Lexical Summary
mareh: Appearance, vision, sight, form
Original Word:מַרְאֶה
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:mar'eh
Pronunciation:mar-eh'
Phonetic Spelling:(mar-eh')
KJV: X apparently, appearance(-reth), X as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision
NASB:appearance, vision, appears, sight, face, form, like
Word Origin:[fromH7200 (רָאָה - see)]
1. a view (the act of seeing)
2. also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness
3. often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
apparently, appearance, beautifully, countenance, fair, favored, form, goodly,
Fromra'ah; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision -- X apparently, appearance(-reth), X as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision.
see HEBREWra'ah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
raahDefinitionsight, appearance, vision
NASB Translationappear (1), appearance (48), appears (7), desires (1), face (2), form (2), good-looking* (1), impressive (1), like (2), looked (2), looking (1), openly (1), pattern (1), saw* (1), see* (1), sight (5), something (2), vision (10), what...see (2), who looked (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
102Exodus 3:3 ; — absolute
Genesis 12:11 +; construct
Deuteronomy 28:34 +; suffix
Joel 2:4 +,
Leviticus 13:4 +; apparently plural construct
Ecclesiastes 11:9 (Kö
ii. 1, 112), suffix (probably in fact singular Ges
93ss)
Songs 2:14 (twice in verse),
Nahum 2:5 +, etc.; — Psalms
sight, phenomenon, spectacleExodus 3:3 (J).
appearanceGenesis 2:9 (J)desirable in appearance,Joshua 22:10;appearance of man (or woman),Judges 13:6 (twice in verse) (angel),Isaiah 52:14 (servant of ),Songs 5:15;Daniel 8:15;Daniel 10:18; = outward person (opposed to inner man)1 Samuel 16:7; visible formSongs 2:14 (twice in verse);Daniel 1:13 (twice in verse);Daniel 1:15;Numbers 12:8 (E; so read Di, for ), i.e. in personal presence ( < Ew PatHpt {abbrev});Joel 2:4; of crocodileJob 41:2;Exodus 24:17 (P),Leviticus 13:3,Numbers 9:15,16,Daniel 10:6 +; especially Ezekielappearance person or of thing (27 t., sometimes redundant),Daniel 1:5;Daniel 1:13;Daniel 1:26;Daniel 8:2;Daniel 10:1 +,Daniel 1:27 (twice in verse);Daniel 8:2 ("" ) of beautyfair of appearanceGenesis 39:6 (J; +), compare1 Samuel 17:42 (read [q. v.] for ); feminineGenesis 12:11 (J),Genesis 29:17 (E; +),2 Samuel 14:27; of kineGenesis 41:2,4 (E), opposed toGenesis 41:3;Genesis 41:4,Genesis 41:21(all E); of women alsoGenesis 24:16;Genesis 26:7 (both J),2 Samuel 11:2;Esther 1:11;Esther 2:3,7,Esther 2:2; of boysDaniel 1:4, compare alone in (of suffering servant of )Isaiah 53:2; 2Samuel 23:21 (but read as ""1 Chronicles 11:23 We Dr and others).
appearance, sight, visionNumbers 8:4 (P).
in Generalwhat is seen,Isaiah 11:3 i.e. what his outward eyes see (compare1 Samuel 16:7
b),Ezekiel 23:16,Deuteronomy 28:34,67,Leviticus 13:12 (P).
specificallya. (supernatural)vision (in Ezekiel, Daniel; often accusative of congnate meaning with verb with ):Ezekiel 8:4;Ezekiel 11:24;Ezekiel 43:3 (3 t. in verse), read alsoEzekiel 43:3 (for see I. above);Ezekiel 11:24;Daniel 8:16,27;Daniel 9:23;Daniel 10:1;Daniel 8:26.
sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late:Ecclesiastes 6:9,Ecclesiastes 11:9.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usageמַרְאֶה (mar’eh) spans roughly one-hundred Old Testament verses, gathering around two complementary ideas: what is outwardly seen (appearance, form, countenance) and what is inwardly revealed by God (vision, revelation). Context decides whether mar’eh concerns the eye of flesh or the eye of faith, yet in either sense it underlines that true perception depends on the Lord’s gracious disclosure.
