4758. mareh

Lexical Summary

mareh: Appearance, vision, sight, form

Original Word: מַרְאֶה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mar'eh
Pronunciation: mar-eh'
Phonetic Spelling: (mar-eh')
KJV: X apparently, appearance(-reth), X as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision
NASB: appearance, vision, appears, sight, face, form, like
Word Origin: [from H7200 (רָאָה - see)]

1. a view (the act of seeing)
2. also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness
3. often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

apparently, appearance, beautifully, countenance, fair, favored, form, goodly,

From ra'ah; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision -- X apparently, appearance(-reth), X as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision.

see HEBREW ra'ah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from raah
Definition
sight, appearance, vision
NASB Translation
appear (1), appearance (48), appears (7), desires (1), face (2), form (2), good-looking* (1), impressive (1), like (2), looked (2), looking (1), openly (1), pattern (1), saw* (1), see* (1), sight (5), something (2), vision (10), what...see (2), who looked (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מַרְאֶה₁₀₂ noun masculine^{Exodus 3:3} sight, appearance, vision; — ׳מ absolute Genesis 12:11 +; construct מַרְאֵה Deuteronomy 28:34 +; suffix מַרְאֵהוּ Joel 2:4 +, מַרְאֶהָ Leviticus 13:4 +; apparently plural construct מַרְאֵי Ecclesiastes 11:9 (Kö^{ii. 1, 112}), suffix (probably in fact singular Ges^93ss) מַרְאַיִח Songs 2:14 (twice in verse), מַרְאֵיהֶן Nahum 2:5 +, etc.; — 1 Psalms

a. sight, phenomenon, spectacle Exodus 3:3 (J).

b. appearance ׳נֶחְמָד לְמ Genesis 2:9 (J) desirable in appearance, ׳גָּדוֺל לְמ Joshua 22:10; appearance of man (or woman), Judges 13:6 (twice in verse) (angel), Isaiah 52:14 (servant of ׳י), Songs 5:15; Daniel 8:15; Daniel 10:18; = outward person (opposed to inner man) 1 Samuel 16:7; visible form Songs 2:14 (twice in verse); Daniel 1:13 (twice in verse); Daniel 1:15; ׳בְּמ Numbers 12:8 (E; so read ⅏ ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Di, for ᵑ0 מַרְאֶה), i.e. in personal presence ( < Ew Pat^{Hpt {abbrev}}לֹא בְמ); כְּמַרְאֵה סוּסִים מַרְאֵהוּ Joel 2:4; of crocodile Job 41:2; ׳כְּבוֺד י ׳מ Exodus 24:17 (P), הַנֶּגַע ׳מ Leviticus 13:3, אֵֿשׁ׳מ Numbers 9:15,16, בָּרָק ׳מ Daniel 10:6 +; especially Ezekiel appearance person or of thing (27 t., sometimes redundant), Daniel 1:5; Daniel 1:13; Daniel 1:26; Daniel 8:2; Daniel 10:1 +, מָתְנָיו ׳מִמּ Daniel 1:27 (twice in verse); Daniel 8:2 ("" מִמָּתְנָיו) of beauty וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה fair of appearance Genesis 39:6 (J; +יְפֵהתֹֿאַר), compare 1 Samuel 17:42 (read עֶלֶם [q. v.] for עִם); feminine ׳(אִשָּׁה) יְפַתמֿ Genesis 12:11 (J), Genesis 29:17 (E; +יְפַת תּאַֹר), 2 Samuel 14:27; of kine ׳יְפוֺת (הַ)מ Genesis 41:2,4 (E), opposed to ׳רָעוֺת (הַ)מ Genesis 41:3; Genesis 41:4, מַרְאֵיהֶן רַע Genesis 41:21(all E); of women also ׳טֹבַת מ Genesis 24:16; Genesis 26:7 (both J), 2 Samuel 11:2; Esther 1:11; Esther 2:3,7, ׳טוֺבוֺת מ Esther 2:2; of boys ׳טוֺבֵי מ Daniel 1:4, compare ׳מ alone in וְנֶחְמְדֵהוּ ׳לֹאמֿ (of suffering servant of ׳י) Isaiah 53:2; ׳אִישׁ מ2Samuel 23:21 (but read as "" 1 Chronicles 11:23 אִישׁ מִדָּה We Dr and others).

c. appearance, sight, vision Numbers 8:4 (P).

