🔼The name Mirmah: Summary
- Meaning
- Deceit
- Etymology
- From the noun מרמה (mirma), deceit or treachery, from the verb רמה (rama), to mislead or loosen.
🔼The name Mirmah in the Bible
The name Mirmah occurs only once in the Bible. He is listed as one of the sons of Shaharaim and Hodesh of Moab (1 Chronicles 8:10).
🔼Etymology of the name Mirmah
The name Mirmah is identical to the noun מרמה (mirma), meaning deceit or treachery, from the verb רמה (rama), meaning to mislead:
רמה
The verb רמה (rama) essentially means to loosen, but is used only three times literally (twice for shooting arrows and once for hurling riders into the sea). Mostly our verb is used in the sense of playing loose with the truth, i.e. to compromise the solidness of trustworthiness and be swampy.
Hence our verb is mostly translated with to beguile, deceive or mislead. Nouns רמיה (remiya), מרמה (mirma), תרמה (torma) and תרמית (tarmit) describe various degrees and nuances of treachery, deceit and looseness in the trustworthiness department.
🔼Mirmah meaning
For a meaning of the name Mirmah, both NOBSE Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names read Deceit.
BDB Theological Dictionary doesn't offer an interpretation and, curiously, also doesn't list our name under the verb רמה (rama) but alphabetically under the מ-words. BDB's objections to the obvious are unfortunately not listed.