Meaning & History
Merab is a feminine name of Hebrew origin, found in the Old Testament. The name means "abundant" in Hebrew, reflecting a sense of plenty or fullness. In the biblical narrative, Merab is a daughter of King Saul, the first king of Israel, and appears in 1 Samuel 14:49, 18:17-19. Although she was promised in marriage to David, the future king, she was ultimately given to Adriel the Meholathite, while David married her sister Michal.
Etymology and Origin
The name Merab derives from the Hebrew root r-b-b, meaning "to be many" or "to be great." It is a relatively rare name in the Bible, appearing only a few times. The name is related to the masculine name Merab (though often transliterated similarly) and shares its root with words for "abundance" in Hebrew. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the name is rendered as Merob.
Notable Bearers
Merab is primarily known as a biblical figure: the eldest daughter of King Saul. According to 1 Samuel 18:17-19, Saul promised Merab to David as a wife, hoping that David would be killed in battle by the Philistines. However, when the time came for the marriage, Saul gave Merab instead to Adriel, the son of Barzillai, from the tribe of Manasseh. Merab later appears in 2 Samuel 21:8, where the children of Merab and Adriel are handed over to the Gibeonites to be executed, in retribution for Saul's earlier actions against them.
Usage and Variants
Merab is used predominantly in English Bible translations, while in the original Hebrew text the name appears as Merav. The variant Merob appears in Latin translations such as the Vulgate. The name has not been commonly used outside of biblical contexts, though it has occasional usage in Jewish and Christian communities. Related forms include the Hebrew Merav and the Latin Merob.
- Meaning: "abundant"
- Origin: Hebrew
- Type: Biblical first name
- Usage Regions: English Bible (as Merab), Hebrew (as Merav), Latin (as Merob)