This will be a multi-part blog, Lord willing. This first part will be some background to give you some idea of where we are going. Hopefully, by the end of the parts, you will see a very important theme from the “thematic connections.”
Overview of the Exodus ⦁ ▸
The root for Marah:
▸ h4785. מָרָה mârâ; the same as 4751 feminine; bitter; Marah, a place in the Desert: — Marah.
AV (5) – Marah 5; Marah = “bitter”
- the spring with bitter water which was 3 days travel from the crossing place of the Red Sea in the peninsula of Sinai
▸ h4751. מַר mar; or (feminine) מָרָה marah; from 4843; bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly: — + angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, x great, heavy.
AV (38) – bitter 20, bitterness 10, bitterly 3, chafed 1, angry 1, discontented 1, heavy 1, bitter thing 1; adj
- bitter, bitterness
- of water or food
- of harlot’s end, end of wickedness, cry (fig.)
- of pain (subst) adv
- bitterly
▸ h4843. מָרַר mârar; a primitive root; properly, to trickle (see 4752); but used only as a denominative from 4751; to be (causatively, make) bitter (literally or figuratively): — (be, be in, deal, have, make) bitter(-ly, -ness), be moved with choler, (be, have sorely, it) grieved(-eth), provoke, vex.
AV (16) – bitterness 3, bitter 2, bitterly 2, choler 2, grieved 2, vexed 2, bitterness + h4751 1, grieved him 1, provoke 1;
- to be bitter
- (Qal) to be bitter
- (Piel)
- to show bitterness
- to make bitter
- (Hiphil) to make bitter, embitter
- (Hithpalpel)
- to embitter oneself
- to be enraged
- (TWOT) to be strong, strengthen
▸ h4752. מַר mar; from 4843 in its original sense of distillation; a drop: — drop.
AV (1) – drop 1;
- a drop, a flowing down
From my work investigating the two-letter words:
▸ h4805. מְרִי merîy; from 4784; bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious: — bitter, (most) rebel(-lion, -lious).
AlHaTorah Search מרי
AV (23) – rebellious 17, rebellion 4, bitter 1, rebels 1;
- rebellion
- rebellion
- rebellious (in construct)
▸ h4784. מָרָה mârâ; a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke): — bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoke(-ing), (be) rebel (against, -lious).
AV (44) – rebel 19, rebellious 9, provoke 7, disobedient 2, against 1, bitter 1, changed 1, disobeyed 1, grievously 1, provocation 1, rebels 1;
- to be contentious, be rebellious, be refractory, be disobedient towards, be rebellious against
- (Qal) to be disobedient, be rebellious
- towards father
- towards God
- (Hiphil) to show rebelliousness, show disobedience, disobey
- (Qal) to be disobedient, be rebellious
- To follow are the occurrences of מרי in TaNaKh with no modifications:
⦁ ▸ Tanakh (16 results)
1. Bemidbar 17:25 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמֶר י־ְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה הָשֵׁב אֶת מַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן לִפְנֵי הָעֵדוּת לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת לְאוֹת לִבְנֵי מֶרִי וּתְכַל תְּלוּנֹּתָם מֵעָלַי וְלֹא יָמֻתוּ.
⦁ Numbers 17:10
10 And the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels(sons of rebellion), that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.”
2. Shofetim 18:25 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו בְּנֵי דָן אַל תַּשְׁמַע קוֹלְךָ עִמָּנוּ פֶּן יִפְגְּעוּ בָכֶם אֲנָשִׁים מָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּה נַפְשְׁךָ וְנֶפֶשׁ בֵּיתֶךָ.
⦁ Judges 18:25
25 And the people of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry(bitter of soul) fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household.”
3. Shemuel I 15:23 (Mikraot Gedolot)
כִּי חַטַּאת קֶסֶם מֶרִי וְאָוֶן וּתְרָפִים הַפְצַר יַעַן מָאַסְתָּ אֶת דְּבַר י־ְהֹוָה וַיִּמְאָסְךָ מִמֶּלֶךְ.
⦁ 1 Samuel 15:23
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has also rejected you from being king.”
4. Yeshayahu 30:9 (Mikraot Gedolot)
כִּי עַם מְרִי הוּא בָּנִים כֶּחָשִׁים בָּנִים לֹא אָבוּ שְׁמוֹעַ תּוֹרַת י־ְהֹוָה.
⦁ Isaiah 30:9
9 For they are a rebellious people,
lying children,
children unwilling to hear
the instruction of the LORD;
5. Yechezkel 2:5 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְהֵמָּה אִם יִשְׁמְעוּ וְאִם יֶחְדָּלוּ כִּי בֵּית מְרִי הֵמָּה וְיָדְעוּ כִּי נָבִיא הָיָה בְתוֹכָם.
6. Yechezkel 2:6 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְאַתָּה בֶן אָדָם אַל תִּירָא מֵהֶם וּמִדִּבְרֵיהֶם אַל תִּירָא כִּי סָרָבִים וְסַלּוֹנִים אוֹתָךְ וְאֶל עַקְרַבִּים אַתָּה יוֹשֵׁב מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם אַל תִּירָא וּמִפְּנֵיהֶם אַל תֵּחָת כִּי בֵּית מְרִי הֵמָּה.
7. Yechezkel 2:7 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְדִבַּרְתָּ אֶת דְּבָרַי אֲלֵיהֶם אִם יִשְׁמְעוּ וְאִם יֶחְדָּלוּ כִּי מְרִי הֵמָּה.
8. Yechezkel 2:8 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְאַתָּה בֶן אָדָם שְׁמַע אֵת אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ אַל תְּהִי מֶרִי כְּבֵית הַמֶּרִי פְּצֵה פִיךָ וֶאֱכֹל אֵת אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן אֵלֶיךָ.
