Hebrew word · H4775

מָרַד

marad

to rebel

To rebel or revolt, used above all of political revolt: a subject ruler breaking his sworn loyalty to an overlord. It is also used of revolt against God (Numbers 14:9; Joshua 22:16–19; Ezekiel 2:3).

Appears 25 times in 23 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to rebel, revolt, be rebellious

1a) (Qal) to rebel, revolt

1a1) against human king

1a2) against God

1a3) against light (poetic)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Daniel 9:5

Range of meaning

To rebel or revolt, used above all of political revolt: a subject ruler breaking his sworn loyalty to an overlord. Examples are Hezekiah rebelling against the king of Assyria (2 Kings 18:7), Jehoiakim and Zedekiah against Babylon (2 Kings 24:1, 20), and the eastern kings against Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:4). It is also used of revolt against God (Numbers 14:9; Joshua 22:16–19; Ezekiel 2:3).

Against the English

All versions have "rebelled," which is accurate. But modern "rebel" suggests teenage defiance or a nonconformist attitude. The Hebrew describes a vassal breaking a treaty, an act of high treason with consequences fixed in the treaty itself.

How it drifted

In modern English "rebellion" has become mostly a matter of personal attitude. Ancient readers knew it as a specific political act inside an overlord–vassal treaty, which was the very model the covenant itself followed.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint and Theodotion's Greek version render it apestēmen, from aphistēmi, "to stand away, revolt." That is the root of the Greek word apostasia, which was itself a political term for desertion or revolt before it became religious vocabulary. Daniel's original audience had lived through a real mārad: Zedekiah's revolt against Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:20) brought on the destruction of 586 BCE.

From the study of Ezekiel 17:15

Range of meaning

To rebel or revolt: refusing an authority one is formally bound to. It is used of vassals revolting against overlords (Gen 14:4; 2 Kgs 18:7, 20; 24:1, 20) and of Israel rebelling against YHWH (Num 14:9; Josh 22:16–19; Ezek 2:3; 20:38).

Against the English

'Rebelled' is accurate. English readers may hear a heroic uprising against tyranny. In Hebrew political language it means breaking a sworn obligation of loyalty, closer to treason or breach of allegiance.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Kgs 24:20 and Jer 52:3 use this exact verb for this exact act: 'Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.' Ezekiel uses the same root of Israel against God at his commission: 'a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me' (2:3). Neo-Assyrian and Babylonian treaty texts likewise treat revolt as breach of oath, punishable by the gods.

From the study of Genesis 14:4

Range of meaning

To rebel or revolt, especially against someone with lawful authority over you: a vassal against an overlord (2 Kgs 18:7, 20; 24:1, 20), or Israel against God (Num 14:9; Josh 22:16–19; Dan 9:5, 9). The related noun mered means 'rebellion' (Josh 22:22). In biblical Aramaic, Jerusalem is called 'the rebellious city' (qiryᵉtāʾ mārādtāʾ, Ezra 4:12, 15) because of its past revolts against empires.

Against the English

'Rebelled' is accurate in every major translation. The only nuance to recover is that it means breaking a sworn political agreement, not just general defiance or youthful rebelliousness.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used throughout the books of Kings for vassal revolts against Assyria and Babylon. In Ezra 4 the Aramaic form describes the same thing from the empire's side. Assyrian annals describe the same event in their own language: the vassal 'withheld tribute' or 'broke the oath', and a punitive campaign followed.

Where it appears

Genesis · 1

  1. Genesis 14:4 מָרָֽדוּ׃ they rebelled

    For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

    Here: 'They rebelled.' This is the technical word for a subject king throwing off his overlord: stopping tribute and breaking the sworn loyalty. It is the last word of the verse, and it sets off the punitive campaign that follows.

Numbers · 1

  1. Numbers 14:9 תִּמְרֹדוּ֒ you rebel

    Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!”

    Here: The word for a subject people breaking with its overlord. Refusing to march, and proposing to choose a new leader and go back to Egypt (14:4), is treated as political revolt against Israel's divine king.

Joshua · 5

  1. Joshua 22:16 לִמְרָדְכֶ֥ם by rebelling your

    “This is what the whole congregation of the LORD says: ‘What is this breach of faith you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from the LORD and building for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel against the LORD this day?

  2. Joshua 22:18 תִּמְרְד֤וּ you are rebelling

    And now, would you turn away from the LORD? If you rebel today against the LORD, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.

  3. Joshua 22:19 תִּמְרֹ֗דוּ תִּמְרֹ֔דוּ you rebel, may you rebel

    If indeed the land of your inheritance is unclean, then cross over to the land of the LORD’s possession, where the LORD’s tabernacle stands, and take possession of it among us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God.

