Lexical Summary
meraashoth: Heads, tops, summits
Original Word:מְרַאֲשָׁה
Part of Speech:Noun
Transliteration:mra'ashah
Pronunciation:meh-rah-ash-OTH
Phonetic Spelling:(mer-ah-ash-aw')
KJV: bolster, head, pillow
NASB:head
Word Origin:[formed likeH4761 (מַראָשָׁה - Possession)]
1. (properly) a headpiece, i.e. (plural for adverbial) at (or as) the head-rest (or pillow)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bolster, head, pillow
Formed likemar'ashah; properly, a headpiece, i.e. (plural for adverbial) at (or as) the head-rest (or pillow) -- bolster, head, pillow. Comparemarglah.
see HEBREWmar'ashah
see HEBREWmarglah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
roshDefinitiona place at the head, head place
NASB Translationhead (10).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
1 Samuel 26:12 see below
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scopeמְרַאֲשָׁה designates the area immediately beside or beneath a person’s head while reclining. Across its eight Old Testament occurrences the term anchors scenes of sleep, vulnerability, and divine intervention.
Occurrences in Scripture
Genesis 28:11, 18 – Jacob rests on a stone “under his head,” awakes to rename the place Bethel, and consecrates the same stone as a pillar, marking a turning-point from fugitive to heir of the covenant.
1 Samuel 19:13, 16 – Michal substitutes a household idol with “goat hair on its head” to deceive Saul’s messengers, illustrating both David’s peril and the futility of idolatry against the Lord’s plan.
1 Samuel 26:7, 11, 16 – Three times the word frames Saul’s spear and water jug “by his head,” emphasizing his exposed condition while David refuses to harm the Lord’s anointed, reinforcing the sanctity of divine appointment.
1 Kings 19:6 – The exhausted Elijah awakes to find bread and water “by his head,” a tangible pledge that God sustains His servants even in despair.
Historical and Cultural Background
Ancient Near-Eastern sleepers commonly elevated the head with a stone, block of wood, folded cloak, or animal skin; weapons or supplies were kept within arm’s reach for protection. The head’s position symbolized not only personal safety but also honor and authority. Thus whatever lay at the head—the stone, spear, or sustenance—carried narrative weight.
Narrative Significance
1. Encounter and Covenant (Genesis 28)
“He took one of the stones from that place, put it under his head, and lay down” (Genesis 28:11). The humble pillow becomes a memorial of revelation. God meets Jacob where he lies helpless, promising land, lineage, and lasting presence.
2. Deception and Deliverance (1 Samuel 19)
Michal’s ruse employs a head-prop to feign David’s body, highlighting both Saul’s relentless hostility and the providential escape of the future king. The episode warns against trusting in images yet showcases God’s use of unlikely means to preserve His servant.
3. Restraint and Reverence (1 Samuel 26)
David stands over the sleeping Saul: “Take now the spear and water jug that are by his head” (1 Samuel 26:11). The stolen items prove David’s access, Saul’s vulnerability, and David’s fear of God. The scene underscores the principle that righteous ends must be pursued by righteous means.
4. Restoration and Mission (1 Kings 19)
Elijah, collapsing beneath the broom tree, finds “a cake baked over hot stones and a jar of water” at his head (1 Kings 19:6). Physical replenishment precedes renewed prophetic commission, evidencing the Lord’s holistic care.
Theological Themes
• Divine Presence in Human Weakness – Jacob’s stone, Saul’s spear, and Elijah’s bread each appear when the protagonist is asleep or exhausted. God’s sovereignty operates when human effort ceases.
• Headship and Authority – What lies at the head—stone, idol, weapon, or provision—signals differing allegiances: covenant remembrance, idolatrous subterfuge, royal insignia, or heavenly supply.
• Sanctity of the Anointed – David’s refusal to exploit Saul’s helpless state exemplifies reverence for God-ordained offices, anticipating New Testament ethics of honoring governing authorities.
Ministry Applications
• Encourage believers to recognize that moments of deepest vulnerability may prove to be settings for divine revelation and guidance.
• Illustrate the danger of substituting lifeless idols for the living God; no clever disguise thwarts His purposes.
• Model godly restraint; power must submit to the fear of the Lord, even when opportunity seems to justify expedience.
• Affirm God’s concern for bodily needs; spiritual restoration often begins with simple acts of rest and nourishment.
Key Quotations
“Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and set it up as a pillar; he poured oil on top of it.” (Genesis 28:18)
“That night David and Abishai came to the troop, and Saul was lying there asleep in the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head.” (1 Samuel 26:7)
“And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake baked over hot stones, and a jar of water.” (1 Kings 19:6)
Conclusion
מְרַאֲשָׁה threads through Scripture as a quiet witness to God’s watchful care, whether guiding a patriarch, rescuing a fugitive, testing a would-be king, or reviving a weary prophet. Wherever God’s servants lay their heads, His purposes stand secure.
Forms and Transliterations
מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֔יו מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛יו מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃ מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛יו מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃ מראשתיו מראשתיו׃ mə·ra·’ă·šō·ṯāw məra’ăšōṯāw meraashoTav
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
