מָרוּד

an outcast; (abstractly) destitution

Definition

The Hebrew noun מָרוּד (mârûwd) primarily refers to a state of being cast out or rejected, often describing a person who is an outcast from society. In an abstract sense, it conveys the misery, destitution, and homelessness that result from such rejection. In Isaiah 58:7, it describes the 'homeless poor' or 'cast out' whom God's people are to care for. In Lamentations, it emphasizes the resulting condition of misery and affliction, as seen in Lamentations 1:7 and 3:19, where Jerusalem and the poet remember their 'affliction' and 'misery.'

Biblical Usage

This word is used only three times in the Old Testament, all in poetic or prophetic literature. It appears in Isaiah 58:7 in the context of social justice, referring to the physically homeless and destitute. In Lamentations 1:7 and 3:19, it is used in laments over Jerusalem's destruction, describing the profound misery and affliction experienced by the city and its people. The usage consistently ties physical displacement to deep emotional and spiritual suffering.

Etymology

מָרוּד derives from the root רוּד (rûd, H7300), which means to wander restlessly, roam, or be fugitive. The noun form developed the sense of 'maltreatment' or the state resulting from being driven out. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the idea of roaming or being unsettled, which evolved into the Hebrew concept of a rejected, destitute outcast.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights God's concern for the most marginalized members of society. In Isaiah 58:7, caring for the 'מָרוּד' is central to true fasting and righteousness, linking social justice to worship. In Lamentations, it captures the severe consequences of covenant disobedience, portraying the depth of suffering that results from alienation from God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by emphasizing that biblical 'misery' is often not just an internal feeling but a concrete state of social and physical rejection, underscoring God's call to compassion and the serious reality of judgment.

In ancient Israelite culture, being an outcast (מָרוּד) meant a complete loss of social standing, family protection, and economic support. Such individuals were utterly vulnerable, often reduced to begging or slavery. This condition was seen as one of the worst possible fates, far more severe than simple poverty, as it meant being severed from the community covenant. Modern concepts of homelessness or social exclusion provide a partial parallel, but the ancient context carried heavier religious and tribal implications of being cut off from God's people.

עָנִי (ʿānî, H6041) — poor, afflicted; focuses more on economic poverty or lowliness. דַּל (dal, H1800) — weak, poor, thin; emphasizes lack of resources or physical feebleness. אֶבְיוֹן (ʾebyôn, H34) — needy, destitute; stresses need and desire for help. תֹּהוּ (tōhû, H8414) — formlessness, desolation; describes a chaotic, empty state, often of land, rather than a personal condition.

Word Details

Scripture References