Lexical Summary
Meribah: Meribah
Original Word:מְרִיבָה
Part of Speech:Proper Name Location
Transliteration:Mriybah
Pronunciation:meh-ree-BAH
Phonetic Spelling:(mer-ee-baw')
KJV: Meribah
NASB:Meribah
Word Origin:[the same asH4808 (מְרִיבָּה - strife)]
1. Meribah, the name of two places in the Desert
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Meribah
The same asmriybah; Meribah, the name of two places in the Desert -- Meribah.
see HEBREWmriybah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
ribDefinition"place of strife," two places in the desert
NASB TranslationMeribah (8), Meribah-kadesh* (1), Meribath-kadesh* (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. (
place of strife); —
,Exodus 17:7 (J), .
water of M. ( )Deuteronomy 33:8;Numbers 20:13 (P)Psalm 81:8;Psalm 106:32, also (L as above)Numbers 20:24 (P); construct in ( )Numbers 27:14;Deuteronomy 32:51 (both P), and (Ezekiel 48:28; soEzekiel 47:19 ( );Deuteronomy 33:2 see near the end; along, onlyPsalm 95:8 (; "" ).
Topical Lexicon
Geographical and Narrative SettingTwo distinct locales bear the name Meribah. The first lies at Rephidim in the wilderness of Sinai (Exodus 17:7); the second stands at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin (Numbers 20:13). In both places the nation’s thirst led to strife, Moses interceded, a rock was struck, and water miraculously flowed—yet the spiritual outcomes differed sharply.
Meribah at Rephidim: The Testing of Faith
Newly redeemed Israel, barely removed from Egypt, questioned the LORD’s presence. “He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or not?’” (Exodus 17:7). Here the LORD answered their complaint with mercy, foreshadowing His patience toward a covenant people still learning to trust.
Meribah at Kadesh: The Violation of Holiness
Decades later the congregation repeated the same crisis. Moses, provoked by their grumbling, struck the rock twice rather than speaking to it as commanded. “These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them” (Numbers 20:13). The incident cost Moses and Aaron entrance to Canaan (Numbers 20:24;Numbers 27:14), reminding leaders and people alike that previous grace never licenses current disobedience.
Theological Themes
1. Divine Provision: Both scenes affirm Yahweh as the sole source of life-sustaining water in a barren land, typifying His sufficiency for every need.
2. Holiness and Obedience: Kadesh highlights that spiritual leadership is judged more strictly; intimacy with God does not exempt one from obeying His explicit word.
3. Testing and Memory: Meribah becomes a theological shorthand for Israel’s chronic unbelief (Deuteronomy 33:8;Psalm 81:7). The name calls every generation to remember the danger of hardening the heart when God’s voice is heard (cf.Hebrews 3:7-19).
Psalmic Reflection
“You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah” (Psalm 81:7). The psalmist turns history into exhortation, showing that the same God who provides also proves His people, urging present-day listeners to heed His voice now.
Priestly and Tribal Significance
In the blessing of Moses, Levi’s faithfulness is linked to Meribah: “You tested him at Massah and contended with him at the waters of Meribah” (Deuteronomy 33:8). The Levites’ later zeal in guarding covenant purity stands in contrast to the nation’s earlier complaints, demonstrating that testing can refine servants for future ministry.
Ministry Application
• Leaders must guard their spirits; public frustration can turn a moment of God-honoring witness into personal failure.
• Congregations should recognize legitimate needs without challenging God’s presence or goodness.
• Remembering past acts of divine provision strengthens present faith; forgetting them fuels rebellion.
Typological Foreshadowing
The Apostle Paul alludes to the wilderness rock as a type of Christ, “and that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). Struck once for salvation, He now invites His people to speak in faith for continuing refreshment. Meribah therefore points beyond itself to the gospel fountain that never runs dry.
Enduring Legacy
Meribah stands as a dual monument: mercy at Rephidim, judgment at Kadesh. Together they proclaim a balanced portrait of the LORD—gracious provider and uncompromisingly holy. Every generation, Israelite or Gentile, is summoned to drink deeply from His provision while walking humbly in obedient faith.
Forms and Transliterations
וּמְרִיבָ֑ה ומריבה מְרִיבַ֥ת מְרִיבָ֔ה מְרִיבָ֣ה מְרִיבָֽה׃ מריבה מריבה׃ מריבת mə·rî·ḇāh mə·rî·ḇaṯ mərîḇāh mərîḇaṯ meriVah meriVat ū·mə·rî·ḇāh ūmərîḇāh umeriVah
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