Bible Word Study
מֵי זָהָב
Mêy Zâhâb · Me-Zahab, an Edomite
מֵי זָהָב
Me-Zahab, an Edomite
Definition
Me-Zahab is a proper noun referring to an Edomite, specifically the father of Matred and grandfather of Mehetabel, who was the wife of Hadar (also called Hadad), a king of Edom (Genesis 36:39, 1 Chronicles 1:50). The name is a compound Hebrew term meaning 'water of gold.' As a personal name, it does not carry multiple senses in the biblical text; its sole usage is to identify this individual within the genealogical records of the Edomite kings. No other meanings or applications are attested in Scripture.
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in two parallel genealogical passages listing the kings of Edom. It is used in Genesis 36:39 and 1 Chronicles 1:50 to identify Me-Zahab as an ancestor of a queen. The usage is strictly onomastic (pertaining to names) and genealogical, providing a link in the lineage of Edomite royalty without narrative context or further description.
Etymology
The name Me-Zahab is derived from the Hebrew words מַיִם (mayim, H4325), meaning 'water,' and זָהָב (zahab, H2091), meaning 'gold.' It is a straightforward compound noun, 'water of gold.' This could poetically refer to liquid gold or a golden liquid, possibly suggesting wealth, preciousness, or a desirable quality, which was a common practice in ancient Semitic name-giving.
Semantic Range
In ancient Near Eastern culture, names often carried significant meaning, describing character, destiny, or circumstances. A name like 'Water of Gold' likely conveyed notions of great value, prosperity, or blessing. As an Edomite name recorded in Israelite genealogies, it also reflects the biblical practice of documenting the lineages of neighboring peoples, situating Israel's history and relationships within the broader regional context.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]