מָעָה (me.ah)
me.ah
grain
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun ma‘ah refers to a small particle, specifically a grain or a pebble. In biblical Hebrew, it is used to describe the tiny components of sand, capturing the image of something minute and numerous.
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 48:19. There, the prophet uses the imagery of scattered sand grains to illustrate the vastness of peace and righteousness that would have been available to Israel had they listened to God’s commands. The scarcity of the term highlights how rare such specific metaphors are in Scripture.
Its singular usage underscores the power of concrete imagery in prophetic literature. By comparing potential blessings to the countless grains of sand, the text emphasizes both abundance and the fragility of human failure to grasp them.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ma‘ah describes a single grain, small enough to slip through fingers yet part of something vast. In Isaiah 48:19, this tiny unit represents the peace and righteousness God offered Israel. It shows how divine blessings are not abstract concepts but tangible realities, as numerous as grains of sand on a shore.
When we consider our own walk with God, this imagery reminds us that faithfulness is built in small, consistent steps. Just as countless grains make up a beach, our daily choices accumulate into a life of integrity. The promise remains open to all who seek it, inviting us to trust in the abundance of grace available to us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like/ grains/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כִּ/מְעֹתָ֑י/ו1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 48:19
Your offspring also would have been as the sand and the descendants of your body like its grains. His name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me.”
This verse uses ma'ah to visualize the immense potential for peace and righteousness that was within Israel's reach if they had obeyed God.