(Aramaic) corresponding to מָרַט; to pull off; be plucked.
Transliteration:mᵉraṭ
Pronunciation:mer-at'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic verb `{{H4804}}` (מְרַט, mᵉraṭ) carries the primary meaning of "to pull off," "to pluck," or "to be plucked." It is directly cognate with the Hebrew verb `{{H4803}}` (מָרַט, māraṭ), sharing its semantic range. The core idea conveyed is a forceful removal or stripping, often resulting in a state of being bare, denuded, or divested of something. This can refer to the removal of hair, feathers, or other coverings, implying a violent or decisive act of separation. The passive form, "to be plucked," emphasizes the action being done *to* the subject, suggesting an external force or agency at work.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The Aramaic term `{{H4804}}` (מְרַט) appears only once in the biblical text, specifically in the book of Daniel:
* [[Daniel 7:4]]: "The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. I watched until its wings were *plucked off* (מְרַט), and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a human mind was given to it."
In this singular occurrence, `{{H4804}}` describes a crucial transformative event in Daniel's prophetic vision of the four beasts, which symbolize successive world empires. The "plucking off" of the lion-like beast's wings signifies a dramatic and forceful removal of its power, speed, or ability to dominate in its original form. This is not a self-initiated change but an external, divinely orchestrated act. The imagery suggests a stripping away of its predatory strength and imperial reach, leading to a profound alteration of its nature. The subsequent transformation—standing like a man and receiving a human mind—indicates a shift from purely bestial ferocity to a more cunning or human-like form of governance, yet still under the sovereign hand of God. The verb powerfully conveys the cessation of an era of power and the beginning of a new, albeit divinely controlled, phase.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related word is its Hebrew cognate, `{{H4803}}` (מָרַט, māraṭ). Examining its usage provides deeper insight into the semantic field:
* In `{{H4803}}`, the act of "plucking" is often associated with mourning or extreme distress, as seen in [[Ezra 9:3]] where Ezra "pulled out some of the hair of my head and of my beard" as a sign of grief and repentance.
* It can also describe the stripping of flesh from bones, as in [[Micah 3:2]], depicting a violent, destructive act.
* The concept of being "plucked" or "stripped" is often linked to divine judgment or humiliation, where pride, power, or coverings are forcibly removed, leaving one exposed or diminished.
* Other related concepts include: `{{H5493}}` (סוּר, sûr) "to turn aside, remove"; `{{H6584}}` (פָּשַׁט, pāshaṭ) "to strip off"; and `{{H1984}}` (הָלַךְ, hālak) in contexts of going away or being removed. The common thread is a forceful, often irreversible, act of removal or transformation.
### Theological Significance
The single occurrence of `{{H4804}}` in [[Daniel 7:4]] carries profound theological weight. It underscores the absolute sovereignty of God over human kingdoms and historical events. The "plucking off" of the beast's wings is a divine intervention that limits and transforms oppressive power. This is not merely a natural decline but an active, decisive act by God to bring about His purposes.
The imagery suggests:
1. **Divine Judgment and Control:** God is actively involved in the rise and fall of empires. The plucking signifies a judgment upon the beast's unrestrained power and a curtailment of its destructive potential.
2. **Transformation and Reorientation:** The beast is not merely destroyed but transformed. This highlights God's ability to reconfigure even the most formidable forces of opposition, bringing them into alignment with His ultimate plan, even if that alignment is through reduction or redirection.
3. **Symbolic Denudation:** Just as plucking hair or feathers leaves one bare, the plucking of wings symbolizes the stripping away of the beast's former glory, swiftness, and terror. It represents a humbling and a loss of its defining characteristics of power.
4. **Preparation for a New Era:** This transformation of the first beast, along with the subsequent beasts, sets the stage for the ultimate and eternal kingdom of the Son of Man, demonstrating that all earthly powers are temporary and subject to God's eternal design.
### Summary
The Aramaic verb `{{H4804}}` (מְרַט, mᵉraṭ), meaning "to pull off" or "to be plucked," appears uniquely in [[Daniel 7:4]]. Here, it describes the forceful removal of the lion-like beast's wings, signifying a divinely orchestrated curtailment of its power and a profound transformation of its nature. This single occurrence, bolstered by the broader semantic range of its Hebrew cognate `{{H4803}}`, underscores God's absolute sovereignty over human history and the destinies of nations. The act of "plucking off" serves as a powerful theological symbol of divine judgment, the humbling of prideful power, and the reorientation of earthly forces according to God's immutable will, ultimately paving the way for His eternal kingdom.
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