מָרָא (ma.ra)
ma.ra
to flap
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb mara appears only twice in the Old Testament, both within poetic texts where its precise action remains debated among scholars. In Job 39:18, it describes the ostrich’s behavior toward her eggs or chicks, with most sources suggesting a meaning related to beating the air or flapping wings.
While some lexicons note a secondary Qal form meaning "filthy," this usage is rare and isolated. The primary focus remains on the Hiphil stem’s uncertain motion, likely capturing a vigorous, perhaps futile, physical gesture. Translators often render it as "flap" or "beat," acknowledging the ambiguity inherent in the ancient text.
This word highlights the limits of human understanding when describing animal behavior in Scripture. Its rarity and uncertainty remind readers that not every detail is fully clarified, yet the poetic imagery still conveys a sense of wild, untamed energy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mara appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, and its meaning remains a subject of scholarly discussion. In Job 39:18, it describes the ostrich’s behavior, likely referring to a vigorous flapping or beating motion. This rare verb captures a sense of wild, untamed energy that defies simple explanation.
Its scarcity reminds us that Scripture does not always clarify every detail. We encounter words and images that resist full definition, inviting humility rather than certainty. When we meet such ambiguity, we can rest in the knowledge that God’s Word is sufficient even where our understanding is incomplete.
This uncertainty invites trust. We do not need to master every linguistic nuance to find comfort in biblical poetry. The text stands firm, offering wisdom and wonder without demanding perfect comprehension from us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it flaps1×
- [the] filthy [one]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּמְרִ֑יא1×
- מֹרְאָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Job 39:18
When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.
This verse uses the Hiphil stem to depict the ostrich’s vigorous wing movement, highlighting the word’s association with wild, physical action.
-
Zephaniah 3:1
Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city!
Though often translated differently, this occurrence links the root to concepts of pollution or rebellion, showing its secondary usage in prophetic judgment contexts.