Lexical Summary marith: Rebellion, defiance Original Word: מִרְעִית Strong's Exhaustive Concordance flock, pasture From ra'ah in the sense of feeding; pasturage; concretely, a flock -- flock, pasture. see HEBREW ra'ah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom raah Definition a pasturing, shepherding, pasturage NASB Translation flock (1), pasture (9). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מַרְעִית] noun feminine pasturing, shepherding, pasturage (always figurative); — suffix מַרְעִיתִי Jeremiah 23:1; Ezekiel 34:31, מַרְעִיתֶ֑ךָ Psalm 74:1; Psalm 79:13, etc.; — 1 pasturing, shepherding, צאֹן מַרְעִיתִי, of Israel as flock of ׳י, Jeremiah 23:1; Ezekiel 34:31, compare Psalm 74:1; Psalm 79:13; Psalm 100:3 + Psalm 95:7(read וְעַם יָדוֺ ׳מ ׳צ, compare Hup-Now Che). 2 pasturage, Hosea 13:6 (Now כִּרְעוֺתָם), Isaiah 49:9; Jeremiah 25:36. 3 by meton. = flock Jeremiah 10:21. Topical Lexicon Pasture and Grazing GroundMirʾith designates the grassy range where sheep and goats feed. In an agrarian society that relied on covenant land grants, good pasture symbolized life, security, and divine favor. Because Israel’s landscape oscillates between arable valleys and semi-arid hills, shepherds constantly sought such “places of rest” (cf. Psalm 23:2). Scripture therefore employs mirʾith both literally and metaphorically to portray the Lord’s provision, the people’s dependence, and the ethical demands placed on their leaders. Usage in the Psalms Psalm 74:1; 79:13; 95:7; and 100:3 set the pattern by coupling Israel’s covenant identity with the image of pasture: • “We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3). These songs arose out of corporate worship, reminding Israel that their national existence was no accident of history; it was the outworking of divine shepherding. The term thus undergirds assurance during crisis (Psalm 74:1), fuels thanksgiving (Psalm 100:3), and prompts obedience—“Today, if you hear His voice” (Psalm 95:7). Prophetic Warnings Against Unfaithful Shepherds Mirʾith becomes a focal point of judgment when leaders neglect their charge. Jeremiah 10:21 – “The shepherds are senseless; they have not sought the LORD; therefore they have no prosperity, and all their flock is scattered.” Jeremiah 23:1 – “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” Ezekiel 34:31 – “You are My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, and I am your God.” The prophets condemn kings, priests, and prophets who exploited rather than protected the flock. Loss of pasture—whether through exile, famine, or foreign invasion—served as an enacted curse of the covenant (Deuteronomy 28:31). Mirʾith, once a sign of blessing, becomes the measure by which leadership is weighed. Judgment Echoed Through National Disaster Jeremiah 25:36 and Hosea 13:6 extend the warning. After Israel “became satisfied and their hearts were filled, they forgot Me” (Hosea 13:6), the Lord threatens the collapse of their grazing places. The destruction of pasture pictures societal upheaval: ruined cities, displaced populations, and silenced worship. Such passages highlight the moral dimension of mirʾith: prosperity without faithfulness mutates into idolatry, requiring divine correction. Promise of Restoration Even in judgment, God’s covenant faithfulness shines. Isaiah 49:9 envisions exiles returning under divine escort: “They will feed along the pathways, and every barren height will be their pasture.” The same word that signified loss now heralds renewal. The Shepherd will re-establish safe grazing, reversing the curse and proving His steadfast love. Theological Themes 1. Divine Ownership – Mirʾith underscores that the Lord, not Israel, owns the flock and the pasture (Psalms 95:7; 100:3). Historical Background Ancient Near Eastern treaties often portrayed deities as shepherds granting pasture to vassals. Israel’s Scriptures appropriate that motif yet transform it: the one true God personally tends His people. This image resonated with daily life; from the highlands of Judah to the Transjordan steppe, flocks followed seasonal routes. Secure pasture meant peace; barren hills foretold doom. The prophets leveraged this lived reality to expose spiritual conditions invisible to the naked eye. Ministry Significance Pastoral ministry derives its very title from this word. Elders are called to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (1 Peter 5:2). Mirʾith reminds leaders that the church is not their possession; it belongs to the Chief Shepherd. Genuine ministry therefore aims at feeding, guiding, and guarding, not exploiting. Congregations, in turn, cultivate hearts that graze on sound doctrine (John 21:15-17). Christological Fulfillment Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). He provides spiritual pasture—“I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance” (John 10:10). His self-sacrifice secures eternal nourishment, fulfilling every Old Testament anticipation bound up in mirʾith. The eschatological vision concludes with “springs of living water” where the Lamb shepherds His people (Revelation 7:17), a fitting climax to the theme first voiced in Israel’s pastures. Key Insights for Discipleship • Dependence – Like sheep, believers thrive only within the boundaries the Shepherd appoints. Thus mirʾith gathers together God’s provision, people, and purpose into one enduring image: a flock cared for by the faithful Shepherd who never abandons His pasture. Forms and Transliterations כְּמַרְעִיתָם֙ כמרעיתם מַ֭רְעִיתוֹ מַרְעִיתִ֖י מַרְעִיתֶֽךָ׃ מַרְעִיתֶךָ֮ מַרְעִיתָ֖ם מַרְעִיתָֽם׃ מַרְעִיתֽוֹ׃ מרעיתו מרעיתו׃ מרעיתי מרעיתך מרעיתך׃ מרעיתם מרעיתם׃ kə·mar·‘î·ṯām kəmar‘îṯām kemariTam mar‘îṯām mar‘îṯeḵā mar‘îṯî mar‘îṯōw mar·‘î·ṯām mar·‘î·ṯe·ḵā mar·‘î·ṯî mar·‘î·ṯōw mariTam mariTecha mariTi maritoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 74:1 HEB: אַ֝פְּךָ֗ בְּצֹ֣אן מַרְעִיתֶֽךָ׃ NAS: against the sheep of Your pasture? KJV: against the sheep of thy pasture? INT: anger the sheep flock Psalm 79:13 Psalm 95:7 Psalm 100:3 Isaiah 49:9 Jeremiah 10:21 Jeremiah 23:1 Jeremiah 25:36 Ezekiel 34:31 Hosea 13:6 10 Occurrences |
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