What is the letter Mem in the Hebrew alphabet?

Mem is the 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, transliterated as the letter 'm'. In ancient times, it also served as the numeral for the number 40, similar to how Roman numerals work.

Where is the letter Mem mentioned in the Bible?

Mem is not directly mentioned by name in most Bible translations, but it is a key part of the Hebrew text. It appears as the opening letter of significant words like 'Melech' (King) and 'Mashiach' (Messiah). It is structurally important in acrostic passages like Psalm 119, where verses 97-104 each begin with Mem (Psalm 119:97-104).

Why is the letter Mem significant in biblical studies?

Mem is significant because its numeric value of 40 connects it to periods of testing or preparation in the Bible, such as the 40 days of the flood (Genesis 7:17) or Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). Its form, which has an open and a closed version, is also symbolically interpreted by Jewish scholars to represent revealed and hidden wisdom.

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Mem

Mem mam, mem "m" : The 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "m". It came also to be used for the number 40. See ALPHABET, for name, etc.

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