מִרְעִית
pasturage; concretely, a flock
Definition
The noun מִרְעִית (mirʻîyth) primarily refers to 'pasturage' or 'pastureland,' denoting the land where flocks graze (e.g., Isaiah 49:9). In a concrete, transferred sense, it also means 'flock' itself—the community of sheep being pastured. This dual meaning is seen in passages like Psalm 74:1, where God's people are metaphorically called 'the sheep of your pasture,' blending the ideas of the caring place and the cared-for community. In Jeremiah 23:1, it clearly refers to the 'flock' that shepherds (leaders) are responsible for tending.
Biblical Usage
מִרְעִית appears 10 times, predominantly in the Psalms and Jeremiah. It is used in poetic and prophetic contexts, often in metaphors depicting God's relationship with Israel. In the Psalms (74:1, 79:13, 95:7, 100:3), it consistently portrays Israel as God's flock under His shepherding care. In Jeremiah (10:21, 23:1, 25:36) and Isaiah 49:9, it is used in oracles of judgment or restoration concerning the leadership and fate of the people.
Etymology
Derived from the root רָעָה (rāʻâ, H7462), meaning 'to pasture, tend, graze.' מִרְעִית is a feminine noun formed from this root, concretizing the concept of the act or place of pasturing. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to feeding and shepherding.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as a key component in the pervasive biblical metaphor of God as Shepherd and His people as His flock. Understanding מִרְעִית enriches reading by highlighting the dual aspect of God's provision: He provides both the safe place (pasturage) and gathers the community (flock). It underscores themes of God's guidance, provision, and covenantal care, as well as the responsibility of human leaders as undershepherds (Jeremiah 23:1).
In an agrarian and pastoral society, the health of the flock depended entirely on finding adequate pasturage. The word evokes the essential needs of safety, sustenance, and rest for sheep, which were central to the economy and daily life. The seamless shift between 'pasture' and 'flock' reflects this intimate, dependent relationship understood by the original audience.
עֵדֶר (ʻēder, H5739) — a common term for a flock or herd, more general. צֹאן (ṣōʼn, H6629) — the generic word for small cattle (sheep and goats). מִרְעֶה (mirʻeh, H4829) — a very close synonym meaning 'pasture,' often interchangeable.
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 →