(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to מָרַד; rebellion; rebellion.
Transliteration:mᵉrad
Pronunciation:mer-ad'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic term mᵉrad (`{{H4776}}`) is derived from a root corresponding to the Hebrew marad (`{{H4775}}`). Its core meaning denotes "rebellion," "revolt," or "insurrection." It signifies an act of defiance against established authority, whether human (such as a king or empire) or divine. The semantic range encompasses any deliberate breaking away from allegiance or a refusal to submit to rightful rule, emphasizing a posture of active opposition.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
As an Aramaic word, mᵉrad (`{{H4776}}`) appears in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Ezra, specifically in the correspondence between the adversaries of Judah and King Artaxerxes concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
* In [[Ezra 4:15]], the accusers write to the king, alleging that Jerusalem "has been a rebellious city and harmful to kings and provinces, and that rebellion has been carried on in it from ancient times." Here, mᵉrad describes a historical pattern of insubordination and resistance attributed to Jerusalem, serving as a justification for stopping its reconstruction.
* Similarly, in [[Ezra 4:19]], King Artaxerxes, after reviewing the royal archives, confirms the accusation: "It has been a rebellious city and harmful to kings and provinces, and that rebellion has been carried on in it from ancient times." The king's affirmation of Jerusalem's "rebellious" nature (using mᵉrad) provides the basis for his decree to halt the building work.
The context in Ezra is intensely political and administrative. The term is employed by those opposing the Jews' efforts to rebuild Jerusalem, framing the city as a persistent threat to imperial control. The accusation of "rebellion" is a powerful rhetorical tool designed to incite royal intervention and suppress the re-establishment of Jewish autonomy.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related term is its Hebrew cognate, marad (`{{H4775}}`), which also means "to rebel" and is widely used throughout the Old Testament to describe acts of defiance against both human and divine authority (e.g., [[Numbers 14:9]], [[Deuteronomy 9:7]]). Other related Hebrew terms include:
* pasha (`{{H6586}}`): "to transgress, revolt, rebel," often used in a moral or theological sense against God, denoting a breach of covenant.
* sarar (`{{H5637}}`): "to be stubborn, rebellious, unruly," emphasizing an obstinate disposition.
* ma'al (`{{H4603}}`): "to act unfaithfully, commit a trespass," often implying a violation of trust or sacred obligation.
Conceptually, mᵉrad aligns with ideas of disobedience, defiance, insubordination, treason, and, in a broader biblical sense, apostasy when applied to the rejection of divine authority.
### Theological Significance
While mᵉrad (`{{H4776}}`) is directly employed in a political context in Ezra, the underlying concept of "rebellion" carries profound theological weight throughout the biblical narrative. Rebellion, at its core, is an act of rejecting legitimate authority. When this authority is God, rebellion becomes sin—a fundamental turning away from the Creator's rightful sovereignty. The history of Israel, as depicted in Scripture, is frequently characterized by episodes of rebellion against God's covenant, commands, and prophetic word (e.g., the wilderness generation, the period of the Judges, and the idolatry of the monarchy). Human rebellion against God is a central theme that necessitates divine intervention, redemption, and reconciliation. Even in its political usage in Ezra, the accusation of "rebellion" against Jerusalem echoes the broader biblical understanding of a people who frequently struggled with obedience to divine mandates. The destructive nature of defiance, whether against earthly rulers or the heavenly King, is a consistent biblical truth, underscoring the importance of submission to established order, especially when such order is divinely ordained (cf. [[Romans 13:1-7]]).
### Summary
mᵉrad (`{{H4776}}`) is an Aramaic term signifying "rebellion" or "insurrection," closely related to the Hebrew marad (`{{H4775}}`). Its primary biblical occurrences are found in Ezra 4:15 and Ezra 4:19, where it is used to describe Jerusalem's alleged history as a "rebellious" city, an accusation leveraged by adversaries to halt its rebuilding under Persian rule. The word denotes a deliberate act of defiance against established authority, whether political or, by extension through its broader biblical cognates, divine. Though used in a political context in Ezra, the concept of rebellion carries significant theological implications throughout Scripture, representing humanity's fundamental rejection of God's rightful rule. This rejection leads to the consequences of sin and underscores the necessity of divine intervention for restoration, highlighting the destructive nature of insubordination and the importance of submission to legitimate authority.
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