Does the name Mary come from the Hebrew word Marah?

[Mean Mountain Robot]

Matthew 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

This sounds like he had in his mind that she had strayed from their relationship.
When this happened the Law had the law of jealousies...Numbers 5:11-31

Numbers 5:24 And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter.

Exodus 15:23
And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

Something I just noticed, if you are familiar with the book of Genesis you know that Abraham and Sarah went to Gerar and did that trick to Abimelech where they say Sarah is Abraham's sister and the Lord closed their wombs.

Genesis 20:
5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

He did not touch her, though, and according to the Law of Jealousies, when the woman is innocent of the accusation she will conceive seed,

Numbers 5:28 And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.

which is what happened to Abimilech and his people...

Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

And then Sarah conceived Isaac immediately the very next chapter...

Genesis 21 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

 

[David]

I don't see where Scripture makes any of these connections.

Joseph knew Mary was pregnant, and Matthew tells us he intended to put her away privately. Then the angel told him the child was conceived of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:18-20). What does any of that have to do with the bitter water in Numbers 5?

And I don't see how the account of Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech proves your point either. God kept Abimelech from touching Sarah, and later healed his household. That's what Genesis 20 tells us. It says nothing about the law of jealousy.

You seem to be taking things from different parts of the Bible and putting them together because you think there's some connection. But where does Scripture actually make that connection?

We need to stop reading things into God's Word that aren't there. If the Bible doesn't say it, we have no business presenting it as though it does.

That's what concerns me about these posts. We're supposed to be learning what God has said, not coming up with meanings of our own.

Second Timothy 2:15 tells us to rightly divide the word of truth. That's what I expect us to do here on BTF.

 

[bobinfaith]

Good morning;

My understanding is the name Mary comes from the Hebrew Mariam. In etymology (which I'm not an expert) the name Mary could come from the root word (core definition) Marah which means bitter or bitterness.

As far as the Biblical direction from Matthew to Numbers, Exodus, Genesis, Numbers and back to Genesis, each instance has it's own historical context. I don't see the chronological order of events.

Bob

 

[Mean Mountain Robot]

I don't see where Scripture makes any of these connections.

Joseph knew Mary was pregnant, and Matthew tells us he intended to put her away privately. Then the angel told him the child was conceived of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:18-20). What does any of that have to do with the bitter water in Numbers 5?

And I don't see how the account of Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech proves your point either. God kept Abimelech from touching Sarah, and later healed his household. That's what Genesis 20 tells us. It says nothing about the law of jealousy.

You seem to be taking things from different parts of the Bible and putting them together because you think there's some connection. But where does Scripture actually make that connection?

We need to stop reading things into God's Word that aren't there. If the Bible doesn't say it, we have no business presenting it as though it does.

That's what concerns me about these posts. We're supposed to be learning what God has said, not coming up with meanings of our own.

Second Timothy 2:15 tells us to rightly divide the word of truth. That's what I expect us to do here on BTF.

I disagree. I think what we should be doing while we are in this world is learning as much as we can and using the stories and words in the Bible to better understand God and the world.

It seems like there is a consensus here, and on religious websites in general, that thinking and ideas are bad.

Second Timothy 2:15 tells us to rightly divide the word of truth... ?
So you know how to rightly divide the word of truth? Who taught you to do that?
I don't know how to rightly divide the word of truth. Can you prove this?

To you there is no deeper meaning in the Bible. But that doesn't mean there's not a deeper meaning in the Bible, does it?

What I do when I search for the deeper meaning in the Bible, is rightly divide the word of truth.
What does it mean, exactly, to divide the word of truth? 101

 

[Mean Mountain Robot]

Good morning;

My understanding is the name Mary comes from the Hebrew Mariam. In etymology (which I'm not an expert) the name Mary could come from the root word (core definition) Marah which means bitter or bitterness.

As far as the Biblical direction from Matthew to Numbers, Exodus, Genesis, Numbers and back to Genesis, each instance has it's own historical context. I don't see the chronological order of events.

Bob

You're one of those Bible-is-a-history-book kind of guys, huh? 101

I've heard that Moses wrote Numbers, Exodus, Genesis, but wait a minute...
John 5:46
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

Why, Jesus said that Moses wrote of Him, so that wouldn't be history, would it? No, sir, it would not! And that would mean the Bible is not a history book. Like I've been saying for years...

It's not a history book. Let me say it again...

The Bible is not a history book. Hopefully that'll help.

You're welcome.

 

[David]

I disagree. I think what we should be doing while we are in this world is learning as much as we can and using the stories and words in the Bible to better understand God and the world.

It seems like there is a consensus here, and on religious websites in general, that thinking and ideas are bad.

Second Timothy 2:15 tells us to rightly divide the word of truth... ?
So you know how to rightly divide the word of truth? Who taught you to do that?
I don't know how to rightly divide the word of truth. Can you prove this?

