מַרְאֶה (mar.eh)
mar.eh
appearance
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 60 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mar’eh, derived from the verb "to see," broadly denotes what is seen, whether as a physical appearance or a supernatural vision. In everyday contexts, it describes visible features or looks, such as the fair countenance of Joseph’s master in Genesis 39:6 or the pleasing aspect of young men in Daniel 1:4. The word captures the immediate visual impact of a person or object, often emphasizing outward beauty or condition.
Its usage extends beyond mere physical sight into the realm of divine revelation. In prophetic literature and legal texts, mar’eh refers to visions granted by God, such as the pillar of cloud and fire in Exodus 24:17 or the detailed inspections required for skin diseases in Leviticus 13. Here, it signifies a spectacle or phenomenon that demands attention, bridging the gap between ordinary observation and spiritual insight.
Translators render mar’eh variously as "appearance," "sight," "vision," or "countenance" depending on context. This flexibility highlights its dual nature: it can describe the tangible reality of a scene or the intangible experience of a divine encounter. The term invites readers to consider both what is physically present and what is revealed through sight, reflecting a worldview where visual perception often carries deeper significance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mar’eh reminds us that sight is more than just physical observation; it is a channel for understanding reality. In Genesis, we see trees described as pleasant to the sight, highlighting how God designed creation to bring joy and sustenance. This simple appreciation of beauty reflects the care embedded in the natural world around us.
Yet the term also points toward deeper spiritual truths. When Moses witnessed the burning bush, he sought to understand this great sight. Later, the Israelites saw the glory of Yahweh as a devouring fire. These moments show that what we see can reveal God’s presence and power in ways that go beyond ordinary experience.
Whether observing the beauty of a garden or recognizing divine revelation, mar’eh invites us to look with attentive hearts. It encourages us to find value in the visible world while remaining open to the spiritual realities that shape our faith and daily life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 60 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- appearance17×
- appearance/ its6×
- and/ [the] appearance of5×
- like/ [the] appearance of4×
- appearance/ his3×
- the/ vision2×
- and/ appearance/ their2×
- and/ appearance/ its2×
- [was] like/ [the] appearance of2×
- <the>/ appearance2×
- to/ appearance1×
- to/ [the] sight of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַרְאֶ֖ה7×
- מַרְאֶֽה\׃4×
- מַרְאֵ֙/הוּ֙3×
- כְּ/מַרְאֵ֥ה3×
- מַרְאֶ֜ה2×
- מַרְאֵ֑/הוּ2×
- כְּ/מַרְאֵה\־2×
- וּ/מַרְאֵה֙2×
- וּ/מַרְאֵ֕/הוּ2×
- הַ/מַּרְאֶ֖ה2×
- בַּ/מַּרְאֶֽה\׃2×
- מַרְאַ֔יִ/ךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 2:9
Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
This verse uses mar’eh to describe the aesthetic appeal of trees, showing how physical beauty reflects God's intentional design in creation.
-
Exodus 3:3
Moses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”
Moses uses the word to express his desire to understand the mystery behind the burning bush, linking sight with spiritual inquiry.
-
Exodus 24:17
The appearance of Yahweh’s glory was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.
Here mar’eh describes the visible manifestation of God's glory as fire, illustrating how divine presence can be perceived through sight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mar’eh mean in the Bible?
How is mar’eh different from other words for sight?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (60 verses across 16 books)
Genesis 10 verses
Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the…
Genesis 12:11When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to…
Genesis 24:16The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her…
Genesis 26:7The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “My wife”, lest,…
Genesis 29:17Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
Genesis 39:6He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate.…
Genesis 41:2Behold, seven cattle came up out of the river. They were sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass.
Genesis 41:3Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the…
Genesis 41:4The ugly and thin cattle ate up the seven sleek and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke.
Genesis 41:21and when they had eaten them up, it couldn’t be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ugly, as at the…