  4. Joshua 22:29 לִמְרֹ֣ד to rebel

    Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away from Him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God, which stands before His tabernacle.”

    Here: 'To revolt': the word for a subject king breaking with his overlord. They reject the exact charge the western delegation brought against them (vv. 16, 18–19).

2 Kings · 4

  1. 2 Kings 18:7 וַיִּמְרֹ֥ד and he rebelled

    And the LORD was with Hezekiah, and he prospered wherever he went. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him.

    Here: 'And he revolted', meaning he broke off his allegiance to an overlord. In politics this means breaking a sworn vassal treaty, the agreement by which a smaller king served a greater one.

  2. 2 Kings 18:20 מָרַ֖דְתָּ you have rebelled

    You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?

  3. 2 Kings 24:1 וַיִּמְרָד־ and he rebelled

    During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded. So Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, until he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.

    Here: "And he rebelled." This is the technical word for a vassal breaking his oath, usually by stopping tribute and looking to a rival power, in this case Egypt. The same verb is used of Hezekiah against Assyria (18:7) and of Zedekiah against Babylon (24:20).

  4. 2 Kings 24:20 וַיִּמְרֹ֥ד and he rebelled

    For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.

2 Chronicles · 2

  1. 2 Chronicles 13:6 וַיִּמְרֹ֖ד and he rebelled

    Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master.

  2. 2 Chronicles 36:13 מָרָ֔ד he rebelled

    He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.

    Here: The standard word for a subject king breaking away from his overlord. Here it means Zedekiah withdrew the loyalty he had promised under a treaty.

Nehemiah · 3

  1. Nehemiah 2:19 מֹרְדִֽים׃ rebelling

    But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

    Here: Political revolt against an overlord. The participle presents it as happening now ('are you rebelling'), not as a future possibility. Among the Persians it was a charge that could bring armies down on a province.

  2. Nehemiah 6:6 לִמְר֔וֹד to rebel

    that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king,

  3. Nehemiah 9:26 וַֽיִּמְרְד֜וּ and they rebelled

    But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.

    Here: "And they revolted." Marad is the word for a subject people throwing off its overlord. Paired with marah, it turns personal stubbornness into open revolt against the God who was their king.

Job · 1

  1. Job 24:13 בְּֽמֹרְדֵ֫י־ among [those who] rebel against

    Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths.

    Here: 'Among (or: as) rebels of.' The participle names people whose identity is revolt. The verb is the word for a subject state breaking away from its overlord, so light is pictured as a ruler whose authority they throw off. The prefix be- can mean 'among' or can mark identity ('they are rebels').

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 36:5 מָרַ֖דְתָּ you have rebelled

    You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?

Jeremiah · 1

  1. Jeremiah 52:3 וַיִּמְרֹ֥ד and he rebelled

    For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Ezekiel · 4

  1. Ezekiel 2:3 הַמּוֹרְדִ֖ים מָרְדוּ־ <the> rebellious, they have rebelled

    “Son of man,” He said to me, “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me. To this very day they and their fathers have rebelled against Me.

    Here: A participle with 'the', so 'the ones in revolt'. It describes what they are by character, not one lapse. Marad is the word for a vassal throwing off an overlord.

  2. Ezekiel 17:15 וַיִּמְרָד־ and he rebelled

    But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’

    Here: The usual Hebrew word for a vassal king throwing off his overlord (2 Kgs 18:7; 24:1, 20). The verb form moves the story on: after all the king of Babylon did for him (vv. 13–14), *then* he rebelled.

  3. Ezekiel 20:38 הַמֹּרְדִ֤ים those [who] rebel

    And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

    Here: A participle (a verb used as a noun, 'the revolters'), describing an ongoing stance and not a single act. Marad is the word for a vassal throwing off an overlord. The exiles had heard it used of Zedekiah's revolt against Babylon (Ezek 17:15).

Daniel · 2

  1. Daniel 9:5 וּמָרָ֑דְנוּ and we have rebelled

    we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.

    Here: "And we have revolted." This is political language, used for a subject king throwing off his overlord. Here it describes Israel breaking its covenant loyalty to God as its sovereign. The main Hebrew pause in the verse (the atnach) falls here, so the four confessions form one complete half of the verse.

  2. Daniel 9:9 מָרַ֖דְנוּ we have rebelled

    To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him

    Here: This is the political word for a subject people revolting against its overlord. It is a completed act: we broke faith with our sovereign. The 'we' takes on the whole nation's guilt, Daniel's included.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.