Word Study for H4117 (מָהַר) | Strong's Concordance

mâhar /maw-har'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root (perhaps rather the same as מָהַר through the idea of readiness in assent)

Meaningto bargain (for a wife), i.e. to wed

KJV usageendow

Idioms & phrasesidiom surely.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâhar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mâhar, represented by H4117, refers to the act of bargaining for a wife, specifically to endow or wed her. It appears 2 times across 1 unique verse in the Bible. The word's root suggests an idea of readiness in assent, which translates into the legal and financial commitment of an endowment, and is also used idiomatically to mean surely.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole use of H4117 is found in a specific legal context within the book of Exodus. The law dictates that if a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, "he shall surely endow her to be his wife" Exodus 22:16. The double usage in this verse emphasizes both the certainty of the obligation (surely) and the required action (endow), highlighting its role as a binding legal remedy to establish a marriage.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context in which H4117 is used:

H376 ʼîysh (a man as an individual or a male person): This word identifies the person legally obligated to provide the endowment. The law holds the man accountable for his actions, requiring him to formalize a marriage Exodus 22:16, a principle rooted in the idea that a man is to cleave to his wife Genesis 2:24.
H6601 pâthâh (to... entice): This describes the initial action that triggers the law of endowment. It is the act of persuasion or delusion Exodus 22:16 that leads to the required marital arrangement. The term can also describe being deceived or persuaded in other contexts Jeremiah 20:7.
H1330 bᵉthûwlâh (a virgin... maid): This term identifies the person who is to be endowed. The law provides protection and provision for the maid by ensuring she is given the security of a marriage endowment Exodus 22:16.
H781 ʼâras (to engage for matrimony; betroth, espouse): This word is critical as it defines the woman's status. The law of endowment applies specifically because the maid is "not betrothed" Exodus 22:16, making the man's action a violation that must be rectified through marriage.

Theological Significance

The legal weight of H4117 carries significant theological implications regarding justice and covenant.

Social Justice and Provision: The requirement to endow serves as a mechanism for justice. It ensures that a woman is not abandoned but is provided for and her status secured within the community through a formal marriage bond Exodus 22:16.
Personal Responsibility: The law assigns direct accountability to the man (H376) for his actions. The endowment is not optional but a mandatory act that formalizes the union he initiated, obligating him to take her as his wife (H802) Exodus 22:16.
Foundation of Marriage: Though arising from a transgression, the required endowment reinforces that marriage is a binding, legal institution. It demonstrates how a formal, covenantal action is required to establish the marital relationship.

Summary

In summary, H4117 is more than a simple word for a transaction. It is a specific legal term that defines the act of establishing a marriage through an endowment, particularly as a means of restitution. It reveals a biblical emphasis on personal responsibility, social justice for the vulnerable, and the binding nature of the marriage covenant. The single instance of this word illustrates how a precise legal instruction can reflect broader theological principles of order and righteousness.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

יִמְהָרֶ
מָהֹר
מָהָרוּ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Exodus — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.