מָרַט

mâraṭ /maw-rat'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto polish; by implication, to make bald (the head), to gall (the shoulder); also, to sharpen
KJV usagebright, furbish, (have his) hair (be) fallen off, peeled, pluck off (hair).
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mâraṭ, represented by H4803, is a primitive root with a dual meaning related to making a surface bare, either by polishing or by removing hair. It appears 9 times in 9 unique verses. Its definition includes to polish, to make bald, to gall the shoulder, to sharpen, and to pluck off hair.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H4803 is used in two distinct contexts. Firstly, it describes the removal of hair, which can signify different things: an act of profound grief and astonishment Ezra 9:3, a punishment delivered out of righteous anger Nehemiah 13:25, or a mark of deep humiliation and suffering Isaiah 50:6. It is also used in a neutral sense to describe natural hair loss Leviticus 13:40. Secondly, H4803 depicts the preparation of a weapon, where a sword is "furbished" or polished, making it bright and ready for slaughter Ezekiel 21:9. In a related sense, it describes the physical toll of warfare, where soldiers' shoulders were "peeled" from intense service Ezekiel 29:18.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which H4803 is found:

  • H2300 châdad (to be sharp, sharpen): This root, meaning to make sharp or severe, is used in parallel with mâraṭ to describe the preparation of a sword for judgment, emphasizing its deadly readiness Ezekiel 21:9.
  • H2719 chereb (sword): This word for a cutting instrument is the object that is "furbished" by the action of H4803. The furbished sword is an instrument of slaughter and judgment Ezekiel 21:28.
  • H7139 qârach (to make bald): This word, meaning to depilate, appears alongside H4803 to describe the physical effects of a grueling military campaign, where every head was "made bald" and every shoulder was "peeled" Ezekiel 29:18.
  • H8181 sêʻâr (hair): This is the word for hair that is "plucked off" in an act of deep grief and dismay in response to sin Ezra 9:3.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4803 is revealed in its application.

  • The Readiness of Judgment: When used for a sword, the word signifies a state of readiness for divine action. The furbished, glittering sword is not merely a weapon but a symbol of impending, inescapable judgment prepared for slaughter Ezekiel 21:28.
  • Physical Manifestation of Emotion: The act of plucking out one's hair is a visceral, outward expression of an intense inner state, whether it is Ezra's grief over the people's faithlessness Ezra 9:3 or Nehemiah's anger at disobedience Nehemiah 13:25.
  • The Picture of Humiliation: To have one's hair plucked out by others is a profound insult. This action is part of the suffering described in Isaiah's prophecy, where the servant figure gives his cheeks to his tormentors Isaiah 50:6, illustrating extreme shame and contempt.

Summary

In summary, H4803 is a powerful and descriptive verb that conveys the idea of making something bare. Whether it is polishing a sword to a glittering readiness for battle or plucking out hair in an act of grief or humiliation, the word connects a physical action to a significant purpose or emotional state. It illustrates how a single term can encompass meanings ranging from ceremonial law and personal mourning to prophetic declarations of judgment.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 14 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms.

  • Pual Participle Passive Singular Masculine Absolute 3×
  • Qal Participle Passive Singular Feminine Absolute 3×
  • Niphal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Pual Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 2×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 2×
  • Qal Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Qal Participle Plural Masculine Absolute 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Passive
The subject is acted upon.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Pual
The passive of the intensive (Piel) stem.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 9 verses across 5 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (4 verses).

2
Leviticus
1
Ezra
1
Nehemiah
1
Isaiah
4
Ezekiel

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