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The Blue Letter Bible

Lexicon :: Strong's H4578 - mēʿê

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מֵעֶה
Transliteration
mēʿê
Pronunciation
may-aw'
Listen
Part of Speech
masculine noun
Root Word (Etymology)
From an unused root probably meaning to be soft
Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 1227a

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).

  1. 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)
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.
STRONGS H4578: Abbreviations
† [מֵעֶה] noun masculineIsaiah 16:11 only plural internal organs, inward parts (intestines, bowels), belly (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic H4577 מְעָא, מַעֲיָא, bdb058804, bdb058805; Arabic bdb058806; Ethiopic bdb058807; — on form compare LagBN 156 BaZMG 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.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.
All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com

BLB Scripture Index of Brown-Driver-Briggs

Genesis

15:4; 15:4; 25:23; 25:23

Numbers

5:22; 5:22

Ruth

1:11

2 Samuel

7:12; 16:11; 16:11; 20:10; 20:10

2 Chronicles

21:15; 21:15; 21:18; 21:19; 32:21

Job

20:14; 30:27

Psalms

22:15; 22:15; 40:9; 40:9; 71:6; 71:6

Song of Songs

5:4; 5:14

Isaiah

16:11; 16:11; 48:19; 49:1; 63:15

Jeremiah

4:19; 31:20

Lamentations

1:20; 2:11

Ezekiel

3:3; 7:19; 7:19

Jonah

2:1; 2:2

H4578

Read the Full Entry

Word / Phrase / Strong's Search

Strong's Number H4578 matches the Hebrew מֵעֶה (mēʿê),
which occurs 32 times in 30 verses in the WLC Hebrew.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Gen 15:4

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 15:4 - Then the LORD said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Gen 25:23

Unchecked Copy BoxGen 25:23 - And the LORD told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Num 5:22

Unchecked Copy BoxNum 5:22 - Now may this water that brings the curse enter your body and cause your abdomen to swell and your womb to shrivel.[fn]’ And the woman will be required to say, ‘Yes, let it be so.’

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Unchecked Copy Box Rth 1:11

Unchecked Copy BoxRth 1:11 - But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands?

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 7:12

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 7:12 - For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 16:11

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 16:11 - Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul[fn] have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to do it.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Sa 20:10

Unchecked Copy Box2Sa 20:10 - Amasa didn’t notice the dagger in his left hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it so that his insides gushed out onto the ground. Joab did not need to strike again, and Amasa soon died. Joab and his brother Abishai left him lying there and continued after Sheba.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 21:15

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 21:15 - You yourself will suffer with a severe intestinal disease that will get worse each day until your bowels come out.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 21:18

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 21:18 - After all this, the LORD struck Jehoram with the severe intestinal disease.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 21:19

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 21:19 - The disease grew worse and worse, and at the end of two years it caused his bowels to come out, and he died in agony. His people did not build a great funeral fire to honor him as they had done for his ancestors.

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Unchecked Copy Box 2Ch 32:21

Unchecked Copy Box2Ch 32:21 - And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword.

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Unchecked Copy Box Job 20:14

Unchecked Copy BoxJob 20:14 - But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour,
a poisonous venom in their stomach.

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Unchecked Copy Box Job 30:27

Unchecked Copy BoxJob 30:27 - My heart is troubled and restless.
Days of suffering torment me.

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Unchecked Copy Box Psa 22:14

Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 22:14 - My life is poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
melting within me.

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Unchecked Copy Box Psa 40:8

Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 40:8 - I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Psa 71:6

Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 71:6 - Yes, you have been with me from birth;
from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you!

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Unchecked Copy Box Sng 5:4

Unchecked Copy BoxSng 5:4 - My lover tried to unlatch the door,
and my heart thrilled within me.

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Unchecked Copy Box Sng 5:14

Unchecked Copy BoxSng 5:14 - His arms are like rounded bars of gold,
set with beryl.
His body is like bright ivory,
glowing with lapis lazuli.

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Unchecked Copy Box Isa 16:11

Unchecked Copy BoxIsa 16:11 - My heart’s cry for Moab is like a lament on a harp.
I am filled with anguish for Kir-hareseth.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box Isa 48:19

Unchecked Copy BoxIsa 48:19 - Your descendants would have been like the sands along the seashore—
too many to count!
There would have been no need for your destruction,
or for cutting off your family name.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Isa 49:1

Unchecked Copy BoxIsa 49:1 - Listen to me, all you in distant lands!
Pay attention, you who are far away!
The LORD called me before my birth;
from within the womb he called me by name.

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Unchecked Copy Box Isa 63:15

Unchecked Copy BoxIsa 63:15 - LORD, look down from heaven;
look from your holy, glorious home, and see us.
Where is the passion and the might
you used to show on our behalf?
Where are your mercy and compassion now?

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Unchecked Copy Box Jer 4:19

Unchecked Copy BoxJer 4:19 - My heart, my heart—I writhe in pain!
My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still.
For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets
and the roar of their battle cries.

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Unchecked Copy Box Jer 31:20

Unchecked Copy BoxJer 31:20 - “Is not Israel still my son,
my darling child?” says the LORD.
“I often have to punish him,
but I still love him.
That’s why I long for him
and surely will have mercy on him.

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Unchecked Copy Box Lam 1:20

Unchecked Copy BoxLam 1:20 - “LORD, see my anguish!
My heart is broken
and my soul despairs,
for I have rebelled against you.
In the streets the sword kills,
and at home there is only death.

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Unchecked Copy Box Lam 2:11

Unchecked Copy BoxLam 2:11 - I have cried until the tears no longer come;
my heart is broken.
My spirit is poured out in agony
as I see the desperate plight of my people.
Little children and tiny babies
are fainting and dying in the streets.

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Unchecked Copy Box Eze 3:3

Unchecked Copy BoxEze 3:3 - “Fill your stomach with this,” he said. And when I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

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Unchecked Copy Box Eze 7:19

Unchecked Copy BoxEze 7:19 - “They will throw their money in the streets,
tossing it out like worthless trash.
Their silver and gold won’t save them
on that day of the LORD’s anger.
It will neither satisfy nor feed them,
for their greed can only trip them up.

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Unchecked Copy Box Jon 1:17

Unchecked Copy BoxJon 1:17 - [fn]Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.

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Unchecked Copy Box Jon 2:1

Unchecked Copy BoxJon 2:1 - [fn]Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish.
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