Physical Appearance
1 Samuel 16:7 sets the keynote: “Man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” Here mar’eh exposes the limitations of human judgment and drives readers to seek God’s insight. The word colors many portraits:
• Personal beauty or stature: Rachel (Genesis 29:17), Saul (1 Samuel 9:2), Absalom (2 Samuel 14:25), Esther (Esther 2:7).
• Countenance altered by circumstances: Daniel’s friends grow fairer under a vegetable diet (Daniel 1:15); Nebuchadnezzar’s face changes toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:19).
• Moral or spiritual distress: Cain’s fallen countenance (Genesis 4:5–6) and the downcast faces of the exiles (Jeremiah 30:6).
These texts remind the church that God created physical beauty, yet He weighs character above cosmetics and can transform even the outward look by inner grace.
Prophetic Vision
In prophetic books mar’eh frequently means a God-given vision:
• Daniel’s apocalyptic scenes carry an explicit refrain: “I, Daniel, was watching the vision” (Daniel 8:15; 9:23; 10:7, 14).
• Zechariah receives night visions (Zechariah 4:2; 5:1).
• The word closes Daniel’s book: “Go your way, for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end” (Daniel 12:9), tying mar’eh to eschatological hope.
The term therefore links revelation to responsibility; every mar’eh demands obedience, intercession, or proclamation.
Theophany and Angelic Glory
Mar’eh frames encounters with divine glory:
• Sinai: “The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire” (Exodus 24:17).
• Ezekiel’s inaugural vision: “Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD” (Ezekiel 1:28).
• The man dressed in linen (Daniel 10:6) whose mar’eh anticipates Revelation’s description of the risen Christ.
These passages comfort worshippers with the assurance that God reveals Himself in splendor yet cloaks that splendor in forms His servants can bear.
Architectural and Cultic Imagery
Ezekiel applies mar’eh to the future temple pattern (Ezekiel 10:22; 40:3), underscoring that worship must mirror the heavenly blueprint. Likewise Moses was instructed to build the tabernacle according to the “pattern” he had seen (implicit mar’eh,Exodus 25:40). Ministry leaders learn to model all service on God’s revealed design rather than human invention.
Poetic Celebration of Beauty
Song of Songs elevates marital love using mar’eh:
• Bride’s praise: “Your appearance is beautiful, my darling” (Song of Songs 1:15).
• Bridegroom’s stature: “His appearance is like Lebanon” (Song of Songs 5:15).
The poetry upholds conjugal delight while hinting at Christ’s love for the church (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Judgment and Restoration
Isaiah foretells a Servant whose “appearance was marred beyond that of men” (Isaiah 52:14), a prophecy fulfilled in the suffering of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:26-30). Conversely, glorification awaits: “Your eyes will see the King in His beauty” (Isaiah 33:17), promising believers a consummate mar’eh when faith turns to sight.
Pastoral and Ministry Significance
• Discernment: Leaders must look past surface impressions (James 2:1-4) and value inner renewal (2 Corinthians 4:16).
• Vision casting: Genuine ministry arises from Scripture-anchored revelation, not private imagination (Habakkuk 2:2-3).
• Worship: Services should aim to display the glory of Christ so that worshippers, like Isaiah, behold the Lord and are sent (Isaiah 6:1-8).
• Hope: The church lives in anticipation of the Beatific Vision—“We shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2)—the ultimate mar’eh that satisfies every longing.
Key Theological Themes
1. Outer form versus inner reality: mar’eh exposes deception and affirms integrity.
2. Revelation initiates relationship: God makes Himself known through mar’eh so that His people may know, fear, and obey Him.
3. Eschatological fulfillment: present visions anticipate the final appearing of Jesus Christ.
Thus, from Genesis to Zechariah, מַרְאֶה weaves a unified testimony: God who created physical sight also grants spiritual sight, inviting His people to look beyond appearances and live by the vision of His glory.
