A
B
C
D
E
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
Y
Z
|
Maacah
Madai
Magog
Mahalalel
Mahalath
Mahanaim
Mamre
Manasseh
Mary
Mash
Medan
Mede/Medes
Mehujael
Melchizedek
Menahem
Merari
Meribah
Meshech
Mesha
Methuselah
Methushael
Micah (Mica)
Michael
Michaiah (Micaiah)
Midian
Milcah
Miriam
Mizraim
Moab
Moses
| | |
Mizraim 
Mizraim is a son of Ham, son of Noah. This name is also the common name for Egypt (a.k.a. 'the land of Ham,' in Psalm 105:23).
Egypt was known by the names Musuru, Musru, Misir or Masri in other languages, and Mizraim is probably simply a phonetic transliteration into Hebrew of any of them. The word looks identical to what a dual form of  would look like (see below). This duality possibly helped to denote Upper and Lower Egypt. The word for Egyptian is  .
The similar  (masor), a poetic nickname for Egypt that is used on three different occasions (Isa 19:6, 2 Ki 19:24 =Isa 37:25, Micah 7:12), may shed some understanding on how a Hebrew audience might have interpreted the name Mizraim.
The noun (masor 1898a) means siege, entrenchment, and it derives from the verb  (sur 1898), bind, besiege. Another derivation of this same verb is the noun  , stronghold. TWOTOT notes that a stronghold or walled city may be an instrument of protection during the first stages of a war, but will turn into a lethal trap if a siege last long. A beautiful figurative use of this word occurs in Psalm 31:21, where the author compares himself under siege by his troubles.
The verb from which the noun derives, is part of a group of five different roots. These roots all have different linguistic sources but were perhaps readily incorporated into the Hebrew language due to similar or related meanings, more or less:
(swr 1897) is the assumed root of the words  (sawwar 1897a), neck and  (sawwaron 1897b), necklace. The neck is simply a part of the body, but figuratively it is used as seat of strength (Job 39:19) and subsequently as target of defeat (by the placing of the victor's foot on the neck of the conquered - Josh 10:24). The similarity between a necklace and a besieging army is obvious.
The verb (sur 1898) means to bind or besiege; referred to above.
The verb (sur 1899) means show hostility to, be an adversary. According to BDB and TWOTOT , this verb is probably a by-form of  (sarar 1974), see below.
The verb (sur 1900) means to form or fashion. According to TWOTOT , this verb is possibly a by-form of  (yasar 898), form or fashion.
The noun (sur 1901) does not occur in the Bible, but is probably related to words in cognate languages that mean rock or hill. A derivative that does occur in the Bible is (sur 1901a), the common Biblical word for rock. BDB suggests relations with (sara 1975), see below.
The words and are linguistically closely related. Their respective meanings also shows much kinship:
The verb (sarar 1973) means to bind, be narrow/ confined, be in distress. Derivatives are:  (sar 1973a), narrow, tight; (sar 1973b), distress;  (sara 1973c), straights, distress; (sarar 1973d), suffer distress;  (seror 1973e), bundle; (mesar 1973f), straights, distress. The latter word written in a dual form would yield the name , Mizraim. Jones assumed that this is what Mizraim would have meant to a Hebrew audience and reads Double Distress.
The verb (sarar 1974) means show hostility towards. Derivation (sar 1974a) means adversary.
The assumed root (srr 1975) is unused in the Bible but in Arabic it means be sharp. Its common derivative is (sar 1974a), pebble, flint.
The name Mizraim means Double Distress or Double Stronghold. Related names are Zur and Tyre.
• • •
|