2 in General what is seen, עֵינָיו ׳מ Isaiah 11:3 i.e. what his outward eyes see (compare 1 Samuel 16:7

1 b), עֵינֶיהָ ׳לִמ Ezekiel 23:16, עְינֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶה׳מ Deuteronomy 28:34,67, ׳לְכָלמֿ עֵינֵי הַכֹּהֵן Leviticus 13:12 (P).

3 specifically a. (supernatural) vision (in Ezekiel, Daniel; often accusative of congnate meaning with verb with ראה): Ezekiel 8:4; Ezekiel 11:24; Ezekiel 43:3 (3 t. in verse), read also מַרְאֵה הָרֶכֶב Ezekiel 43:3 (for מַרְאוֺת see I. מַרְאָה above); ׳בַּמּ Ezekiel 11:24; Daniel 8:16,27; Daniel 9:23; Daniel 10:1; ׳מ הָעֶרֶב וְהַבֹּקֶר Daniel 8:26.

4 sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late: עֵינַיִם ׳מ Ecclesiastes 6:9, הַלֵךְ בְּדַרְּכֵי לִבְּךָ וּבְמַרְאֵי עֵינֶיךָ Ecclesiastes 11:9.

Topical Lexicon

Overview of Usage

מַרְאֶה (mar’eh) spans roughly one-hundred Old Testament verses, gathering around two complementary ideas: what is outwardly seen (appearance, form, countenance) and what is inwardly revealed by God (vision, revelation). Context decides whether mar’eh concerns the eye of flesh or the eye of faith, yet in either sense it underlines that true perception depends on the Lord’s gracious disclosure.

Physical Appearance

1 Samuel 16:7 sets the keynote: “Man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” Here mar’eh exposes the limitations of human judgment and drives readers to seek God’s insight. The word colors many portraits:

• Personal beauty or stature: Rachel (Genesis 29:17), Saul (1 Samuel 9:2), Absalom (2 Samuel 14:25), Esther (Esther 2:7).
• Countenance altered by circumstances: Daniel’s friends grow fairer under a vegetable diet (Daniel 1:15); Nebuchadnezzar’s face changes toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:19).
• Moral or spiritual distress: Cain’s fallen countenance (Genesis 4:5–6) and the downcast faces of the exiles (Jeremiah 30:6).

These texts remind the church that God created physical beauty, yet He weighs character above cosmetics and can transform even the outward look by inner grace.

Prophetic Vision

In prophetic books mar’eh frequently means a God-given vision:

• Daniel’s apocalyptic scenes carry an explicit refrain: “I, Daniel, was watching the vision” (Daniel 8:15; 9:23; 10:7, 14).
• Zechariah receives night visions (Zechariah 4:2; 5:1).
• The word closes Daniel’s book: “Go your way, for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end” (Daniel 12:9), tying mar’eh to eschatological hope.

The term therefore links revelation to responsibility; every mar’eh demands obedience, intercession, or proclamation.

Theophany and Angelic Glory

Mar’eh frames encounters with divine glory:

• Sinai: “The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire” (Exodus 24:17).
• Ezekiel’s inaugural vision: “Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD” (Ezekiel 1:28).
• The man dressed in linen (Daniel 10:6) whose mar’eh anticipates Revelation’s description of the risen Christ.

These passages comfort worshippers with the assurance that God reveals Himself in splendor yet cloaks that splendor in forms His servants can bear.

Architectural and Cultic Imagery

Ezekiel applies mar’eh to the future temple pattern (Ezekiel 10:22; 40:3), underscoring that worship must mirror the heavenly blueprint. Likewise Moses was instructed to build the tabernacle according to the “pattern” he had seen (implicit mar’eh, Exodus 25:40). Ministry leaders learn to model all service on God’s revealed design rather than human invention.

Poetic Celebration of Beauty

Song of Songs elevates marital love using mar’eh:

• Bride’s praise: “Your appearance is beautiful, my darling” (Song of Songs 1:15).
• Bridegroom’s stature: “His appearance is like Lebanon” (Song of Songs 5:15).

The poetry upholds conjugal delight while hinting at Christ’s love for the church (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Judgment and Restoration

Isaiah foretells a Servant whose “appearance was marred beyond that of men” (Isaiah 52:14), a prophecy fulfilled in the suffering of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:26-30). Conversely, glorification awaits: “Your eyes will see the King in His beauty” (Isaiah 33:17), promising believers a consummate mar’eh when faith turns to sight.