To you there is no deeper meaning in the Bible. But that doesn't mean there's not a deeper meaning in the Bible, does it?

What I do when I search for the deeper meaning in the Bible, is rightly divide the word of truth.
What does it mean, exactly, to divide the word of truth? 101

Disagreeing with me is not the issue. The issue is whether what you teach agrees with Scripture. I never said thinking is bad. I asked you to show where Scripture makes your connections, and you still haven’t done that.

“Rightly dividing the word of truth” means handling God’s Word correctly. It does not mean pulling unrelated passages together and calling your ideas a deeper meaning. Read the surrounding verses. Paul warns against words that “increase unto more ungodliness” and teachers “who concerning the truth have erred” (2 Timothy 2:16–18). The passage warns against the very thing you are defending.

You asked who taught me. Whatever we know about God must come from His Word. That is the standard for all of us, not any man’s opinions. “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). If we cannot establish what we teach from Scripture, we have no business presenting it as God’s truth. You should test what I say by Scripture, just as the Bereans “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). Apply that same test to your own claims. Where does the Bible actually teach them?

Satan’s deception began by questioning what God said and then contradicting it (Genesis 3:1–4). When you replace what Scripture says with meanings you invent, you are opening yourself to that deception. Peter warns that people twist Scripture “unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). That is a serious warning, and you need to hear it.

Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Calling your speculation Bible study will not make it truth or protect you from judgment. Repent of twisting God’s Word and submit your ideas to what He actually says. This is a dangerous path, and Scripture warns that its end is destruction

 

[David]

You're one of those Bible-is-a-history-book kind of guys, huh? 101

I've heard that Moses wrote Numbers, Exodus, Genesis, but wait a minute...
John 5:46
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

Why, Jesus said that Moses wrote of Him, so that wouldn't be history, would it? No, sir, it would not! And that would mean the Bible is not a history book. Like I've been saying for years...

It's not a history book. Let me say it again...

The Bible is not a history book. Hopefully that'll help.

You're welcome.

Jesus saying Moses wrote about Him does not mean Moses didn’t record real events. Where does Jesus say that? You are adding a conclusion the verse never makes.

Jesus Himself said, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). Jonah’s experience pointed to Christ. That did not make it imaginary. An event can actually happen and also point to something greater.

Read the next verse after the one you quoted: “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:47). Jesus calls you to believe what Moses wrote. He does not give you permission to dismiss those accounts as something that never happened.

The Bible contains history, prophecy, poetry, and instruction. Saying it records history does not deny its deeper significance. But claiming a deeper meaning does not give you permission to deny the history or invent connections the text never establishes. Repeating “the Bible is not a history book” proves nothing. Show your claim from Scripture.

And drop the condescending remarks toward other members. “Hopefully that’ll help” and “You’re welcome” are plainly sarcastic in this context. You may disagree and explain your position, but you will treat people on BTF respectfully. If that continues, I will take further moderation action.

 

[bobinfaith]

Disagreeing with me is not the issue. The issue is whether what you teach agrees with Scripture. I never said thinking is bad. I asked you to show where Scripture makes your connections, and you still haven’t done that.

“Rightly dividing the word of truth” means handling God’s Word correctly. It does not mean pulling unrelated passages together and calling your ideas a deeper meaning. Read the surrounding verses. Paul warns against words that “increase unto more ungodliness” and teachers “who concerning the truth have erred” (2 Timothy 2:16–18). The passage warns against the very thing you are defending.

You asked who taught me. Whatever we know about God must come from His Word. That is the standard for all of us, not any man’s opinions. “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). If we cannot establish what we teach from Scripture, we have no business presenting it as God’s truth. You should test what I say by Scripture, just as the Bereans “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). Apply that same test to your own claims. Where does the Bible actually teach them?

Satan’s deception began by questioning what God said and then contradicting it (Genesis 3:1–4). When you replace what Scripture says with meanings you invent, you are opening yourself to that deception. Peter warns that people twist Scripture “unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). That is a serious warning, and you need to hear it.

Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Calling your speculation Bible study will not make it truth or protect you from judgment. Repent of twisting God’s Word and submit your ideas to what He actually says. This is a dangerous path, and Scripture warns that its end is destruction

Jesus saying Moses wrote about Him does not mean Moses didn’t record real events. Where does Jesus say that? You are adding a conclusion the verse never makes.

Jesus Himself said, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). Jonah’s experience pointed to Christ. That did not make it imaginary. An event can actually happen and also point to something greater.

Read the next verse after the one you quoted: “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:47). Jesus calls you to believe what Moses wrote. He does not give you permission to dismiss those accounts as something that never happened.

The Bible contains history, prophecy, poetry, and instruction. Saying it records history does not deny its deeper significance. But claiming a deeper meaning does not give you permission to deny the history or invent connections the text never establishes. Repeating “the Bible is not a history book” proves nothing. Show your claim from Scripture.

