Lexicon :: Strong's H4578 - mēʿê

מֵעֶה

Transliteration

mēʿê

Pronunciation

may-aw'

Part of Speech

masculine noun

Root Word (Etymology)

From an unused root probably meaning to be soft

Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 1227a

Strong's Info

Strong’s Definitions

מֵעֶה mêʻeh, may-aw'; from an unused root probably meaning to be soft; 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):—belly, bowels, × heart, womb.

KJV Translation Count — Total: 32x

The KJV translates Strong's H4578 in the following manner: bowels (27x), belly (3x), heart (1x), womb (1x).

KJV Translation Count — Total: 32x

The KJV translates Strong's H4578 in the following manner: bowels (27x), belly (3x), heart (1x), womb (1x).

Outline of Biblical Usage [?]

internal organs, inward parts, bowels, intestines, belly
1. inward parts
2. digestive organs
3. organs of procreation, womb
4. place of emotions or distress or love (fig.)
5. external belly

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)

Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon [?] (Jump to Scripture Index)

STRONGS H4578: Abbreviations

† [מֵעֶה] noun masculine^{Isaiah 16:11} only plural internal organs, inward parts (intestines, bowels), belly (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic H4577 מְעָא, מַעֲיָא, , ; Arabic ; Ethiopic ; — on form compare Lag^{BN 156} Ba^{ZMG xiii. 1888, 345}); — plural [מֵעִים] construct מְעֵי Psalm 71:6 + 3 times; suffix מֵעַי 2 Samuel 16:11 + 9 times, מֵעָ֑י Psalm 22:15; Psalm 40:9; מֵעֶיךָ Genesis 15:4 + 6 times; מֵעַיִךְ Genesis 25:23; Numbers 5:22; מֵעָיו 2 Samuel 20:10 + 5 times; מֵעֵיהֶם Ezekiel 7:19; —

1. literally:

a. אַ֫רְצָה מֵעָיו וַיִּשְׁפֹּךְ 2 Samuel 20:10 and he poured out his inward parts on the ground (through a wound); compare מ׳ מַחֲלֵה 2 Chronicles 21:15, 18, מ׳ יָֽצְאוּ 2 Chronicles 21:15; 2 Chronicles 21:19.

b. as digestive organs, but without precision, nearly = stomach, belly, Job 20:14; Ezekiel 3:3 (|| בֶּטֶן), Ezekiel 7:19 (|| נֶפֶשׁ; both with מָלֵא), Numbers 5:22; so of fish that swallowed Jonah Jonah 2:1; Jonah 2:2.

2. source of procreation: אשׁר יצא מִמּ׳ (said of offspring) Genesis 15:4 (JE), 2 Samuel 7:12 (|| זַרְעֲךָ), 2 Samuel 16:11; צֶאֱצָאֵי מ׳ Isaiah 48:19 (|| id.); מִיצִיאֵי מ׳ 2 Chronicles 32:21.

3. = womb, יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ מִמֵּעַיִח לְאֻמִּים שְׁנֵי Genesis 25:23 (J; || בֶּטֶן), compare Isaiah 49:1 (|| id.), Psalm 71:6 (|| id.), Ruth 1:11.

4. in general = inwards, inward part, לִבִּי ֗֗֗ נָמֵס בְּתוֺךְ מ׳ Psalm 22:15, compare תּוֺרָֽתְךָ בְּתוֺךְ מ׳ Psalm 40:9.

5. figurative = seat of emotions: pity, Isaiah 16:11 (|| קֶרֶב); of God's compassion, Jeremiah 31:20 (|| רחם; in both subject of verb הָמוּ); הֲמוֺן מֵעֶיךָ Isaiah 63:15 (|| רַחֲמֶיךָ); distress, Jeremiah 4:19 (twice in verse) (|| לֵב, מֵעַי חֳמַרְמָרוּ Lamentations 1:20 (|| לֵב), Lamentations 2:11 (|| כָּבֵד liver); מֵעַי רֻתְּחוּ Job 30:27 (dubious, see Bu); love, מֵעַי הָמוּ עָלָיו Songs 5:4.

6. the external belly, מֵעָיו עֶשֶׁת שֵׁן Songs 5:14.

See related Aramaic BDB entry H4577.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
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