Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Karl,

> A question I have is the meaning of MRC מרץ a word 
> + derivitives that occures only 3 times in Tanakh, 1 Kings 2:8, Job 
> 6:25 and here. Tentatively I have the meaning of vilify. Does anyone 
> have any clues to nail down this definition?

HH: The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew offers two choices for the 
word MRC at Micah 2:10. It could mean "be sick" or "be 
forceful/difficult." You seem to be overlooking Job 16:3, which uses 
a Hiphil form of the verb. There is also the noun MeReC, which DCH 
takes to mean "agony," in a couple of places in Qumran material (1 QH 
3:11; 6:21). The first alternative, "be sick," is allowed the Niphal 
ideas of be sickening, painful, or grievous, while the Hiphil would 
be sicken. The second alternative would be "provoke" in the Hiphil at 
Job 16:3.

The NET Bible translates and then gives literal notes:

2:10 Get up and leave, for this land is not secure!25
Sin will thoroughly destroy it!26

25tn Heb "Arise, go, for this is no resting place." The Lord speaks 
to the oppressors.
26tn Heb "uncleanness will destroy, and destruction will be severe."

HH: So NET takes MRC as implying something from the alternative based 
on "be sick," which is the traditional meaning. That meaning works in 
every verse, and the Qumran material supports it. BDB had a problem 
with Job 6:25, but there is no real problem:

NIV: Job 6:25 How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?

HCSB: Job 6:25 How painful honest words can be! But what does your 
rebuke prove?

NET: Job 6:25  How painful are honest words!
But what does your reproof prove?

HH: In Mic 2:10 the HCSB has:

Get up and leave, for this is not your place of rest, because 
defilement brings destruction-a grievous destruction.

                                        Yours,
                                        Harold Holmyard