English · KJV
H4809

מְרִיבָה

Mᵉrîybâh /mer-ee-baw'/ Ask about this word
Rootthe same as מְרִיבָה
MeaningMeribah, the name of two places in the Desert
KJV usageMeribah.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Mᵉrîybâh — 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 Mᵉrîybâh, represented by H4809, is the name given to two places in the desert. It appears 9 times in 9 unique verses. The name itself is defined as being the same as H4808, which means quarrel or strife, embedding the location's significance directly into its title. It serves as a permanent memorial of contention between Israel and the LORD.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, Mᵉrîybâh is consistently associated with pivotal moments of failure and judgment. A location was first named Meribah alongside Massah because of the "chiding of the children of Israel" and because they "tempted the LORD" by questioning His presence Exodus 17:7. Later, at a different location known as "the water of Meribah in Kadesh," Moses and Aaron rebelled against God's command Numbers 27:14. This act of disobedience resulted in them being forbidden from entering the promised land Numbers 20:24. The site is also referenced as a place where God "proved" Israel Psalms 81:7 and where they angered Him Psalms 106:32.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words illuminate the events that transpired at Meribah:

  • H4808 mᵉrîybâh (quarrel; provocation, strife): This is the direct source word for the place name, defining the very nature of the event. It is used to describe the "strife of the congregation" that occurred in the desert of Zin Numbers 27:14.
  • H7378 rîyb (to wrangle... contend... strive): This primitive root describes the action taken by the people. The Bible states that "the children of Israel strove with the LORD" at this location Numbers 20:13.
  • H4784 mârâh (to rebel... provoke): This word captures the essence of the sin committed by the people and their leaders. God states that Moses and Aaron "rebelled against my commandment" at Meribah Numbers 27:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4809 is significant, marking it as a symbol of human failure and divine response.

  • A Memorial of Contention: The name itself serves as a lasting reminder of Israel's tendency to strive with God. The location is called Meribah precisely because the people contended with the LORD Numbers 20:13.
  • The Gravity of Rebellion: The events at Meribah underscore the severe consequences of disobedience, even for God's chosen leaders. Moses was barred from the promised land because he "rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah" Numbers 20:24.
  • A Place of Testing: Meribah was a site of mutual testing. God states He "proved" Israel there Psalms 81:7, while at the same time, the people are condemned for having "tempted the LORD" Exodus 17:7.
  • God's Holiness Displayed: Despite the people's sinful striving and the leaders' rebellion, God's purpose was not thwarted. The scripture notes that at the waters of Meribah, the LORD "was sanctified in them," demonstrating His holiness in the midst of human failure Numbers 20:13.

Summary

In summary, H4809 Mᵉrîybâh is far more than a geographical place name. It is a biblical landmark representing strife, rebellion, and divine testing. It stands as a solemn monument to the consequences of disobeying God's word and the contentiousness of the human heart, while also revealing that God's holiness will be demonstrated even in moments of judgment.

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 noun across 11 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.

  • מְרִיבָה
  • מְרִיבַת
  • מְרִיבוֹת

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H4808 מְרִיבָה from רִיב; quarrel; provocation, strife. H7378 רִיב or רוּב; a primitive root; properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a controversy; (b H4784 מָרָה a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to

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

Appears in 9 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Numbers (3 verses); never once in the other 34.

1
Exodus
3
Numbers
1
Deuteronomy
2
Psalms
2
Ezekiel

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.