מִרְמָה (mir.mah)
mir.mah
deceit
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 27 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun mirmah denotes deceit, fraud, or treachery in Hebrew thought. It describes actions or people that are fundamentally dishonest, often involving a calculated intent to mislead others for personal gain. The word appears frequently in wisdom literature and the prophets, where it serves as a sharp critique of moral corruption.
Its usage extends beyond simple lying to include systemic injustice. For instance, Proverbs 11:1 contrasts honest scales with "deceptive weights," highlighting how mirmah can manifest in economic exploitation. Similarly, Genesis 27:35 uses the term to describe Jacob’s deceptive acquisition of Isaac’s blessing, framing it as a fraudulent act that caused lasting familial strife.
Derived from the root ramah, meaning to deceive or beguile, mirmah carries a sense of crafty subterfuge. It is not merely an error but a willful distortion of truth. Translators often render it as "deceit," "guile," or "treachery," depending on the context. In Psalms 5:7, for example, the psalmist rejects those who deal in deceit, associating such behavior with moral impurity rather than mere social faux pas.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mirmah points to a deep dishonesty that goes beyond a simple lie. It describes calculated fraud, such as using deceptive weights in trade or manipulating family relationships for personal gain. In ancient Israel, this was not just a social error but a serious violation of justice and trust.
For your faith life, this word serves as a sobering reminder that God sees the hidden motives of the heart. It challenges us to examine where we might be using cleverness to mislead others or ourselves. True integrity involves aligning our actions with truth, even when no one is watching.
Scripture offers hope because it contrasts this deceit with the character of Christ, who is described as having no deceit in His mouth. This invites us to rest in His honesty and seek His help to live transparently in a world that often values cunning over truth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 27 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- deceit18×
- with/ deceit2×
- treachery1×
- to/ deceit1×
- deceit<s>1×
- and/ deceit<s>1×
- and/ deceit1×
- [is] deceit1×
- [are] deceit1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִרְמָֽה\׃9×
- מִ֭רְמָה3×
- מִרְמָ֣ה2×
- מִרְמָ֖ה2×
- מִרְמָ֑ה2×
- מִרְמָה֙1×
- מִרְמָֽה\׃\ \ס1×
- מִרְמָ֥ה1×
- מִ֝רְמוֹת1×
- לְ/מִרְמָֽה\׃1×
- וּ/מִרְמָֽה\׃\ \ס1×
- וּ/מִרְמ֣וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.
This verse links mirmah directly to economic exploitation, showing how dishonest business practices are an abomination to God.
-
Genesis 27:35
He said, “Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing.”
Here the term highlights the destructive familial consequences of Jacob’s calculated deception in stealing Esau’s blessing.
-
Isaiah 53:9
They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
This prophecy uniquely describes the Messiah as having no deceit, establishing Him as the perfect standard of truth against which all human fraud is measured.
-
Psalms 17:1
A Prayer by David. Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea. Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.
David’s prayer asks God to hear his plea specifically because it does not come from deceitful lips, emphasizing the importance of sincere communication with God.