⦁ Ezekiel 2:5-8
5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
9. Yechezkel 3:9 (Mikraot Gedolot)
כְּשָׁמִיר חָזָק מִצֹּר נָתַתִּי מִצְחֶךָ לֹא תִירָא אוֹתָם וְלֹא תֵחַת מִפְּנֵיהֶם כִּי בֵּית מְרִי הֵמָּה.
⦁ Ezekiel 3:9
9 Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”
10. Yechezkel 3:26 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וּלְשׁוֹנְךָ אַדְבִּיק אֶל חִכֶּךָ וְנֶאֱלַמְתָּ וְלֹא תִהְיֶה לָהֶם לְאִישׁ מוֹכִיחַ כִּי בֵּית מְרִי הֵמָּה.
11. Yechezkel 3:27 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וּבְדַבְּרִי אוֹתְךָ אֶפְתַּח אֶת פִּיךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יֱ־הֹוִה הַשֹּׁמֵעַ יִשְׁמָע וְהֶחָדֵל יֶחְדָּל כִּי בֵּית מְרִיהֵמָּה.
⦁ Ezekiel 3:26-27
26 And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.
12. Yechezkel 12:2 (Mikraot Gedolot)
בֶּן אָדָם בְּתוֹךְ בֵּית הַמֶּרִי אַתָּה יֹשֵׁב אֲשֶׁר עֵינַיִם לָהֶם לִרְאוֹת וְלֹא רָאוּ אׇזְנַיִם לָהֶם לִשְׁמֹעַ וְלֹא שָׁמֵעוּ כִּי בֵּית מְרִי הֵם.
13. Yechezkel 12:3 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְאַתָּה בֶן אָדָם עֲשֵׂה לְךָ כְּלֵי גוֹלָה וּגְלֵה יוֹמָם לְעֵינֵיהֶם וְגָלִיתָ מִמְּקוֹמְךָ אֶל מָקוֹם אַחֵר לְעֵינֵיהֶם אוּלַי יִרְאוּ כִּי בֵּית מְרִי הֵמָּה.
⦁ Ezekiel 12:2-3
2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. 3 As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.
14. Yechezkel 44:6 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְאָמַרְתָּ אֶל מֶרִי אֶל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יֱ־הֹוִה רַב לָכֶם מִכׇּל תּוֹעֲבוֹתֵיכֶם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל.
⦁ Ezekiel 44:6-7
6 And say to the rebellious house, to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: O house of Israel, enough of all your abominations, 7 in admitting foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, to be in my sanctuary, profaning my temple, when you offer to me my food, the fat and the blood. You have broken my covenant, in addition to all your abominations.
15. Mishlei 17:11 (Mikraot Gedolot)
אַךְ מְרִי יְבַקֶּשׁ רָע וּמַלְאָךְ אַכְזָרִי יְשֻׁלַּח בּוֹ.
⦁ Proverbs 17:11
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,
and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
16. Iyyov 23:2 (Mikraot Gedolot)
גַּם הַיּוֹם מְרִי שִׂחִי יָדִי כָּבְדָה עַל אַנְחָתִי.
⦁ Job 23:2
2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;
my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
▸ h4805. מְרִי merîy; from 4784; bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious: — bitter, (most) rebel(-lion, -lious).
AV (23) – rebellious 17, rebellion 4, bitter 1, rebels 1;
- rebellion
- rebellion
- rebellious (in construct)
▸ h4784. מָרָה mârâ; a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke): — bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoke(-ing), (be) rebel (against, -lious).
AV (44) – rebel 19, rebellious 9, provoke 7, disobedient 2, against 1, bitter 1, changed 1, disobeyed 1, grievously 1, provocation 1, rebels 1;
- to be contentious, be rebellious, be refractory, be disobedient towards, be rebellious against
- (Qal) to be disobedient, be rebellious
- towards father
- towards God
- (Hiphil) to show rebelliousness, show disobedience, disobey
- (Qal) to be disobedient, be rebellious
- Please see that this group is indicating a context for bringing about change, which might be positive or negative.
Impression כמר yearn גרן threshing floor נכר recognize רגם throw stones כנר harp כרםvineyard מרק broth מכר sell מרי rebellious cognate permutations (impact positively/negatively) / (bring about change)
⦁ Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (ESV – A Rebellious Son)
18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious (h4784. מָרָה mârâ) son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious (h4784. מָרָה mârâ); he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
- I ask you please to recognize the reference to “glutton and drunkard.” Also recognize that John the Baptist is much closer to the picture of a Nazirite, seen in the early description of Samson in Judges 13.
⦁ Matthew 11:18-19
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
⦁ Luke 7:33-35
33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Please also see that Deuteronomy 21:18:21 is another example of hyperbole in Scripture. It serves a dual purpose. First, as Deuteronomy 21:21 indicates, all Israel will hear and fear. The hyperbole should serve as a deterrent for challenging children. And, as Paul notes in Roman 8:5-10 this should lead to a different approach, not on instruction based upon flesh, but Spiritual instruction. Thus, the other thing that such a “granting of agency” accomplishes is to help the parents to see that they may be taking too hard of a line. Indeed, would they really go so far as to turn their child over to die? So, such hyperbole helps to put a damper on behavior from both directions. One has to recall the attributes of YHWH in Exodus 34:6-7, and recall that he, as parent, is merciful and gracious. No, we never get away scot-free; yet YHWH is compassionate in his justice.
Yeshua/Jesus is a “rebellious son,” and among the things he came to show us is that overly strict interpretation of YHWH’s teaching can have disastrous consequences. Micah 6:8 “… to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God.”
YHWH willing, we will continue next time…
Ⓒ Copyright Philip E. Gates; LogAndSpeck.com, April 2026. Please cite if you use this material.