Pastoral and Ministry Significance

• Discernment: Leaders must look past surface impressions (James 2:1-4) and value inner renewal (2 Corinthians 4:16).
• Vision casting: Genuine ministry arises from Scripture-anchored revelation, not private imagination (Habakkuk 2:2-3).
• Worship: Services should aim to display the glory of Christ so that worshippers, like Isaiah, behold the Lord and are sent (Isaiah 6:1-8).
• Hope: The church lives in anticipation of the Beatific Vision—“We shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2)—the ultimate mar’eh that satisfies every longing.

Key Theological Themes

1. Outer form versus inner reality: mar’eh exposes deception and affirms integrity.
2. Revelation initiates relationship: God makes Himself known through mar’eh so that His people may know, fear, and obey Him.
3. Eschatological fulfillment: present visions anticipate the final appearing of Jesus Christ.

Thus, from Genesis to Zechariah, מַרְאֶה weaves a unified testimony: God who created physical sight also grants spiritual sight, inviting His people to look beyond appearances and live by the vision of His glory.

Forms and Transliterations

בַּמַּרְאֶ֖ה בַּמַּרְאֶֽה׃ במראה במראה׃ הַמַּרְאֶ֖ה הַמַּרְאֶ֜ה הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה הַמַּרְאֶֽה׃ הַמַּרְאֶה֙ המראה המראה׃ וּבְמַרְאֵ֖י וּכְמַרְאֵ֨ה וּמִמַּרְאֵ֤ה וּמִמַּרְאֵ֥ה וּמַ֨רְאֵיהֶ֔ם וּמַרְא֕וֹת וּמַרְאֵ֕הוּ וּמַרְאֵ֣ה וּמַרְאֵ֤ה וּמַרְאֵ֥יךְ וּמַרְאֵ֨ה וּמַרְאֵה֙ וּמַרְאֵה־ וּמַרְאֵיהֶ֣ן וּמַרְאֵיהֶ֥ן וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙ וּמַרְאֶ֙הָ֙ וּמַרְאֶה֙ ובמראי וכמראה וממראה ומראה ומראה־ ומראהו ומראות ומראיהם ומראיהן ומראיך כְּמַרְאֵ֖ה כְּמַרְאֵ֛ה כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה כְּמַרְאֵ֤ה כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה כְּמַרְאֵה־ כַּמַּרְאֶ֕ה כַּמַּרְאֶ֗ה כַּמַּרְאֶ֤ה כַּמַּרְאֶֽה׃ כמראה כמראה־ כמראה׃ לְמַרְאֵ֣ה לְמַרְאֵ֤ה לְמַרְאֶ֖ה לְמַרְאֶֽה׃ למראה למראה׃ מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה מַרְאֵ֑הוּ מַרְאֵ֔ינוּ מַרְאֵ֖ה מַרְאֵ֗הוּ מַרְאֵ֙הוּ֙ מַרְאֵ֛הוּ מַרְאֵ֤ה מַרְאֵ֥ה מַרְאֵ֨ה מַרְאֵֽיהֶ֔ן מַרְאֵיהֶ֖ם מַרְאֵיהֶ֣ם מַרְאֵיהֶם֙ מַרְאֵיהֶן֙ מַרְאֶ֔ה מַרְאֶ֖ה מַרְאֶ֗ה מַרְאֶ֙הָ֙ מַרְאֶ֜ה מַרְאֶ֣הָ מַרְאֶֽה׃ מַרְאֶה֙ מַרְאַ֔יִךְ מַרְאָ֣יו ממראה מראה מראה׃ מראהו מראיהם מראיהן מראיו מראיך מראינו bam·mar·’eh bammar’eh bammarEh ham·mar·’eh hammar’eh hammarEh kam·mar·’eh kammar’eh kammarEh kə·mar·’êh kə·mar·’êh- kəmar’êh kəmar’êh- kemarEh lə·mar·’eh lə·mar·’êh ləmar’eh ləmar’êh lemarEh mar’āw mar’ayiḵ mar’eh mar’êh mar’ehā mar’êhem mar’êhen mar’êhū mar’ênū mar·’a·yiḵ mar·’āw mar·’e·hā mar·’ê·hem mar·’ê·hen mar·’ê·hū mar·’ê·nū mar·’eh mar·’êh marAv marAyich marEh marEha marEhu mareiHem mareiHen marEinu mim·mar·’êh mimarEh mimmar’êh ū·ḇə·mar·’ê ū·ḵə·mar·’êh ū·mar·’e·hā ū·mar·’ê·hem ū·mar·’ê·hen ū·mar·’ê·hū ū·mar·’eh ū·mar·’êh ū·mar·’êh- ū·mar·’êḵ ū·mar·’ō·wṯ ū·mim·mar·’êh ūḇəmar’ê uchemarEh ūḵəmar’êh ūmar’eh ūmar’êh ūmar’êh- ūmar’ehā ūmar’êhem ūmar’êhen ūmar’êhū ūmar’êḵ ūmar’ōwṯ umarEh umarEha umarEhu umarEich umareiHem umareiHen umarot umimarEh ūmimmar’êh uvemarEi

