מַרְאָה
a vision; also (causatively) a mirror
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַרְאָה (marʼâh) primarily means 'a vision'—a divine communication from God, often received by prophets during a state of heightened spiritual awareness. This is its most frequent meaning, as seen in Genesis 46:2 where God speaks to Jacob 'in the visions of the night.' In a distinct, secondary sense, it refers to a 'mirror' or 'looking glass,' specifically the polished bronze mirrors used by women in the tabernacle service (Exodus 38:8). This dual meaning connects the idea of seeing a reflection with seeing a supernatural revelation.
Biblical Usage
The word is used 11 times, predominantly in prophetic contexts describing divine encounters. It appears in narratives of key prophets: Samuel (1 Samuel 3:15), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1; 8:3; 40:2; 43:3), and Moses (Numbers 12:6). The singular exception is its concrete meaning of 'mirrors' in Exodus 38:8, describing the bronze laver made from donated mirrors. The usage pattern shows 'vision' as the dominant theological sense, while 'mirror' is a specific, tangible object.
Etymology
Derived from the root רָאָה (rāʼâ), meaning 'to see.' It is the feminine form of the noun מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758), which also means 'sight, appearance, or vision.' The feminine form מַרְאָה often carries a more specific or intensive sense. The semantic range from 'what is seen' naturally extends to both a physical reflection and a spiritual sight granted by God.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as the standard term for prophetic visions, the primary mode of God's revelation to the prophets. It underscores that true prophetic insight is not human imagination but a divine showing (as emphasized in Numbers 12:6). The dual meaning with 'mirror' invites reflection on the nature of revelation: just as a mirror shows a true but limited image, a divine vision reveals truth about God and His plans, yet not exhaustively. Understanding this enriches reading by connecting the tangible (the mirror) with the spiritual (the vision).
The 'mirrors' of Exodus 38:8 were made of polished bronze, not glass, and were valuable personal items. That women donated them for sacred use shows their integration into worship. Culturally, a 'vision' (marʼâh) was understood not as a dream or hallucination, but as a legitimate and authoritative divine message, often involving symbolic imagery requiring interpretation (Ezekiel 40-48).
חָזוֹן (ḥāzôn, H2377) — a broader term for prophecy or oracle, often a weighty revelation. חֶזְיוֹן (ḥezyôn, H2384) — another term for vision, closely related to חָזוֹן. מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758) — the masculine form, more general for 'appearance' or 'sight.'
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.
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