Miriam
Jump to: Hitchcock'sSmith'sATSISBEEaston'sConcordanceThesaurusGreekHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Miriam is a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, known for her role as a prophetess and leader among the Israelites during the Exodus from Egypt. She is the sister of Moses and Aaron, and her account is primarily found in the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Early Life and Role in Moses' Survival

Miriam first appears in the biblical narrative in Exodus 2:1-10. Although not named in this passage, she is traditionally identified as the sister who watches over the infant Moses after he is placed in a basket on the Nile River. When Pharaoh's daughter discovers the child, Miriam courageously approaches her and offers to find a Hebrew nurse for the baby, thus ensuring that Moses' own mother is able to care for him during his early years.

Prophetess and Leader

Miriam is explicitly called a prophetess in Exodus 15:20. After the Israelites cross the Red Sea and witness the destruction of the Egyptian army, Miriam leads the women in a song of triumph and praise to God. This event highlights her role as a spiritual leader and her gift of prophecy. The passage states: "Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing" (Exodus 15:20).

Rebellion and Consequences

Miriam's leadership is further illustrated in Numbers 12, where she and Aaron speak against Moses because of his Cushite wife. The text suggests that Miriam is the instigator of this challenge to Moses' authority. As a result, God punishes her with leprosy, causing her to be isolated from the camp for seven days. This incident underscores the seriousness of challenging God's appointed leaders and serves as a reminder of the importance of humility and obedience. Numbers 12:10-15 describes this event, noting that "the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow" (Numbers 12:10).

Death and Legacy

Miriam's death is recorded in Numbers 20:1, which states, "In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin, and the people stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried" (Numbers 20:1). Her passing marks the end of an era for the Israelites, as she was a key figure during their journey from slavery to the brink of the Promised Land.

Miriam's legacy is one of faith, leadership, and the complexities of human nature. She is remembered as a woman of strength and influence, whose life and actions had a significant impact on the history of Israel. Her account serves as an example of both the blessings and challenges that come with leadership and the importance of remaining faithful to God's calling.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Miriam

rebellion

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Miriam

(rebellion), the sister of Moses, was the eldest of that sacred family; and she first appears, probably as a young girl, watching her infant brother's cradle in the Nile, (Exodus 2:4) and suggesting her mother as a nurse. ver. 7. After the crossing of the Red Sea "Miriam the prophetess" is her acknowledged title. ch. (Exodus 15:20) The prophetic power showed itself in her under the same form as that which it assumed in the days of Samuel and David, --poetry, accompanied with music and processions. ch. (Exodus 15:1-19) She took the lead, with Aaron, in the complaint against Moses for his marriage with a Cushite, (Numbers 12:1,2) and for this was attacked with leprosy. This stroke and its removal, which took place at Hazeroth, form the last public event of Miriam's life. ch. (Numbers 12:1-15) She died toward the close of the wanderings at Kadesh, and was buried there. ch. (Numbers 20:1) (B.C. about 1452.)

ATS Bible Dictionary
Miriam

The sister of Moses and Aaron, probably the one who watched over Moses in the ark of bulrushes, Exodus 2:4,5 Numbers 26 59 Micah 6 4. As a prophetess, she led the women of Israel in their song of worship and thanksgiving to God on the drowning of the Egyptians, Exodus 15:20,21. Her jealous murmurs against Moses and his Cushite wife were punished by a temporary leprosy, Numbers 12:1-16 De 24:9; but she was forgiven and restored, and near the close of the wandering of Israel, died at Kadwshbarnea, Numbers 20:1.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Their rebellion.

(1.) The sister of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 2:4-10; 1 Chronicles 6:3). Her name is prominent in the history of the Exodus. She is called "the prophetess" (Exodus 15:20). She took the lead in the song of triumph after the passage of the Red Sea. She died at Kadesh during the second encampment at that place, toward the close of the wanderings in the wilderness, and was buried there (Numbers 20:1). (see AARON; MOSES.)

(2.) 1 Chronicles 4:17, one of the descendants of Judah.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MIRIAM

mir'-i-am (miryam; Septuagint and the New Testament Mariam; English Versions of the Bible of the New Testament "Mary"):

(1) Daughter of Amram and Jochebed, and sister of Aaron and Moses. It is probable that it was she who watched the ark of bulrushes in which the child Moses was laid (Exodus 2:4). She associated herself with her brothers in the exodus, is called "the prophetess," and led the choir of maidens who sang the triumph-song after the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20 f). Along with Aaron, she opposed Moses at Hazeroth (Numbers 12:1-5). She was smitten with leprosy in punishment, but on Aaron's intercession was pardoned and healed (Numbers 12:10-15). She died and was buried at Kadesh (Numbers 20:1). In the Deuteronomic Law respecting leprosy, Miriam is mentioned as a warning to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 24:8 f). In Micah 6:4, she is referred to along with Moses and Aaron as a leader of God's people.

