Lexical Summary meri: fatlings, fatling, fed cattle Original Word: מְרִיא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fat fed beast cattle, From mara' in the sense of grossness, through the idea of domineering (compare mare'); stall-fed; often (as noun) a beeve -- fat (fed) beast (cattle, -ling). see HEBREW mara' see HEBREW mare' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a fatling, fatlings NASB Translation fatling (2), fatlings (5), fed cattle (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְרִיא noun [masculine] fatling, fatlings; — absolute ׳מ2Samuel 6:13 3t.; plural absolute מְרִיאִים Isaiah 1:11, construct מְרִיאֵי Ezekiel 39:18; suffix מְרִיאֵיכֶם Amos 5:22; — fatling: עֵגֶל וּכְפִיר וּמְרִיא Isaiah 11:6; elsewhere only of sacrificial animals, שֶׁלָם מְרִיאֵיכֶם Amos 5:22 ("" עֹלוֺת, מִנְחֹתֵיכֶם); חֵלֶב מְרִיאִים Isaiah 1:11 ("" עֹלוֺת אֵלִים, דַּם מָּרִים, etc); מְרִיאֵי בָשָׁןEzekiel 39:18 (+ פָרִים, אֵילִים, etc.); also singular collective, וַיִּןבָּח שׁוֺר וּמְדִיא 2 Samuel 6:13, so (+ צאֹן וּבָקָר) 1 Kings 1:9, and (+ שׁוֺר, צאֹן) 1 Kings 1:19; 1 Kings 1:25. Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew noun מְרִיא denotes well-fattened cattle that are set apart for sacrifice or festive banquets. Appearing eight times in the Old Testament, the word consistently signals occasions of notable worship, royal celebration, prophetic censure, or eschatological promise. Sacrificial Devotion When David escorted the ark to Jerusalem, “he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf” (2 Samuel 6:13). The pairing of the ordinary “ox” with the costlier מְרִיא underscores the lavish gratitude due the LORD. In royal contexts, Adonijah’s attempt to seize the throne mimicked this grandeur: he “slaughtered sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle” (1 Kings 1:9; cf. 1 Kings 1:19, 1 Kings 1:25). Such episodes reveal that true worship is costly, yet costly gifts alone do not guarantee divine favor. Prophetic Rebuke of Empty Ritual Isaiah speaks for God: “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle” (Isaiah 1:11). Amos echoes, “Even though you offer Me your burnt offerings… for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard” (Amos 5:22). The prophets expose an age-old temptation: employing extravagant offerings to mask injustice and hypocrisy. The heart behind the sacrifice—faith, repentance, obedience—remains decisive. Eschatological Peace In the messianic vision, “The wolf will dwell with the lamb… the calf, the young lion, and the fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them” (Isaiah 11:6). A beast once destined for the altar now coexists peacefully with its predators, picturing creation released from the curse and harmonized under the reign of the Root of Jesse. Judgment upon the Proud Ezekiel prophesies a grim reversal when Gog’s fallen armies become a feast for scavengers—“rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, all of them fattened steers of Bashan” (Ezekiel 39:18). The very symbol of affluence turns into carrion, illustrating the LORD’s supremacy over every earthly power. Ministry Reflections • Worship that Costs: מְרִיא calls believers to offer God their best—lives, resources, talents—out of gratitude for Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). Principal References 2 Samuel 6:13; 1 Kings 1:9, 1 Kings 1:19, 1 Kings 1:25; Isaiah 1:11; Isaiah 11:6; Ezekiel 39:18; Amos 5:22 Forms and Transliterations וּֽמְרִיא־ וּמְרִ֔יא וּמְרִֽיא׃ וּמְרִיא֙ ומריא ומריא־ ומריא׃ מְרִיאִ֑ים מְרִיאֵ֥י מְרִיאֵיכֶ֖ם מריאי מריאיכם מריאים mə·rî·’ê mə·rî·’ê·ḵem mə·rî·’îm mərî’ê mərî’êḵem mərî’îm meriEi merieiChem meriIm ū·mə·rî ū·mə·rî- umeRi ūmərî ūmərî-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 6:13 HEB: וַיִּזְבַּ֥ח שׁ֖וֹר וּמְרִֽיא׃ NAS: he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. KJV: he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. INT: sacrificed an ox fatling 1 Kings 1:9 1 Kings 1:19 1 Kings 1:25 Isaiah 1:11 Isaiah 11:6 Ezekiel 39:18 Amos 5:22 8 Occurrences |
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