Dictionary Home / M

Meraioth

biblical_person_name theological_term standard

A biblical priestly name borne by more than one Old Testament figure, appearing mainly in genealogies and priestly lineages.

At a Glance

Biblical proper name; priestly lineage name; multiple Old Testament bearers.

Key Points

Description

Meraioth is a biblical personal name borne by more than one priestly figure in the Old Testament. The name appears chiefly in genealogies and priestly lists, including references connected with the priestly line and with postexilic family records. Scripture does not develop Meraioth as a theological concept; its significance is historical and genealogical, reflecting the continuity of priestly families within Israel’s worship life. Because this is a proper name rather than a doctrinal topic, it is best treated as a biblical person-name entry rather than a theological-term article.

Biblical Context

The name Meraioth appears in priestly genealogies that trace the descendants of Aaron through the line of Eleazar. It is also found in postexilic lists, showing that priestly family records remained important after the exile. These references help situate individual priests within the larger history of Israel’s worship and temple service.

Historical Context

In the Old Testament world, genealogies preserved legal, tribal, and priestly identity. A name like Meraioth in a priestly list signals membership in a recognized family line and, in some contexts, legitimacy for temple service. Such records were especially important in periods of restoration, when the returned community needed to identify rightful priestly families.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient Jewish communities placed great weight on ancestral records, especially for priests and Levites. Names in these lists were not merely biographical details; they anchored covenant identity, inheritance, and public ministry. Meraioth’s presence in such records reflects that broader biblical and Jewish concern for continuity and order in sacred service.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew: מְרָיוֹת (Merāyôṯ), a proper name rendered in English as Meraioth.

Theological Significance

Meraioth has no independent doctrinal teaching attached to it, but the name contributes to the Bible’s larger witness to ordered priestly continuity, covenant remembrance, and the preservation of worship leadership across generations.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper name, Meraioth functions referentially rather than conceptually. Its significance lies in historical identity and lineage, not in abstract theological meaning.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Meraioth as a doctrine, office, or symbolic term. The same name appears to belong to more than one priestly individual, so each occurrence should be read in its immediate genealogical context.

Major Views

Most interpreters regard the references as genealogical notices identifying priestly ancestors or descendants. The main interpretive question is not theological meaning but which family line is in view in each passage.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should not be used to build doctrine. Its value is genealogical and historical, helping trace priestly succession and postexilic identity.

Practical Significance

Meraioth reminds readers that Scripture preserves names, families, and lineages for a purpose. Even brief genealogical notices help show God’s faithfulness in preserving the priestly order and the historical setting for Israel’s worship.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Meraioth

↑ Top