(2) Son (or daughter) of Jether (1 Chronicles 4:17). The latter half of the verse is in its present situation unintelligible; it should probably follow verse 18 (see Curtis, Chronicles, in the place cited.).

John A. Lees

Greek
3137. Maria -- Mary, the name of several Christian women
... Noun, Feminine; Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Maria or Mariam Phonetic
Spelling: (mar-ee'-ah) Short Definition: Mary, Miriam Definition: Mary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3137.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
4813. Miryam -- a sister of Aaron, also a man of Judah
... 4812, 4813. Miryam. 4814 . a sister of Aaron, also a man of Judah. Transliteration:
Miryam Phonetic Spelling: (meer-yawm') Short Definition: Miriam. ... Miriam. ...
/hebrew/4813.htm - 6k
Library

The Lady Miriam
... CHAPTER VI THE LADY MIRIAM. ... Dost know the Lady Miriam?". "The Israelite?". "Even
so.". "I saw her this day.". "Good. Now, look upon the scene. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter vi the lady miriam.htm

Song of Moses and Miriam
... LYRICS III SONG OF MOSES AND MIRIAM. TUTTI I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath
triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/iii song of moses and.htm

Whom the Lady Miriam Sent
... CHAPTER XLVI WHOM THE LADY MIRIAM SENT. ... He moved aside to give them room, and glancing
at the foremost, recognized her immediately as the Lady Miriam. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlvi whom the lady.htm

Miriam
... 120 Miriam, 7s & 6s. Double. (300) O sacred head, now wounded! With grief
and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded With ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/120 miriam 7s & 6s.htm

But Besides Other Things the Action of Miriam the Prophetess Also ...
... II."Ascetic and Moral. Chapter XIX. But besides other things the action
of Miriam the prophetess also gives rise to these? But ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xix but besides other.htm

Shame on Account of God's Displeasure.
... Aaron and Miriam could not bear that even their own brother should occupy a Position
of exceptional dignity, and with ignorant pretentiousness aspired to ...
/.../dods/how to become like christ/shame on account of gods.htm

The Child Moses.
... She had two other children"Miriam, a girl of fifteen, and Aaron, a little boy of
three"and she told them that they were not to tell any one they had a ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/the child moses.htm

Philip and the Desposyni
... questions, he told Philip that they could reach Lubiyeh, which was the ancient home
of the Desposyni, in two days, and that there he would find Miriam well and ...
/.../chapter lxiv philip and the.htm

Philip at Antioch
... the flowers, the balmy air, the pealing hymns, the assembled children, the beautiful
maidens of Nazareth, of whom none were so beautiful as Miriam and Ruth ...
/.../chapter lxvi philip at antioch.htm

The Story of Moses, the Child who was Found in the River
... would see it. And she sent her own daughter, a little girl named Miriam,
twelve years old, to watch close at hand. How anxious the ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of moses the.htm

Thesaurus
Miriam (13 Occurrences)
... (2.) 1 Chronicles 4:17, one of the descendants of Judah. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. MIRIAM. ... John A. Lees. Multi-Version Concordance Miriam (13 Occurrences ...
/m/miriam.htm - 12k

Amram (14 Occurrences)
... Levi. He married Jochebed, "his father's sister," and was the father of
Aaron, Miriam, and Moses (Exodus 6:18, 20; Numbers 3:19). ...
/a/amram.htm - 12k

Ethiopian (11 Occurrences)
... was now dead. His marriage of this "woman" descended from Ham gave offence
to Aaron and Miriam. Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A ...
/e/ethiopian.htm - 18k

Kidron (11 Occurrences)
... latter there must have been many around the now buried caves which lay at the base
of the cliffs around the spring Gihon): 1. Wady Sitti Miriam: The Nachal ...
/k/kidron.htm - 17k

Jochebed (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Jehovah is her glory, the wife of Amram, and the
mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses (Numbers 26:59). She ...
/j/jochebed.htm - 7k

Withdrawn (28 Occurrences)
... Numbers 12:10 The cloud departed from over the Tent; and behold, Miriam was leprous,
as white as snow. Aaron looked at Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. ...
/w/withdrawn.htm - 15k

