Lexical Summary meraashoth: Heads, tops, summits Original Word: מְרַאֲשָׁה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bolster, head, pillow Formed like mar'ashah; properly, a headpiece, i.e. (plural for adverbial) at (or as) the head-rest (or pillow) -- bolster, head, pillow. Compare marglah. see HEBREW mar'ashah see HEBREW marglah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rosh Definition a place at the head, head place NASB Translation head (10). Brown-Driver-Briggs רַאֲשׁוֺת 1 Samuel 26:12 see מְרַאֲשׁוֺת below Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope מְרַאֲשָׁה designates the area immediately beside or beneath a person’s head while reclining. Across its eight Old Testament occurrences the term anchors scenes of sleep, vulnerability, and divine intervention. Occurrences in Scripture Genesis 28:11, 18 – Jacob rests on a stone “under his head,” awakes to rename the place Bethel, and consecrates the same stone as a pillar, marking a turning-point from fugitive to heir of the covenant. 1 Samuel 19:13, 16 – Michal substitutes a household idol with “goat hair on its head” to deceive Saul’s messengers, illustrating both David’s peril and the futility of idolatry against the Lord’s plan. 1 Samuel 26:7, 11, 16 – Three times the word frames Saul’s spear and water jug “by his head,” emphasizing his exposed condition while David refuses to harm the Lord’s anointed, reinforcing the sanctity of divine appointment. 1 Kings 19:6 – The exhausted Elijah awakes to find bread and water “by his head,” a tangible pledge that God sustains His servants even in despair. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near-Eastern sleepers commonly elevated the head with a stone, block of wood, folded cloak, or animal skin; weapons or supplies were kept within arm’s reach for protection. The head’s position symbolized not only personal safety but also honor and authority. Thus whatever lay at the head—the stone, spear, or sustenance—carried narrative weight. Narrative Significance 1. Encounter and Covenant (Genesis 28) “He took one of the stones from that place, put it under his head, and lay down” (Genesis 28:11). The humble pillow becomes a memorial of revelation. God meets Jacob where he lies helpless, promising land, lineage, and lasting presence. 2. Deception and Deliverance (1 Samuel 19) Michal’s ruse employs a head-prop to feign David’s body, highlighting both Saul’s relentless hostility and the providential escape of the future king. The episode warns against trusting in images yet showcases God’s use of unlikely means to preserve His servant. 3. Restraint and Reverence (1 Samuel 26) David stands over the sleeping Saul: “Take now the spear and water jug that are by his head” (1 Samuel 26:11). The stolen items prove David’s access, Saul’s vulnerability, and David’s fear of God. The scene underscores the principle that righteous ends must be pursued by righteous means. 4. Restoration and Mission (1 Kings 19) Elijah, collapsing beneath the broom tree, finds “a cake baked over hot stones and a jar of water” at his head (1 Kings 19:6). Physical replenishment precedes renewed prophetic commission, evidencing the Lord’s holistic care. Theological Themes • Divine Presence in Human Weakness – Jacob’s stone, Saul’s spear, and Elijah’s bread each appear when the protagonist is asleep or exhausted. God’s sovereignty operates when human effort ceases. Ministry Applications • Encourage believers to recognize that moments of deepest vulnerability may prove to be settings for divine revelation and guidance. Key Quotations “Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and set it up as a pillar; he poured oil on top of it.” (Genesis 28:18) “That night David and Abishai came to the troop, and Saul was lying there asleep in the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head.” (1 Samuel 26:7) “And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake baked over hot stones, and a jar of water.” (1 Kings 19:6) Conclusion מְרַאֲשָׁה threads through Scripture as a quiet witness to God’s watchful care, whether guiding a patriarch, rescuing a fugitive, testing a would-be king, or reviving a weary prophet. Wherever God’s servants lay their heads, His purposes stand secure. Forms and Transliterations מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֔יו מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛יו מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃ מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛יו מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃ מראשתיו מראשתיו׃ mə·ra·’ă·šō·ṯāw məra’ăšōṯāw meraashoTavLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 28:11 HEB: הַמָּק֔וֹם וַיָּ֖שֶׂם מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב בַּמָּק֥וֹם NAS: and put it under his head, and lay down KJV: and put [them for] his pillows, and lay down INT: of the place and put his head and lay place Genesis 28:18 1 Samuel 19:13 1 Samuel 19:16 1 Samuel 26:7 1 Samuel 26:11 1 Samuel 26:16 1 Kings 19:6 8 Occurrences |
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