Lexical Summary Marah: To be rebellious, to be disobedient, to resist Original Word: מָרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Marah The same as mar feminine; bitter; Marah, a place in the Desert -- Marah. see HEBREW mar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom marar Definition a bitter spring in the Sinai peninsula NASB Translation Marah (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָרָה proper name, feminine of bitter spring in Sinaitic peninsula Exodus 15:23 (twice in verse) (J), Numbers 33:8,9 (P), + ה locative מָרָ֑תָה Exodus 15:23 (J); probably modern `Ain Hawwâraiun. (compare RobBR i. 67) PalmerDesert i. 40 EbGS 125 f.) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Geographic Setting Marah designates an oasis in the Wilderness of Shur, a three-day march east of the Red Sea crossing. The name reflects the character of its waters—“bitter”—rendering the place initially undrinkable for Israel’s weary pilgrims. Occurrences in Scripture • Exodus 15:23-25 Historical Context Immediately after their miraculous deliverance through the sea, the Israelites reached Marah (Exodus 15:22-23). The narrative highlights the first crisis in the desert march: lack of potable water. The people “grumbled against Moses, saying, ‘What are we to drink?’” (Exodus 15:24). By divine instruction Moses cast a piece of wood into the spring, “and the waters became sweet” (Exodus 15:25). Numbers 33 later lists Marah between the Red Sea and Elim, situating the episode chronologically before the giving of manna (Exodus 16) and Sinai (Exodus 19). Spiritual Lessons on Bitterness and God’s Provision 1. Testing of Faith: Exodus 15:25 adds, “There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He tested them.” Marah introduces the theme that redemption is followed by refinement; salvation from Egypt does not exempt the redeemed from trials designed to reveal hearts and foster dependence. Typological and Christological Insights Early Christian interpreters have seen in the wood a foreshadowing of the cross of Christ, by which bitter waters of sin and judgment become sweet with grace. While the text itself does not specify the species of tree, its God-appointed use as an instrument of healing anticipates the greater tree on which the Savior bore our curse (Galatians 3:13). Application for Worship and Ministry • Shepherding: Leaders are reminded that grumbling often follows great victories; like Moses, pastors must turn immediately to the Lord for provision rather than react defensively. Related Passages • Deuteronomy 8:2—parallel theme of wilderness testing Summary Marah stands as the Bible’s paradigm of bitterness turned to blessing. Situated at the threshold of Israel’s wilderness journey, it teaches that the God who delivers also tests, heals, and instructs His people, calling them to obedience and trust amid every desert trial. Forms and Transliterations בְּמָרָֽה׃ במרה׃ מִמָּרָ֔ה מָרָ֔תָה מָרָֽה׃ ממרה מרה׃ מרתה bə·mā·rāh bemaRah bəmārāh mā·rā·ṯāh mā·rāh maRah mārāh maRatah mārāṯāh mim·mā·rāh mimaRah mimmārāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 15:23 HEB: וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ מָרָ֔תָה וְלֹ֣א יָֽכְל֗וּ NAS: When they came to Marah, they could KJV: And when they came to Marah, they could INT: came to Marah not could Exodus 15:23 Exodus 15:23 Numbers 33:8 Numbers 33:9 5 Occurrences |
    |