The spelling of "Meraioth" in IPA phonetic transcription is /mɛˈraɪɒθ/. The first syllable is pronounced "meh" with an open e sound, while the second syllable is pronounced "rye" with a long i sound. The third syllable has a short o sound and the fourth syllable ends with a voiced th sound as in "the". "Meraioth" is used in the Bible as the name of a Jewish priest in the time of King David.
Meraioth is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. In the Hebrew language, the name Meraioth translates to "rebellious" or "insubordinate." Meraioth is specifically recorded in the genealogy of the priestly line of Aaron, the brother of Moses.
According to the Book of Ezra and the Book of Nehemiah, Meraioth was one of the direct descendants of Eleazar, Aaron's son, and served in the priesthood as a high-ranking priest. The position of the priesthood held great importance in ancient Jewish society as these individuals were responsible for performing religious rituals and sacrifices. Meraioth would have played a significant role in leading and guiding the people in matters of worship, offering sacrifices, and maintaining the sanctity of the Temple.
Despite the limited information available about Meraioth, his inclusion in the priestly lineage suggests that he was highly respected and held a position of authority within the religious community. Along with his fellow priests, Meraioth would have been responsible for upholding the religious traditions and laws of the Israelites as they worshipped their God.
Meraioth's name carries a rebellious or insubordinate connotation, which possibly hints at a historical event or family characteristic. However, further details are not provided in the Bible, leaving the exact nature of this association to speculation and interpretation.
The word "Meraioth" is derived from the Hebrew language. It is a proper noun that appears in the Bible, specifically in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Old Testament. In Hebrew, the name is written as מְרֵיֹות, and its etymology is not explicitly mentioned in the biblical texts.
However, scholars have attempted to derive the possible meaning and origin of the name through linguistic analysis. One possibility is that "Meraioth" is a compound word composed of two Hebrew elements: "mera", meaning "rebellion" or "defiance", and "yah", a common abbreviation for Yahweh, the name of the God of Israel. Therefore, some suggest that "Meraioth" could be translated as "rebellion against Yahweh" or "defiant to Yahweh".