מַמְרֵא
Mamre, an Amorite
Definition
Mamre is a proper noun referring to a location and an individual in the Old Testament. Primarily, it denotes a place near Hebron in Canaan, famous as the location of Abraham's oak trees and his dwelling (Genesis 13:18). It is also the name of an Amorite chieftain, Mamre, who was an ally of Abraham (Genesis 14:13, 14:24). The site remained significant as a burial place for the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 23:17, 25:9, 35:27).
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in the book of Genesis, always in connection with the patriarch Abraham. It appears in narratives describing Abraham's settlement, his military alliances, his covenant encounters with God (Genesis 18:1), and the burial of his family. The usage consistently ties the location to themes of promise, covenant, and inheritance in the land of Canaan.
Etymology
Derived from the root מרה (mārâ, H4754), which carries a sense of vigor, strength, or fatness. The name Mamre likely means 'vigorous' or 'robust,' possibly describing the fertile, well-watered nature of the area with its famous trees, or the character of the Amorite individual who bore the name.
Semantic Range
Mamre is theologically significant as the geographical anchor for God's covenant promises to Abraham. It is at Mamre that Abraham received the visitors who announced Isaac's birth (Genesis 18), solidifying the promise of descendants. The site, later containing the family tomb (the Cave of Machpelah), symbolizes the tangible fulfillment of God's promise of the land. Understanding Mamre enriches reading by highlighting how God's covenant history is rooted in specific, real locations.
In the ancient Near East, prominent trees like those at Mamre were often associated with sacred sites or places of assembly. An Amorite ally bearing the name Mamre reflects the complex social and political interactions between the patriarchs and the existing Canaanite populations. The location's enduring importance as a burial site underscores the high cultural value placed on ancestral tombs and land inheritance.
Hebron (חֶבְרוֹן, H2275) — The major city near which Mamre was located; the terms are often used in close association (Genesis 23:19).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →