Lexical Summary mara: To be rebellious, to be disobedient, to resist Original Word: מָרָא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be filthy, lift up self A primitive root; to rebel; hence (through the idea of maltreating) to whip, i.e. Lash (self with wings, as the ostrich in running) -- be filthy, lift up self. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition perhaps to flap (the wings) NASB Translation lifts (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [מָרָא] verb only Hiph`il Imperfect3feminine singular: meaning dubious, perhaps beat the air, or flap the wings, compare Di De (and Wetzst in De), Bu Du (compare Arabic II. מרא (√ of following, be fat; compare Assyrian marû III. causative, adjective marû, well-fed, fat; Arabic Topical Lexicon Overview The term מָרָא appears only twice in the Old Testament. Each occurrence paints a vivid picture of rebellion—one through the sudden, almost brazen movement of the ostrich (Job 39:18) and the other through the entrenched civic defiance of Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:1). Together they frame rebellion as both an impulsive act and a systemic posture, underscoring Scripture’s consistent warning against resisting God’s wise and righteous rule. Occurrences and Immediate Context 1. Job 39:18 “Yet when she proudly spreads her wings, she laughs at horse and rider.” Within the divine interrogation of Job, God contrasts the ostrich’s negligent care for her eggs (39:14–15) with her fearless sprint. The sudden, reckless burst of speed is described with our word, capturing an audacious disregard for danger. The image illustrates creaturely limits: even an animal that behaves “rebelliously” is still bounded by the Creator’s providence. Job, overwhelmed, learns that questioning God’s governance is as futile as racing the ostrich in her moment of wild abandon. “Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!” Here the word exposes Jerusalem’s hardened attitude toward covenant obligations. The prophet’s oracle links rebellion with oppression and impurity, indicating that moral corruption flows from a heart set against divine authority. Verses 2–4 catalog the results: deafness to correction, perverted justice in leadership, and exploitation of the vulnerable. The rebellion has moved from a single act to a cultural norm, calling for impending judgment (3:8) but also setting the stage for promised restoration (3:9–20). Thematic Threads: Rebellion, Pride, and the Fear of the LORD • Rebellion is portrayed both as a fleeting flash of arrogance (Job) and as an institutionalized stance (Zephaniah). Historical Setting Job’s setting, whether patriarchal or later wisdom tradition, emphasizes universal human questions rather than national sin. Zephaniah, ministering during Josiah’s reign (circa 640–609 BC), addresses Judah on the eve of Babylonian threat. The limited uses of מָרָא therefore bridge two very different eras, showing that rebellion is perennial, irrespective of time or culture. Ministry Significance • Preaching and Teaching: Job 39:18 invites reflection on humanity’s tendency to overestimate its autonomy. Zephaniah 3:1 confronts collective sin, reminding congregations that societal structures can embody rebellion just as individuals do. Related Biblical Imagery • The ostrich’s laugh anticipates Psalm 59:8, where God laughs at the nations’ vanity. Homiletical Outline Example 1. The Flash of Rebellion (Job 39:18) Counseling and Discipleship Questions • Where do you see “ostrich moments” of impulsive defiance in your life? Summary מָרָא, though rare, crystallizes Scripture’s teaching that rebellion—whether sudden or systemic—sets itself against God and leads to harm. Yet even in warnings, God extends grace, calling nations and individuals alike to the humility, obedience, and hope secured in His steadfast covenant love. Forms and Transliterations מֹרְאָ֖ה מראה תַּמְרִ֑יא תמריא mō·rə·’āh mōrə’āh moreAh tam·rî tamRi tamrîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 39:18 HEB: כָּ֭עֵת בַּמָּר֣וֹם תַּמְרִ֑יא תִּֽשְׂחַ֥ק לַ֝סּ֗וּס NAS: When she lifts herself on high, KJV: What time she lifteth up herself on high, INT: When high lifts laughs the horse Zephaniah 3:1 2 Occurrences |
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whip, urge on a horse ?); — תַּמְרִ֑יא תִּשְׂחָק לַסּוּם וּלְדֹבְבוֺ׃ 
be digestible, agree with (of food)).