The meaning of “מְרִיבָה”
Understanding Mᵉrîybâh reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
the same as מְרִיבָה Meribah. - § Meribah = "strife" or "contention" - Meribah, the name of two places in the Desert 1) ...
מְרִיבָה
the same as מְרִיבָה Meribah. - § Meribah = "strife" or "contention" - Meribah, the name of two places in the Desert 1) a fountain at Rephidim, in the desert of Sin; so called because the Israelites murmured against God 2) the name of the water supply at Kadesh on the southern border of the promised land; the people also murmured here against God
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Exodus 17:7 | “And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?” Word: מְרִיבָה (Mᵉrîybâh) | |
| Numbers 20:24 | “Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.” Word: מְרִיבָה (Mᵉrîybâh) | |
| Deuteronomy 33:8 | “And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;” Word: מְרִיבָה (Mᵉrîybâh) | |
| Psalms 81:7 | “Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.” Word: מְרִיבָה (Mᵉrîybâh) |