Travel (25 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Numbers 12:15 Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the
people didn't travel until Miriam was brought in again. (WEB). ...
/t/travel.htm - 14k

March (41 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV NIV). Numbers 12:15 Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days,
and the people didn't travel until Miriam was brought in again. (See RSV). ...
/m/march.htm - 19k

Prophetess (8 Occurrences)
... It should be noted, however, that women like Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Judges
4:4) and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14) were not credited with the seer's insight ...
/p/prophetess.htm - 10k

Confined (18 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Numbers 12:15 Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the
people didn't travel until Miriam was brought in again. (See NIV). ...
/c/confined.htm - 11k

Resources
Dance in worship - what does the Bible say? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Moses' mother? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Moses' wife? Did Moses have more than one wife? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Miriam (13 Occurrences)

Exodus 15:20
Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 15:21
Miriam answered them, "Sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 12:1
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 12:4
Yahweh spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, "You three come out to the Tent of Meeting!" The three of them came out.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 12:5
Yahweh came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 12:10
The cloud departed from over the Tent; and behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. Aaron looked at Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 12:15
Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn't travel until Miriam was brought in again.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 20:1
The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 26:59
The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt: and she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 24:9
Remember what Yahweh your God did to Miriam, by the way as you came forth out of Egypt.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 4:17
The sons of Ezrah: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon; and she bore Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 6:3
The children of Amram: Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Micah 6:4
For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Epic: (Heroic Poetry): Miriam's Song

Miriam

Miriam: Died and is Buried at Kadesh

Miriam: Jealous of Moses, Stricken With Leprosy, Healed on Account of the Intercession of Moses

Miriam: Song of, After the Destruction of Pharaoh and his Army

Miriam: Watched Over Moses when he Was in the Little Basket

Related Terms

Amram (14 Occurrences)

Ethiopian (11 Occurrences)

Kidron (11 Occurrences)

Jochebed (2 Occurrences)

Withdrawn (28 Occurrences)

Travel (25 Occurrences)

March (41 Occurrences)

Prophetess (8 Occurrences)

Confined (18 Occurrences)

Cushite (15 Occurrences)

Hazeroth (5 Occurrences)

Leprous (27 Occurrences)

Leper (34 Occurrences)

Kadesh (30 Occurrences)

Tent-circle (45 Occurrences)

Aaron (343 Occurrences)

Snow (25 Occurrences)

Leprosy (51 Occurrences)

Turneth (249 Occurrences)

Brook (75 Occurrences)

Journeyed (111 Occurrences)

Mire (21 Occurrences)

Removed (294 Occurrences)

Woman (4043 Occurrences)

Games (2 Occurrences)

Cloud (119 Occurrences)

Move (113 Occurrences)

Moses (9295 Occurrences)

Beareth (108 Occurrences)

Sister (113 Occurrences)

Shut (237 Occurrences)

Hur (17 Occurrences)

Mary (50 Occurrences)

Zipporah (3 Occurrences)

Zin (9 Occurrences)

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)

Kadesh-barnea (9 Occurrences)

Jethur (1 Occurrence)

Jishbah (1 Occurrence)

Joch'ebed (2 Occurrences)

Jether (8 Occurrences)

Jalon (1 Occurrence)

Gloriously (7 Occurrences)

Gihon (6 Occurrences)

Inspired (20 Occurrences)

Ith'amar (20 Occurrences)

Ishbah (1 Occurrence)

Instrument (45 Occurrences)

Triumphing (4 Occurrences)

Timbrels (9 Occurrences)

Tambours (8 Occurrences)

Tambourine (8 Occurrences)

Timbrel (7 Occurrences)

Tambourines (13 Occurrences)

Tambour (7 Occurrences)

Triumphed (8 Occurrences)

Rider (26 Occurrences)

Eshtemo'a (5 Occurrences)

Enrogel (4 Occurrences)

Epher (4 Occurrences)

En-rogel (4 Occurrences)

Eshtemoa (5 Occurrences)

Ezrah (1 Occurrence)

Descendant (32 Occurrences)

Dances (8 Occurrences)

Dance (18 Occurrences)

Dancing (21 Occurrences)

Mirma (1 Occurrence)

Mered (2 Occurrences)

Mered's (1 Occurrence)

Puvah (2 Occurrences)

Puah (5 Occurrences)

Prayer (406 Occurrences)

Bithia (1 Occurrence)

Burial (25 Occurrences)

Bithiah (2 Occurrences)

Bith'i-ah (1 Occurrence)

Choruses (3 Occurrences)

Canonicity

Mire: Figurative
Top of Page
Top of Page