Forms and Transliterations
בַּמַּרְאֶ֖ה בַּמַּרְאֶֽה׃ במראה במראה׃ הַמַּרְאֶ֖ה הַמַּרְאֶ֜ה הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה הַמַּרְאֶֽה׃ הַמַּרְאֶה֙ המראה המראה׃ וּבְמַרְאֵ֖י וּכְמַרְאֵ֨ה וּמִמַּרְאֵ֤ה וּמִמַּרְאֵ֥ה וּמַ֨רְאֵיהֶ֔ם וּמַרְא֕וֹת וּמַרְאֵ֕הוּ וּמַרְאֵ֣ה וּמַרְאֵ֤ה וּמַרְאֵ֥יךְ וּמַרְאֵ֨ה וּמַרְאֵה֙ וּמַרְאֵה־ וּמַרְאֵיהֶ֣ן וּמַרְאֵיהֶ֥ן וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙ וּמַרְאֶ֙הָ֙ וּמַרְאֶה֙ ובמראי וכמראה וממראה ומראה ומראה־ ומראהו ומראות ומראיהם ומראיהן ומראיך כְּמַרְאֵ֖ה כְּמַרְאֵ֛ה כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה כְּמַרְאֵ֤ה כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה כְּמַרְאֵה־ כַּמַּרְאֶ֕ה כַּמַּרְאֶ֗ה כַּמַּרְאֶ֤ה כַּמַּרְאֶֽה׃ כמראה כמראה־ כמראה׃ לְמַרְאֵ֣ה לְמַרְאֵ֤ה לְמַרְאֶ֖ה לְמַרְאֶֽה׃ למראה למראה׃ מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה מַרְאֵ֑הוּ מַרְאֵ֔ינוּ מַרְאֵ֖ה מַרְאֵ֗הוּ מַרְאֵ֙הוּ֙ מַרְאֵ֛הוּ מַרְאֵ֤ה מַרְאֵ֥ה מַרְאֵ֨ה מַרְאֵֽיהֶ֔ן מַרְאֵיהֶ֖ם מַרְאֵיהֶ֣ם מַרְאֵיהֶם֙ מַרְאֵיהֶן֙ מַרְאֶ֔ה מַרְאֶ֖ה מַרְאֶ֗ה מַרְאֶ֙הָ֙ מַרְאֶ֜ה מַרְאֶ֣הָ מַרְאֶֽה׃ מַרְאֶה֙ מַרְאַ֔יִךְ מַרְאָ֣יו ממראה מראה מראה׃ מראהו מראיהם מראיהן מראיו מראיך מראינו bam·mar·’eh bammar’eh bammarEh ham·mar·’eh hammar’eh hammarEh kam·mar·’eh kammar’eh kammarEh kə·mar·’êh kə·mar·’êh- kəmar’êh kəmar’êh- kemarEh lə·mar·’eh lə·mar·’êh ləmar’eh ləmar’êh lemarEh mar’āw mar’ayiḵ mar’eh mar’êh mar’ehā mar’êhem mar’êhen mar’êhū mar’ênū mar·’a·yiḵ mar·’āw mar·’e·hā mar·’ê·hem mar·’ê·hen mar·’ê·hū mar·’ê·nū mar·’eh mar·’êh marAv marAyich marEh marEha marEhu mareiHem mareiHen marEinu mim·mar·’êh mimarEh mimmar’êh ū·ḇə·mar·’ê ū·ḵə·mar·’êh ū·mar·’e·hā ū·mar·’ê·hem ū·mar·’ê·hen ū·mar·’ê·hū ū·mar·’eh ū·mar·’êh ū·mar·’êh- ū·mar·’êḵ ū·mar·’ō·wṯ ū·mim·mar·’êh ūḇəmar’ê uchemarEh ūḵəmar’êh ūmar’eh ūmar’êh ūmar’êh- ūmar’ehā ūmar’êhem ūmar’êhen ūmar’êhū ūmar’êḵ ūmar’ōwṯ umarEh umarEha umarEhu umarEich umareiHem umareiHen umarot umimarEh ūmimmar’êh uvemarEi
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
