מֵעָה
the belly, i.e. (figuratively) interior
Definition
The Hebrew noun מֵעָה (mêʻâh) refers literally to the belly or internal organs, particularly the intestines. In its single biblical occurrence in Isaiah 48:19, it is used in a figurative sense to describe the 'interior' or 'inner parts' of the sea, specifically the sand or gravel found within it. This usage extends the word's core meaning of internal cavity to a geographical feature. The word is the feminine form of the more common מֵעֶה (mêʻeh, H4578), which appears frequently to denote the physical belly, womb, or inward parts of a person, often as the seat of emotions.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 48:19. Here, God promises Israel that their descendants would have been as numerous as the 'sand' or 'gravel' (KJV) of the sea. The term poetically describes the innermost contents of the sea—its bed or interior—using a bodily metaphor. This singular usage is figurative and contrasts with the more literal, physical applications of its masculine counterpart (מֵעֶה) found in many other books (e.g., Genesis 25:23, 2 Samuel 16:11, Job 20:14).
Etymology
מֵעָה (mêʻâh) is the feminine form of the noun מֵעֶה (mêʻeh, H4578), which derives from an unused root meaning 'to be soft.' The basic sense is of the soft internal parts of the body. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, with similar meanings related to the intestines or inward parts. The feminine form here likely serves a poetic or descriptive function for the specific context in Isaiah.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is rare, its usage in Isaiah 48:19 connects to the profound theological theme of God's covenant promises and blessing. The imagery of countless descendants, compared to the innermost 'gravel' of the sea, underscores the magnitude and certainty of God's faithfulness to His people when they are obedient. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the poetic depth of the promise—it's not just surface sand, but the very interior substance of the sea, emphasizing abundance beyond measure.
In ancient Israelite culture, the internal organs (often referred to by words like מֵעֶה/mêʻeh) were frequently seen as the seat of deep emotions, compassion, and distress. While מֵעָה's specific use is geographical, it draws on this cultural understanding of the 'inward parts' as a place of hidden depth and substance. The metaphor would resonate with an audience familiar with the sea as a mysterious and vast expanse.
מֵעֶה (mêʻeh, H4578) — The common masculine form, meaning 'belly, inward parts, womb,' used both literally and as the seat of emotion. בֶּטֶן (beṭen, H990) — 'Womb, belly, body'; often used for the physical abdomen or for the womb as the source of offspring. קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — 'Midst, inward part, heart'; more abstract, denoting the interior or center of something, including a group of people or a geographical area.
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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