express deep emotions or feelings, such as compassion or distress.

Context: The Hebrew term "מֵעָה" (me'ah) appears in several passages throughout the Old Testament, illustrating both its literal and figurative uses. In a literal sense, it is used to describe the physical belly or intestines, as seen in passages like Job 20:14, where it refers to the internal organs. In a metaphorical sense, "me'ah" can denote the seat of emotions or the innermost being, as in Isaiah 16:11, where it expresses deep emotional turmoil: "Therefore my heart laments like a harp for Moab, and my inmost being for Kir-hareseth."

The term is also used in contexts that highlight the vulnerability and sensitivity of the inner parts, as in Lamentations 1:20: "See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious." Here, "me'ah" conveys the profound emotional and spiritual distress experienced by the speaker.

In the broader biblical narrative, "me'ah" serves as a powerful symbol of the human condition, capturing both the physical and emotional aspects of life. It underscores the interconnectedness of body and spirit, illustrating how physical sensations can mirror emotional states.

Forms and Transliterations

כִּמְעֹתָ֑יו כמעתיו kim‘ōṯāw kim·‘ō·ṯāw kimoTav

Englishman's Concordance

Isaiah 48:19
HEB: וְצֶאֱצָאֵ֥י מֵעֶ֖יךָ כִּמְעֹתָ֑יו לֹֽא־ יִכָּרֵ֧ת
NAS: And your offspring like its grains; Their name
KJV: of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name
INT: and the offspring bowels grains never be cut

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 4579
1 Occurrence

kim·‘ō·ṯāw — 1 Occ.