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 2:9
HEB: עֵ֛ץ נֶחְמָ֥ד לְמַרְאֶ֖ה וְט֣וֹב לְמַאֲכָ֑ל
NAS: that is pleasing to the sight and good
KJV: that is pleasant to the sight, and good
INT: tree is pleasing to the sight and good food

Genesis 12:11
HEB: אִשָּׁ֥ה יְפַת־ מַרְאֶ֖ה אָֽתְּ׃
KJV: woman to look upon:
INT: woman beautiful upon you

Genesis 24:16
HEB: וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ טֹבַ֤ת מַרְאֶה֙ מְאֹ֔ד בְּתוּלָ֕ה
KJV: fair to look upon, a virgin,
INT: the girl beautiful upon was very A virgin

Genesis 26:7
HEB: כִּֽי־ טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה הִֽיא׃
KJV: because she [was] fair to look upon.
INT: for is beautiful upon It

Genesis 29:17
HEB: תֹּ֖אַר וִיפַ֥ת מַרְאֶֽה׃
NAS: was beautiful of form and face.
KJV: was beautiful and well favoured.
INT: of form was beautiful and face

Genesis 39:6
HEB: תֹ֖אַר וִיפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה׃
NAS: was handsome in form and appearance.
KJV: [person], and well favoured.
INT: form was handsome and appearance

Genesis 41:2
HEB: פָּר֔וֹת יְפ֥וֹת מַרְאֶ֖ה וּבְרִיאֹ֣ת בָּשָׂ֑ר
KJV: well favoured kine
INT: cows sleek favoured and fat and they

Genesis 41:3
HEB: הַיְאֹ֔ר רָע֥וֹת מַרְאֶ֖ה וְדַקּ֣וֹת בָּשָׂ֑ר
KJV: ill favoured and leanfleshed;
INT: the Nile ugly favoured dwarf and they

Genesis 41:4
HEB: הַפָּר֗וֹת רָע֤וֹת הַמַּרְאֶה֙ וְדַקֹּ֣ת הַבָּשָׂ֔ר
KJV: And the ill favoured and leanfleshed
INT: cows the ugly favoured dwarf body

Genesis 41:4
HEB: הַפָּר֔וֹת יְפֹ֥ת הַמַּרְאֶ֖ה וְהַבְּרִיאֹ֑ת וַיִּיקַ֖ץ
KJV: the seven well favoured and fat kine.
INT: cows sleek favoured and fat awoke

Genesis 41:21
HEB: אֶל־ קִרְבֶּ֔נָה וּמַרְאֵיהֶ֣ן רַ֔ע כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר
KJV: that they had eaten them; but they [were] still ill favoured,
INT: about among they still ugly as

Exodus 3:3
HEB: וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה אֶת־ הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה הַגָּדֹ֖ל הַזֶּ֑ה
NAS: this marvelous sight, why the bush
KJV: and see this great sight, why the bush
INT: now and see sight marvelous this

Exodus 24:17
HEB: וּמַרְאֵה֙ כְּב֣וֹד יְהוָ֔ה
NAS: of Israel the appearance of the glory
KJV: And the sight of the glory of the LORD
INT: the appearance of the glory of the LORD

Leviticus 13:3
HEB: הָפַ֣ךְ ׀ לָבָ֗ן וּמַרְאֵ֤ה הַנֶּ֙גַע֙ עָמֹק֙
NAS: and the infection appears to be deeper
KJV: and the plague in sight [be] deeper
INT: has turned white appears and the infection to be deeper

