מְעִי (me.i)
me.i
heap
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun me‘i appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Isaiah 17:1. It denotes a ruin or heap, specifically describing the desolate remains of a city. In this context, it refers to the fallen state of Damascus, portraying the capital of Aram as nothing more than a pile of rubble after judgment.
The word is linguistically unusual, with sources noting its form is strange and possibly related to other terms for ruin or heap. Its singular occurrence emphasizes the totality of the destruction described in the prophecy. The image conveys not just damage, but a complete collapse into a shapeless mass, serving as a stark visual metaphor for the end of political power.
Translators typically render me‘i as "ruin" or "heap," capturing the sense of something reduced to debris. This single usage highlights the certainty of the prophetic word: what was once a mighty city will become a forgotten mound of stones, illustrating the transient nature of human ambition against divine decree.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word me‘i paints a stark picture of total collapse. In Isaiah 17:1, it describes Damascus not merely as damaged, but reduced to a shapeless pile of rubble. This imagery reminds us that human power and political stability are fragile things. What stands tall today can become a forgotten mound tomorrow.
Yet this prophecy also points to God’s sovereignty. When worldly systems crumble, we are invited to rest in the One who remains constant. The certainty of judgment on proud cities underscores the reliability of God’s word. We find peace not in our own strength, but in His unchanging nature.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a ruin of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְעִ֥י1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 17:1
The burden of Damascus. “Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap.
This verse uses me‘i to describe Damascus being reduced from a thriving city to a 'ruinous heap,' emphasizing the completeness of the judgment.