מְרִיבָה
Meribah, the name of two places in the Desert
Definition
Meribah is a proper noun meaning 'strife' or 'contention,' used as the name for two distinct locations in the wilderness wanderings of Israel. The first, also called Massah, is where the Israelites quarreled with Moses over water at Rephidim, testing the Lord (Exodus 17:7). The second, sometimes called Meribah-Kadesh, is where Moses struck the rock at Kadesh instead of speaking to it, an act of disobedience that barred him from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:13, 24; 27:14). These two events, though sharing the same name, represent different instances of Israel's rebellion and God's provision.
Biblical Usage
Meribah is used exclusively in narrative and poetic contexts that recall Israel's wilderness failures. It appears in the historical books of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, and is referenced poetically in the Psalms (Psalm 81:7). Its usage consistently serves as a negative memorial, a place-name that evokes the theme of Israel testing God through complaint and strife. In Deuteronomy 33:8, it is mentioned in Moses's blessing of Levi, alluding to the tribe's loyalty at Massah/Meribah.
Etymology
Meribah (מְרִיבָה) is derived from the root רִיב (rîyb, H7378), meaning 'to strive, contend, or conduct a legal dispute.' It is the same as the common noun מְרִיבָה (mᵉrîybâh, H4808), meaning 'strife, contention.' As a place-name, it functions as a 'noun of location,' meaning 'place of strife' or 'place of contention,' directly describing the events that occurred there.
Semantic Range
Meribah is theologically significant as a landmark of Israel's faithlessness and God's holiness. It illustrates the serious consequences of testing God (Psalm 95:8-9) and the importance of trusting His provision. The events at Meribah, especially the second, highlight the gravity of leadership disobedience, as seen in Moses's punishment. For the biblical writers, Meribah became a powerful symbol and warning against rebellion, reminding readers that God provides but also judges sin.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, naming a location after a significant event was a common practice to create a lasting memorial. The name 'Meribah' served as a perpetual, on-the-ground reminder to future generations of Israel's failure and God's response. It transformed a geographical site into a theological lesson, a practice deeply embedded in Israel's storytelling and identity formation.
Massah (Massâh, H4532) — The name given alongside Meribah in Exodus 17:7, meaning 'testing,' focusing on the act of putting God to the test rather than the quarrel itself.
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 →