מְרִיבָה (me.ri.vah)
me.ri.vah
Meribah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun meribah denotes strife, contention, or a dispute. It appears eight times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative and poetic texts such as Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Psalms. The word functions as both a common noun describing conflict and a proper name for specific locations associated with Israel’s wilderness journey.
Its most famous usage identifies two distinct water supplies where the Israelites quarreled with God over the lack of water. In Exodus 17, the site at Rephidim is named Meribah because the people tested Yahweh by demanding water (Exodus 17:7). Centuries later, a similar event occurs at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, where Moses strikes the rock in anger and frustration, leading to another location bearing this name (Numbers 20:13; 27:14).
The term captures more than mere disagreement; it signifies a crisis of trust. By naming these places Meribah, the biblical text preserves a memorial of the people’s doubt. Psalms later recall these events as warnings against hardening one’s heart, using meribah to illustrate the consequences of failing to believe in God’s provision (Psalm 95:8-10; Psalm 106:32).
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word meribah points to moments when fear overrides faith. It describes a place where doubt turns into conflict, often over basic needs like water or safety. When life feels uncertain, it is natural to question whether God is present. This term reminds us that such questioning, if rooted in distrust, can damage our relationship with Him.
Yet the Bible records these struggles honestly. The sites named Meribah serve as memorials, not just of failure, but of God’s patience. Even when His people tested Him, He provided. These stories invite us to examine our own hearts. Are we reacting to circumstances with anxiety, or resting in His provision?
Understanding meribah helps us recognize the danger of hardening our hearts against God’s voice. It calls for humility and trust. Instead of striving or complaining, we are invited to remember how He has been faithful before. This awareness can transform our response to future trials.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Meribah5×
- like/ Meribah1×
- and/ Meribah1×
- Meribath1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְרִיבָֽה\׃2×
- מְרִיבַ֥ת2×
- מְרִיבָ֔ה1×
- מְרִיבָ֑ה1×
- כִּ/מְרִיבָ֑ה1×
- וּ/מְרִיבָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 17:7
He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is Yahweh among us, or not?”
This verse establishes the origin of the name, linking meribah directly to the people's question about God's presence.
-
Numbers 20:13
These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them.
Here the waters are sanctified by God despite the strife, showing His holiness remains intact even in conflict.
-
Psalms 95:8
Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
The psalmist uses meribah as a warning against allowing past doubt to harden one's heart today.