Leviticus 13:4
HEB: וְעָמֹק֙ אֵין־ מַרְאֶ֣הָ מִן־ הָע֔וֹר
NAS: of his body, and it does not appear to be deeper
KJV: of his flesh, and in sight [be] not deeper
INT: to be deeper does not appear than the skin

Leviticus 13:12
HEB: רַגְלָ֑יו לְכָל־ מַרְאֵ֖ה עֵינֵ֥י הַכֹּהֵֽן׃
NAS: as far as the priest can see,
INT: to his feet far apparently affliction as the priest

Leviticus 13:20
HEB: הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְהִנֵּ֤ה מַרְאֶ֙הָ֙ שָׁפָ֣ל מִן־
NAS: and behold, [if] it appears to be lower
KJV: seeth it, behold, it [be] in sight lower
INT: and the priest and behold appears to be lower than

Leviticus 13:25
HEB: לָבָ֜ן בַּבַּהֶ֗רֶת וּמַרְאֶ֙הָ֙ עָמֹ֣ק מִן־
NAS: white and it appears to be deeper
KJV: white, and it [be in] sight deeper
INT: white the bright appears to be deeper than

Leviticus 13:30
HEB: הַנֶּ֗גַע וְהִנֵּ֤ה מַרְאֵ֙הוּ֙ עָמֹ֣ק מִן־
NAS: and if it appears to be deeper
KJV: the plague: and, behold, if it [be] in sight deeper
INT: the infection and if appears to be deeper than

Leviticus 13:31
HEB: וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֵין־ מַרְאֵ֙הוּ֙ עָמֹ֣ק מִן־
NAS: and indeed, it appears to be no
KJV: of the scall, and, behold, it [be] not in sight deeper
INT: and indeed to be no appears deeper than

Leviticus 13:32
HEB: שֵׂעָ֣ר צָהֹ֑ב וּמַרְאֵ֣ה הַנֶּ֔תֶק אֵ֥ין
NAS: has grown in it, and the appearance of the scale
KJV: and the scall [be] not in sight deeper
INT: hair yellowish and the appearance of the scale is no

Leviticus 13:34
HEB: הַנֶּ֙תֶק֙ בָּע֔וֹר וּמַרְאֵ֕הוּ אֵינֶ֥נּוּ עָמֹ֖ק
NAS: in the skin and it appears to be no
KJV: in the skin, nor [be] in sight deeper
INT: the scale the skin appears to be no deeper

Leviticus 13:43
HEB: א֣וֹ בְגַבַּחְתּ֑וֹ כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה צָרַ֖עַת ע֥וֹר
NAS: on his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy
KJV: as the leprosy appeareth in the skin
INT: or his bald the appearance of leprosy the skin

Leviticus 14:37
HEB: א֖וֹ אֲדַמְדַּמֹּ֑ת וּמַרְאֵיהֶ֥ן שָׁפָ֖ל מִן־
NAS: depressions and appears deeper
KJV: or reddish, which in sight [are] lower
INT: or reddish and appears deeper than

Numbers 8:4
HEB: מִקְשָׁ֣ה הִ֑וא כַּמַּרְאֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶרְאָ֤ה
NAS: it was hammered work; according to the pattern which
KJV: thereof, [was] beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD
INT: work he to the pattern which had showed

104 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4758
104 Occurrences

bam·mar·’eh — 3 Occ.
ham·mar·’eh — 8 Occ.
kam·mar·’eh — 5 Occ.
kə·mar·’êh — 19 Occ.
lə·mar·’eh — 4 Occ.
mar·’āw — 1 Occ.
mar·’a·yiḵ — 1 Occ.
mar·’eh — 23 Occ.
mar·’e·hā — 2 Occ.
mar·’ê·hū — 8 Occ.
mar·’ê·hem — 3 Occ.
mar·’ê·hen — 2 Occ.
mar·’ê·nū — 1 Occ.
mim·mar·’êh — 3 Occ.
ū·ḵə·mar·’êh — 1 Occ.
ū·mar·’êh — 8 Occ.
ū·mar·’e·hā — 1 Occ.
ū·mar·’ê·hū — 2 Occ.
ū·mar·’êḵ — 1 Occ.
ū·mar·’ê·hem — 2 Occ.
ū·mar·’ê·hen — 2 Occ.
ū·mar·’ō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ū·mim·mar·’êh — 2 Occ.
ū·ḇə·mar·’ê — 1 Occ.