Girl Old Testament Rare
Merab
he that fights or disputes
מֵרָב me.rav
Merab (Hebrew: מֵרָב, me.rav) means “he that fights or disputes”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 4 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 9 children in the United States. Use is rising. Appears with Abinadab in 1 Samuel 14.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Merab
daughter of King Saul
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 4 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- United Monarchy
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 9 | Rising |
| All-time total | 72 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 12 in 2023 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | NY | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 1 Samuel 14:49 |
| Last appears | 2 Samuel 21:8 |
| Cross-references | 50 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Adriel co-occurrence Appears with Adriel in 1 Samuel 18.
- Meholathites co-occurrence Appears with Meholathites in 1 Samuel 18.
- Armoni co-occurrence Appears with Armoni in 2 Samuel 21.
- Mephibosheth co-occurrence Appears with Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 21.
- Barzillai co-occurrence Appears with Barzillai in 2 Samuel 21.
- Rizpah co-occurrence Appears with Rizpah in 2 Samuel 21.
- Aiah co-occurrence Appears with Aiah in 2 Samuel 21.
- Abinadab co-occurrence Appears with Abinadab in 1 Samuel 14.
Origin & meaning
A woman of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.14.49;
daughter of: Saul (H7586G) and Ahinoam (H0293); married to Adriel (H5741);
sister of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444) and Michal (H4324);
half-brother of: Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764) and Mephibosheth (H4648H)
Also named: mi.khal (מִיכַל "Merab" H4324H)
§ Merab = "increase"
the eldest daughter of king Saul; promised to David but given instead to Adriel the Meholathite; mother of 5 children
Merab, the eldest daughter of King Saul, was promised to David but given to Adriel.
The biblical story
Merab was the eldest daughter of King Saul (1Sa.14.49). She was initially promised to David as a wife, with the condition that he fight valiantly for Saul and the Lord (1Sa.18.17). However, when the time came for her to be given to David, she was instead given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife (1Sa.18.19). Merab had five sons with Adriel, and these sons were among the seven descendants of Saul who were handed over to the Gibeonites for execution, as a means of atonement for Saul's attempt to annihilate the Gibeonites (2Sa.21.8). This event occurred during David's reign, when a three-year famine prompted David to seek the Lord's guidance.
Key verses
Merab appears in 4 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi–shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
1 Samuel 14:49 -
And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
1 Samuel 18:17 -
But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
1 Samuel 18:19 -
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
2 Samuel 21:8
Show all 4 references
1 Samuel (3)
- 1 Samuel 14:49
- 1 Samuel 18:17
- 1 Samuel 18:19
2 Samuel (1)
- 2 Samuel 21:8