Lexical Summary Merathayim: Merathayim Original Word: מְרָתַיִם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Merathaim Dual of mar feminine; double bitterness; Merathajim, an epithet of Babylon -- Merathaim. see HEBREW mar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originperhaps from marah Definition perhaps "double rebellion," another name for Bab. NASB Translation Merathaim (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְרָתַ֫יִם used as proper name, feminine = Babylon, עֲלֵה עָלֶיהָ עַלֿ ׳הָאָרֶץ מ Jeremiah 50:21; perhaps = Double rebellion (dual) √ מרה q. v.; DePar 182 thinks = Babylonian Marrâtim, i.e., land by the nar Marrâtu, the bitter river (Persian Gulf) = Southern Babylonia. Topical Lexicon Canonical Occurrence Jeremiah 50:21 contains the sole biblical mention of Merathaim: “Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the residents of Pekod. Put them to the sword; devote them to destruction… do everything I have commanded you” (Berean Standard Bible). Prophetic Context Jeremiah 50–51 forms a lengthy oracle announcing Babylon’s downfall after that empire had served as the LORD’s instrument of discipline against Judah (Jeremiah 25:8–12). Within this larger message Merathaim functions as a divinely inspired epithet that highlights Babylon’s moral condition at the moment the sentence of judgment is pronounced. By pairing Merathaim with Pekod (a district of southeastern Babylonia known from Assyrian records), the prophet anchors his wordplay in a real geopolitical setting while simultaneously delivering a theological assessment of Babylon’s character. Symbolic Force of the Name “Double rebellion” or “double bitterness” (the most widely accepted senses of the Hebrew components) captures Babylon’s compounded guilt. The double aspect recalls earlier prophetic language used of Judah—“double punishment” for “double sin” (Jeremiah 16:18; Isaiah 40:2)—and thereby applies to Babylon the same moral standard God had used with His covenant people. In Jeremiah’s rhetoric the name exposes Babylon’s inner reality beneath its façade of majesty and military strength. 1. Rebellion: Babylon had exalted itself above the Most High (Isaiah 14:13–14) and oppressed the nations (Jeremiah 51:7). Historical Fulfillment Within a generation of Jeremiah’s prophecy, Cyrus the Great captured Babylon (539 B.C.). While the city was spared the sort of total destruction described in Jeremiah 50:3, its empire collapsed overnight, and subsequent centuries saw repeated invasions, deportations and ultimate desolation—fulfilling the cumulative thrust of the oracle (Jeremiah 51:26). The persistence of the ruins into the Common Era testifies to the accuracy of Scripture’s long-range vision. Theological Themes • Divine Justice: The LORD repays in kind; those who wield the sword unjustly are themselves “devoted to destruction” (Jeremiah 50:21). Ministry Implications 1. Preaching and Teaching: Merathaim illustrates how prophetic wordplay can reveal divine evaluation of human sin; expositors can underscore that God’s verdict is never superficial. Practical Application for Personal Holiness Just as Babylon’s arrogance invited a decisive response, individual hearts that nurture “double rebellion” invite discipline (James 4:6). Repentance restores fellowship and averts judgment. The name Merathaim thus stands as a perpetual warning and a call to wholehearted obedience “in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Forms and Transliterations מְרָתַ֙יִם֙ מרתים mə·rā·ṯa·yim meraTayim mərāṯayimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 50:21 HEB: עַל־ הָאָ֤רֶץ מְרָתַ֙יִם֙ עֲלֵ֣ה עָלֶ֔יהָ NAS: the land of Merathaim, go KJV: against the land of Merathaim, [even] against it, and against the inhabitants INT: Against the land of Merathaim go against 1 Occurrence |
    |