What does מֵעֶה (mēʿeh) mean in the Bible?
מֵעֶה (mēʿeh): Seat of visceral emotion and compassion; Hebrew localizes mercy and sympathy physically in the bowels rather than the mind.
Hebrew · H4578
מֵעֶה
מֵעֶה (mēʿeh): Seat of visceral emotion and compassion; Hebrew localizes mercy and sympathy physically in the bowels rather than the mind.
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מֵעֶהH4578
Pronunciationmēʿeh
What does מֵעֶה (mēʿeh) mean in the Bible?
Full entry for מֵעֶה (H4578) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4578?
The BSB source-word alignment has 32 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include my heart (4), within (3), . . . (2), My anguish (2), your stomach (2).
Where does מֵעֶה (mēʿeh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 15:4. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Chronicles (5), Isaiah (4), 2 Samuel (3), Jeremiah (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itmy heart4×Psalms 40:8, Song Of Solomon 5:4, Isaiah 16:11, Jeremiah 31:20
within3×Job 30:27, Lamentations 1:20, Lamentations 2:11
. . .2×Isaiah 48:19, Isaiah 63:15
My anguish2×Jeremiah 4:19
your stomach2×Numbers 5:22, Ezekiel 3:3
and spilled out his intestines1×2 Samuel 20:10
From inside1×Jonah 2:1
from the body1×Isaiah 49:1
from within you1×Genesis 25:23
from your own body1×2 Samuel 7:12
His body1×Song Of Solomon 5:14
his intestines1×2 Chronicles 21:19
in my womb1×Ruth 1:11
in the belly1×Jonah 1:17
me1×Psalms 22:14
my own flesh and blood1×2 Samuel 16:11
of the bowels1×2 Chronicles 21:18
of your bowels1×2 Chronicles 21:15
some of his own [sons]1×2 Chronicles 32:21
their stomachs with [wealth]1×Ezekiel 7:19
womb1×Psalms 71:6
yet in his stomach1×Job 20:14
your bowels1×2 Chronicles 21:15
your own body1×Genesis 15:4
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 15:4מִמֵּעֶ֔יךָtoyour own bodyPreposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularGenesis 25:23מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְtofrom within youPreposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singularNumbers 5:22בְּֽמֵעַ֔יִךְtoyour stomachPreposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singularRuth 1:11בְּֽמֵעַ֔יtoin my wombPreposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular2 Samuel 7:12מִמֵּעֶ֑יךָtofrom your own bodyPreposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular2 Samuel 16:11מִמֵּעַ֖יtomy own flesh and bloodPreposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular2 Samuel 20:10מֵעָ֥יוtoand spilled out his intestinesNoun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 21:15מֵעֶ֑יךָtoof your bowelsNoun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular2 Chronicles 21:15מֵעֶ֙יךָ֙toyour bowelsNoun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular2 Chronicles 21:18בְּמֵעָ֛יוtoof the bowelsPreposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 15:4
Aligned rows32
Books represented13
Genesis2Numbers1Ruth12 Samuel32 Chronicles5Job2Psalms3Song Of Solomon2Isaiah4Jeremiah3Lamentations2Ezekiel2Jonah2
Source forms
מֵעַ֣י2xmê·‘ayIsaiah 16:11, Lamentations 1:20
מֵעָֽי׃2xmê·‘āyPsalms 22:14, Psalms 40:8
מֵעָיו֙2xmê·‘āw2 Chronicles 21:19, Song Of Solomon 5:14
בְּֽמֵעַ֔י1xbə·mê·‘ayRuth 1:11
בִּמְעֵ֣י1xbim·‘êJonah 1:17
בְּמֵעָ֛יו1xbə·mê·‘āw2 Chronicles 21:18
בְּמֵעָ֣יו1xbə·mê·‘āwJob 20:14
בְּֽמֵעַ֔יִךְ1xbə·mê·‘a·yiḵNumbers 5:22
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular9xJob 30:27, Psalms 22:14, Psalms 40:8, Isaiah 16:11
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular4x2 Chronicles 21:15, Isaiah 48:19, Isaiah 63:15
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular4x2 Samuel 20:10, 2 Chronicles 21:19, 2 Chronicles 32:21, Song Of Solomon 5:14
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct3xPsalms 71:6, Isaiah 49:1, Jonah 2:1
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular2x2 Chronicles 21:18, Job 20:14
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular2xGenesis 15:4, 2 Samuel 7:12
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular1xSong Of Solomon 5:4
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular1xEzekiel 3:3
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Seat of visceral emotion and compassion; Hebrew localizes mercy and sympathy physically in the bowels rather than the mind.
Source Gloss
used only in plural the intestines , or (collectively) the abdomen , figuratively, sympathy ; by implication, a vest ; by extension the stomach , the uterus (or of men, the seat of generation), the heart (figuratively)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Seat of visceral emotion and compassion; Hebrew localizes mercy and sympathy physically in the bowels rather than the mind.
used only in plural the intestines, or (collectively) the abdomen, figuratively, sympathy; by implication, a vest; by extension the stomach, the uterus (or of men, the seat of generation), the heart (figuratively) BDB: internal organs Usage: belly, bowels, × heart, womb.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.