Lexical Summary Merayah: Merayah Original Word: מְרָיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Meraiah From marah; rebellion; Merajah, an Israelite -- Meraiah. Compare Yimrah. see HEBREW marah see HEBREW Yimrah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition an Isr. priest NASB Translation Meraiah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְרָיָה proper name, masculine a priest in days of high priest Joiakim Nehemiah 12:12; ᵐ5 Μαρεα, Μαρ(α)ια, ᵐ5L Αμαριας. Topical Lexicon Name and OccurrenceMeraiah (Strong’s Hebrew 4811) appears only once in Scripture, Nehemiah 12:12, where he is recorded as the head of the priestly family of Seraiah during the days of Joiakim, son of Jeshua. Historical Setting The single mention of Meraiah is situated in the list of post-exilic leaders who served after the return from Babylon. Nehemiah 12 catalogs the priests and Levites who helped re-establish temple worship in Jerusalem. This period follows the decrees of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4) and the subsequent efforts of Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah to restore covenant life among the repatriated Jews. The community was rebuilding walls, renewing worship, and reasserting genealogical legitimacy. Meraiah’s placement in the list confirms the survival and continuity of the house of Seraiah, the last high priest before the exile (2 Kings 25:18). Priestly Lineage and Function 1. Descent from Seraiah – Seraiah was executed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:18-21), yet his family line endured. Meraiah’s leadership shows divine preservation of the priestly line promised in passages such as Jeremiah 33:17-18. 2. Role under Joiakim – Nehemiah 12:12 records: “In the days of Joiakim, the heads of the priestly families were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah” (Berean Standard Bible). Joiakim, himself a high priest, needed reliable clan leaders to organize daily sacrifices, festivals, and the teaching of the Law (Nehemiah 12:45-47). Meraiah’s oversight would have included managing his family’s rotation among the twenty-four priestly divisions first arranged by David (1 Chronicles 24). 3. Restoration of Worship – The priests formed a spiritual backbone for the renewed Israel. Meraiah’s presence on the roster indicates that the Seraiah clan fulfilled its duties when the temple services were revived, singing with trumpets (Nehemiah 12:35-36), offering sacrifices (Nehemiah 12:43), and safeguarding the storerooms (Nehemiah 12:44). Covenantal Significance The inclusion of even minor figures such as Meraiah testifies to the meticulous faithfulness of God. The covenant required priests descended from Aaron (Exodus 29:9) to mediate sacrifice and blessing. Despite exile and national collapse, God preserved the priestly genealogies, enabling true worship to resume. Meraiah’s brief mention underscores: • Continuity – The priesthood was not extinguished in Babylon; it was refined and restored. Ministry Lessons 1. Faithfulness in obscurity – Though little is known about him, Meraiah’s ministry was indispensable. God records even “hidden” laborers (Hebrews 6:10). 2. Importance of heritage and training – Spiritual leadership often rests on generations that guard doctrine and practice (2 Timothy 2:2). Meraiah inherited responsibilities dating back to Aaron. 3. God’s preservation of His purposes – The survival of one priestly family line points to the broader theme of God preserving a lineage that culminates in the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16). Related Passages for Study 2 Kings 25:18-21; 1 Chronicles 24:1-19; Ezra 2:36-39; Nehemiah 12:1-26; Jeremiah 33:17-18; Hebrews 4:14-16. Summary Meraiah represents a single thread in the tapestry of post-exilic restoration. His quiet leadership within the family of Seraiah illustrates God’s unbroken commitment to maintain a faithful priesthood, ensuring that worship, instruction, and covenant blessings continued among His people after their return from exile. Forms and Transliterations מְרָיָ֔ה מריה mə·rā·yāh meraYah mərāyāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 12:12 HEB: הָאָב֑וֹת לִשְׂרָיָ֣ה מְרָיָ֔ה לְיִרְמְיָ֖ה חֲנַנְיָֽה׃ NAS: [households] were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, KJV: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, INT: of fathers' Seraiah Meraiah of Jeremiah Hananiah 1 Occurrence |
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