מֵאָה (me.ah)
me.ah
(Tower of) the Hundred
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Meah, derived from the Hebrew word for “hundred,” refers to a specific tower situated on the northern rampart of Jerusalem’s city wall. It appears exclusively in the book of Nehemiah, serving as a geographical marker within the narrative of the city’s restoration.
In Nehemiah 3:1 and 12:39, this location anchors the description of the rebuilding efforts and the procession along the walls. Its name likely reflects either its size or perhaps a district associated with it, though the text treats it simply as a known landmark on the northern side of the ancient city.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Meah means "the Hundred," marking a specific section of Jerusalem’s northern wall during the post-exilic restoration. In Nehemiah, this tower is not just a stone structure but a witness to communal effort. The high priest Eliashib and his brothers began their work at the Sheep Gate and extended it all the way to this landmark, showing that spiritual leadership was physically engaged in rebuilding the city’s defenses.
Later, when the people processed along the walls to celebrate the dedication of the temple, they passed this same tower again. It stands as a silent observer of both labor and worship. For us, it reminds us that God values our practical contributions to His work just as much as our prayers. Every brick laid in obedience becomes part of a larger story of restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ hundred2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מֵּאָה֙1×
- הַ/מֵּאָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 3:1
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Hananel.
This verse establishes Meah as the endpoint of the priests' initial rebuilding effort, linking their sanctified labor directly to the city's northern fortification.
-
Nehemiah 12:39
and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate; and they stood still in the gate of the guard.
Here, the tower serves as a key waypoint in the joyous procession, showing how the same structure that once required repair later facilitated corporate worship and celebration.