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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Hebrew: 4828. מֵרֵ֫עַ (merea) -- Companion, friend, neighbor</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/hebrew/4828.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/judges/15-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/hebrew/4828.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Hebrew</a> > 4828</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../hebrew/4827.htm" title="4827">◄</a> 4828. merea <a href="../hebrew/4829.htm" title="4829">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">merea: Companion, friend, neighbor</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="hebrew">מֵרֵעַ</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Noun Masculine<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>merea`<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>meh-ray'-ah<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(may-ray'-ah)<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Companion, friend, neighbor<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>a friend<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>Derived from the root רֵעַ (rea), meaning "friend" or "companion."<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span> - <b>G4139 (πλησίον, plēsion):</b> Often translated as "neighbor" in the New Testament, reflecting a similar concept of close relational proximity and responsibility.<p> - <b>G5384 (φίλος, philos):</b> Translated as "friend," indicating a personal and affectionate relationship.<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>The Hebrew word "merea" is used to denote a companion, friend, or neighbor. It often implies a close relationship characterized by mutual support, loyalty, and shared experiences. In the context of the Old Testament, "merea" can refer to both literal neighbors and those with whom one shares a covenantal or communal bond.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In ancient Israelite society, relationships with neighbors and friends were vital for survival and community cohesion. The concept of "merea" reflects the importance of social bonds in a tribal and agrarian culture where cooperation and mutual aid were necessary for protection, economic stability, and religious observance. The term underscores the value placed on loyalty, trust, and the responsibilities inherent in these relationships.<div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>from <a href="/hebrew/7462b.htm">raah</a><br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>friend, companion<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>adviser (1), companion (3), companions (1), friends (2).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Brown-Driver-Briggs</div> [<font class="hebrew2">מֵרֵעַ</font>] <font size="+1" color="#552200"><b>noun masculine</b></font> <font size="+1"><b>friend, companion</b></font> (strange formation; origin dubious; Wetzst<sup>Syr. Dreschtafel, Z. Ethnol. 1873, 289</sup> compare <img src="/bdbgif/bdb094602.gif"> <em>miryâ</em>, name of bell-wether among Syrian nomads (properly [inseparable] <em>companion</em>), and derived from <font class="hebrew2">ריע ֗֗֗ </font>, properly <em>closely joined</em>; compare Gerber<sup>97, 162</sup>); — suffix <font class="hebrew2">מֵרֵעֵ֫הוּ</font> <a href="/interlinear/genesis/26-26.htm">Genesis 26:26</a> +, <font class="hebrew2">מְרֵעֵ֫הוּ</font> <a href="/interlinear/proverbs/19-7.htm">Proverbs 19:7</a>; <font class="hebrew2">מֵרֵעֶ֑ךָ</font> <a href="/interlinear/judges/15-2.htm">Judges 15:2</a>; plural <font class="hebrew2">מַרֵעִים</font> <a href="/interlinear/judges/14-11.htm">Judges 14:11</a>; — <em>companion, confidential friend</em>, <a href="/interlinear/genesis/26-26.htm">Genesis 26:26</a> (J; compare <font class="hebrew2">רֵעֶה</font>); of bridegroom's escort <a href="/interlinear/genesis/14-11.htm">Genesis 14:11</a>, 'best man' (GFM) <a href="/interlinear/genesis/14-20.htm">Genesis 14:20</a>; <a href="/interlinear/genesis/15-2.htm">Genesis 15:2,6</a>; more Generally <em>friends</em> ("" <font class="hebrew2">אחים</font>) <a href="/interlinear/2_samuel/3-8.htm">2 Samuel 3:8</a>; <a href="/interlinear/proverbs/19-7.htm">Proverbs 19:7</a>; <a href="/interlinear/proverbs/12-26.htm">Proverbs 12:26</a> is dubious, Död Hi De and others <font class="hebrew2">מִרְעֵהוּ</font>; Toy conjectures possibly <font class="hebrew2">(יָסֻר) מֵרָעָה</font>, see further <font class="hebrew2">תור</font>. <p>III. <font class="hebrew2">רעה</font> (Aramaic <font class="hebrew2">רְעָא</font>, <img src="/bdbgif/bdb094603.gif">, <em>take pleasure</em> (in), <em>desire</em>, = Arabic <img src="/bdbgif/bdb094604.gif"> [Hebrew <font class="hebrew2">רָצָה</font>], whence Aramaic <font class="hebrew2">רְעוּתָא</font> <em>desire</em>, <font class="hebrew2">רַעֲיָנָא</font>, <font class="hebrew2">רַעֲיוֺנָא</font>, <img src="/bdbgif/bdb094605.gif">, <em>opinion, thought, disposition</em>, and following late and Aramaic words in Hebrew, compare Nö<sup>ZMG liv (1900), 155</sup>; > De Siegf<sup>Qoh. 18</sup> and others from I. <font class="hebrew2">רעה</font> </p><p style="sub1"> <font size="+1" color="#552200"><b>2b</b></font>, compare <a href="/interlinear/hosea/12-2.htm">Hosea 12:2</a>, and Arabic <img src="/bdbgif/bdb094606.gif">; <em>watch, regard, respect</em> (Lane) [Ba<sup>WU 46 f.</sup> Kau<sup>Armaismen 82 f.</sup> derive following from I. <font class="hebrew2">רעה</font> = <em>observe, attend to</em>, specifically <em>tend sheep</em>, also <em>aim at, purpose</em>]). <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft2.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>companion, friend <p>From <a href="/hebrew/7462.htm">ra'ah</a> in the sense of companionship; a friend -- companion, friend. <p>see HEBREW <a href="/hebrew/7462.htm">ra'ah</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>לְמֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ לְמֵרֵעֵ֑הוּ לְמֵרֵעֶ֑ךָ למרעהו למרעך מְ֭רֵעֵהוּ מֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ מֵֽרֵעִ֔ים מֵֽרֵעֵ֔הוּ מרעהו מרעים lə·mê·rê·‘ê·hū lə·mê·rê·‘e·ḵā ləmêrê‘êhū ləmêrê‘eḵā lemereEcha leMereEhu mê·rê·‘ê·hū mə·rê·‘ê·hū mê·rê·‘îm mêrê‘êhū mərê‘êhū mêrê‘îm mereEhu mereIm<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/genesis/26-26.