And drop the condescending remarks toward other members. “Hopefully that’ll help” and “You’re welcome” are plainly sarcastic in this context. You may disagree and explain your position, but you will treat people on BTF respectfully. If that continues, I will take further moderation action.

Hello David;

Well said! What you posted gave me time to reflect my personal thoughts - the distinctions of God's Word versus the world's view.

For example, whether a Bible studies, Sunday school or later the online threads/posts, a Scripture would be presented and interpretations would result in the comparison of the world, less God centered. A key to our studies is the application we apply from studying God's Word.

You mentioned Matthew 12:40. Jesus teaches that the sign of the prophet Jonah was during the three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, God used this sign to reveal Jonah's appeasing the wrath of God coming upon others. It was also a sign of the work of the resurrected Christ.

Those times when I was at the edge of an extreme life situation I felt I was drowning, comparable to Jonah being in the fish 3 full days. It seemed like an eternity until Christ grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the lake. This metaphor has happened over and over in most lives of a believer, but it is the foundational Christian belief that true rescue, redemption, and a daily relationship with God are entirely dependent on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, we would not be saved.

The discipline of the Scriptures you share, combined with the persistent application (pressing on in life) from God's Words enable us to distinguish more and relying on His guidance, thus His Word.

God bless you, David, and your wife.

Bob

 

[Yesua888]

I disagree. I think what we should be doing while we are in this world is learning as much as we can and using the stories and words in the Bible to better understand God and the world.

It seems like there is a consensus here, and on religious websites in general, that thinking and ideas are bad.

Second Timothy 2:15 tells us to rightly divide the word of truth... ?
So you know how to rightly divide the word of truth? Who taught you to do that?
I don't know how to rightly divide the word of truth. Can you prove this?

To you there is no deeper meaning in the Bible. But that doesn't mean there's not a deeper meaning in the Bible, does it?

What I do when I search for the deeper meaning in the Bible, is rightly divide the word of truth.
What does it mean, exactly, to divide the word of truth? 101

Hello MMR,

Good to see you questioning so much ... this is teaching me a lot to : )

Here is what I found about "dividing the word of truth":

Rightly dividing the word of truth means handling Scripture with accuracy, integrity, and precision, ensuring that God's message is not twisted, misapplied, or taken out of context. The Greek term orthotomeo literally means "to cut straight," evoking the image of a plowman making a straight furrow or a craftsman making a precise cut, rather than tearing the text apart.

• Accurate Interpretation: Studying the Bible to understand what the Author intended, avoiding personal biases or cultural trends that distort the text.
• Proper Distinction: Skillfully distinguishing between different contexts, dispensations, or types of literature (e.g., Law vs. Grace, or prophecy vs. history) to prevent false doctrines and spiritual confusion.
• Faithful Application: Teaching and living out the truth so that it transforms lives, presenting oneself to God as a workman who needs no shame.

Ultimately, this command calls believers to be diligent students who respect the Bible as a unified whole, ensuring their teaching and personal faith are grounded in the actual content of Scripture rather than human speculation.

This explanation makes sense to me, so I'm going it : )

 

[Yesua888]

Jesus saying Moses wrote about Him does not mean Moses didn’t record real events. Where does Jesus say that? You are adding a conclusion the verse never makes.

Jesus Himself said, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). Jonah’s experience pointed to Christ. That did not make it imaginary. An event can actually happen and also point to something greater.

Read the next verse after the one you quoted: “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:47). Jesus calls you to believe what Moses wrote. He does not give you permission to dismiss those accounts as something that never happened.

The Bible contains history, prophecy, poetry, and instruction. Saying it records history does not deny its deeper significance. But claiming a deeper meaning does not give you permission to deny the history or invent connections the text never establishes. Repeating “the Bible is not a history book” proves nothing. Show your claim from Scripture.

And drop the condescending remarks toward other members. “Hopefully that’ll help” and “You’re welcome” are plainly sarcastic in this context. You may disagree and explain your position, but you will treat people on BTF respectfully. If that continues, I will take further moderation action.

Hi David and Bob,

We are all here to learn the Truth of God's Word.

Some of us have had to take "hard knocks" in the beginning, as we came onto this site thinking that we knew all the answers, and somewhere there are hidden meanings.
I also believe that I had been so part of the world, and that questioning was the right thing to do.
Well yes, it is, if we keep Scripture focused like the Bereans : )
What I have learned so far, is that the things of the world are complicated (convoluted if you will), and God is not. It is His intension that we use His Word, as our Life's Manual.
This post and the comments are very enlightening, and I am grateful that I was able to "drop my ego" and to actually "see" and "hear" God.
On other forums, there is so much ego (and opinion pushing), and so much noise, that Scripture and God's Word is secondary to the arguments.
Thanks again : )