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Genesis 26:26</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/genesis/26.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">מִגְּרָ֑ר וַאֲחֻזַּת֙ <b> מֵֽרֵעֵ֔הוּ </b> וּפִיכֹ֖ל שַׂר־</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/genesis/26.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> to him from Gerar <span class="itali">with his adviser</span> Ahuzzath<br><a href="/kjvs/genesis/26.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> and Ahuzzath <span class="itali">one of his friends,</span> and Phichol<br><a href="/interlinear/genesis/26-26.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> Gerar Ahuzzath <span class="itali">his adviser</span> and Phicol the commander<p><b><a href="/text/judges/14-11.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Judges 14:11</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/judges/14.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">וַיִּקְחוּ֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים <b> מֵֽרֵעִ֔ים </b> וַיִּהְי֖וּ אִתּֽוֹ׃</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/judges/14.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> thirty <span class="itali">companions</span> to be with him.<br><a href="/kjvs/judges/14.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> thirty <span class="itali">companions</span> to be with him.<br><a href="/interlinear/judges/14-11.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> brought thirty <span class="itali">companions</span> become for<p><b><a href="/text/judges/14-20.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Judges 14:20</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/judges/14.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">אֵ֣שֶׁת שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן <b> לְמֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ </b> אֲשֶׁ֥ר רֵעָ֖ה</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/judges/14.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> wife <span class="itali">was [given] to his companion</span> who<br><a href="/kjvs/judges/14.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> wife <span class="itali">was [given] to his companion,</span> whom he had used as his friend.<br><a href="/interlinear/judges/14-20.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> wife Samson's <span class="itali">his companion</span> who had been his friend<p><b><a href="/text/judges/15-2.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Judges 15:2</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/judges/15.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">שְׂנֵאתָ֔הּ וָאֶתְּנֶ֖נָּה <b> לְמֵרֵעֶ֑ךָ </b> הֲלֹ֨א אֲחֹתָ֤הּ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/judges/15.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> so I gave <span class="itali">her to your companion.</span> Is not her younger<br><a href="/kjvs/judges/15.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> her; therefore I gave <span class="itali">her to thy companion:</span> [is] not her younger<br><a href="/interlinear/judges/15-2.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> her intensely gave <span class="itali">your companion</span> not sister<p><b><a href="/text/judges/15-6.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Judges 15:6</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/judges/15.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּ <b> לְמֵרֵעֵ֑הוּ </b> וַיַּעֲל֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/judges/15.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> and gave <span class="itali">her to his companion.</span> So the Philistines<br><a href="/kjvs/judges/15.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> and given <span class="itali">her to his companion.</span> And the Philistines<br><a href="/interlinear/judges/15-6.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> his wife and gave <span class="itali">his companion</span> came the Philistines<p><b><a href="/text/2_samuel/3-8.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">2 Samuel 3:8</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/2_samuel/3.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">אֶחָיו֙ וְאֶל־ <b> מֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ </b> וְלֹ֥א הִמְצִיתִ֖ךָ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/2_samuel/3.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> to his brothers <span class="itali">and to his friends,</span> and have not delivered<br><a href="/kjvs/2_samuel/3.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> to his brethren, <span class="itali">and to his friends,</span> and have not delivered<br><a href="/interlinear/2_samuel/3-8.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> brothers and to <span class="itali">his friends</span> not delivered<p><b><a href="/text/proverbs/19-7.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Proverbs 19:7</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/proverbs/19.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">אַ֤ף כִּ֣י <b> מְ֭רֵעֵהוּ </b> רָחֲק֣וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/proverbs/19.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> more <span class="itali">do his friends</span> abandon<br><a href="/kjvs/proverbs/19.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> do hate <span class="itali">him: how much more do his friends</span> go far<br><a href="/interlinear/proverbs/19-7.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> How do <span class="itali">his friends</span> abandon at<p><i><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4828.htm">7 Occurrences</a></i><br /><br /><b><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4828.htm">Strong's Hebrew 4828<br>7 Occurrences</a></b><br><br><a href="/hebrew/lemereecha_4828.htm">lə·mê·rê·‘e·ḵā — 1 Occ.</a><br><a href="/hebrew/lemereehu_4828.htm">lə·mê·rê·‘ê·hū — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/hebrew/mereehu_4828.htm">mê·rê·‘ê·hū — 3 Occ.</a><br><a href="/hebrew/mereim_4828.htm">mê·rê·‘îm — 1 Occ.</a><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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