Overview:
Mem is the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet and holds significant meaning in biblical literature and Jewish tradition. In the Hebrew language, Mem is represented by the symbol מ and has a numerical value of 40. This letter is often associated with water, as the Hebrew word for water, "mayim," begins with Mem. The symbolic representation of water is deeply connected to themes of life, purification, and divine wisdom in the Scriptures.

Biblical Significance:
In the context of the Bible, Mem appears in various forms and is integral to understanding certain passages, especially in the Old Testament. The letter Mem is used in acrostic poems found in the Hebrew Bible, such as Psalm 119, where each section begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The section corresponding to Mem (Psalm 119:97-104) emphasizes the love for God's law and the wisdom it imparts:

"Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path, that I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey in my mouth! I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:97-104)

Symbolism and Themes:
1. Water and Life: Mem's association with water is significant in biblical symbolism. Water is a source of life and sustenance, reflecting God's provision and the spiritual nourishment found in His Word. In Genesis 1:2, the Spirit of God hovers over the waters, indicating the presence of divine life-giving power.

2. Purification and Cleansing: Water is also a symbol of purification and cleansing in the Bible. The ritual washings in the Old Testament, such as those described in Leviticus, use water as a means of ceremonial purification. This theme is echoed in the New Testament with the concept of baptism, where water signifies the cleansing of sin and the believer's new life in Christ.

3. Wisdom and Revelation: Mem is linked to the idea of divine wisdom and revelation. The flowing nature of water can be seen as a metaphor for the continuous and life-giving wisdom that comes from God. Proverbs 18:4 states, "The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook."

Numerical Significance:
The numerical value of Mem, 40, is noteworthy in biblical numerology. The number 40 often represents periods of testing, trial, and transformation. For example, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years (Numbers 14:33-34), Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18), and Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). These instances highlight times of preparation and spiritual growth.

Conclusion:
While Mem is a single letter, its rich symbolism and frequent appearance in the Scriptures underscore its importance in biblical theology. Whether through its association with water, its role in acrostic poetry, or its numerical significance, Mem invites believers to explore deeper themes of life, purification, and divine wisdom as revealed in God's Word.MEM

mam, mem "m": The 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "m". It came also to be used for the number 40.

See ALPHABET, for name, etc.

3201. memphomai -- to blame, find fault
... to blame, find fault. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: memphomai Phonetic Spelling:
(mem'-fom-ahee) Short Definition: I blame, censure Definition: I blame ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3201.htm - 6k

3202. mempsimoiros -- complaining of one's fate
... complaining of one's fate. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: mempsimoiros
Phonetic Spelling: (mem-psim'-oy-ros) Short Definition: discontented ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3202.htm - 7k

3200. membrana -- parchment
... parchment. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: membrana Phonetic Spelling:
(mem-bran'-ah) Short Definition: a parchment leaf Definition: a parchment ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3200.htm - 6k

6968. qomemiyyuth -- uprightness
... 6967, 6968. qomemiyyuth. 6969 . uprightness. Transliteration: qomemiyyuth
Phonetic Spelling: (ko-mem-ee-yooth') Short Definition: erect. ...
/hebrew/6968.htm - 6k

4462. Memukan -- a prince of Persia and Media
... Memukan or Momukan. 4463 . a prince of Persia and Media. Transliteration: Memukan
or Momukan Phonetic Spelling: (mem-oo-kawn') Short Definition: Memucan. ...
/hebrew/4462.htm - 6k

4475. memshalah -- rule, dominion, realm
... 4474, 4475. memshalah. 4476 . rule, dominion, realm. Transliteration: memshalah
Phonetic Spelling: (mem-shaw-law') Short Definition: dominion. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4475.htm - 6k

7319. romemah -- high
... 7318, 7319. romemah. 7320 . high. Transliteration: romemah Phonetic Spelling:
(ro-mem-aw') Short Definition: high. Word Origin the same as romam, qv. high ...
/hebrew/7319.htm - 5k

Mem.
... St. Augustin on the Psalms. Mem. 97. We have frequently admonished you,
that love was to be understood by that praiseworthy breadth ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/mem.htm

Psalm 119 Mem, the 13Th Part.
... Psalm 119 Mem, The 13th Part. 8,6,8,6. ^97O how love I thy law! it is. my study
all the day: ^98It makes me wiser than my foes; for it doth with me stay. ...
/.../anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 119 mem the 13th.htm

No. 4, Intersession
... HEBREW LETTER NUN}{HEBREW LETTER YOD} {HEBREW LETTER ALEF}{HEBREW LETTER
LAMED}{HEBREW LETTER HE}{HEBREW LETTER YOD}{HEBREW LETTER FINAL MEM} {HEBREW LETTER ...
//christianbookshelf.org/michelson/no 4 intersession/title page.htm

Sermon
... HEBREW LETTER NUN}{HEBREW LETTER YOD} {HEBREW LETTER ALEF}{HEBREW LETTER
LAMED}{HEBREW LETTER HE}{HEBREW LETTER YOD}{HEBREW LETTER FINAL MEM} {HEBREW LETTER ...
//christianbookshelf.org/michelson/no 4 intersession/sermon.htm

Brakel and Comrie.
... He w/segol Aleph w/hataf segol Mem w/hiriq Yod Nun, KAf w/qamats Mem w/patah lamed,
other text ) are translated not only to believe,' but to trust,' to entrust ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxvi brakel and comrie.htm

Footnotes
... 49 Sota, 24 a. 50 {HEBREW LETTER MEM}{HEBREW LETTER BET}{HEBREW LETTER YOD}{HEBREW
LETTER NUN}{HEBREW LETTER YOD}{HEBREW LETTER FINAL MEM}, Nehemiah 8:3. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/davidson/the canon of the bible/footnotes.htm

Footnotes
... 56 Pointing {HEBREW LETTER LAMED}{HEBREW LETTER FINAL MEM}{HEBREW LETTER
DALET}{HEBREW LETTER TAV}{HEBREW LETTER YOD} with Chireq-Patah-Sheva-Sheva. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/footnotes.htm

The Image of the Beast.
... "The Greek and Hebrew letters composing the words {HEBREW LETTER RESH}{HEBREW LETTER
VAV}{HEBREW LETTER MEM}{HEBREW LETTER YOD}{HEBREW LETTER YOD}{HEBREW ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the image of the beast.htm

Exposition on the Book of Psalms
... Beth. Gimel. Daleth. He. Vav. Zain. Cheth. Teth. Jod. Caph. Lamed. Mem. Nun. Samech.
Ain. Pe. Tadze. Koph. Resch. Schin. Tau. Psalm CXX. Psalm CXXI. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/

Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases
... Psalm 119 Caph, The 11th Part. Psalm 119 Lamed, The 12th Part. Psalm 119 Mem, The
13th Part. Psalm 119 Nun, The 14th Part. Psalm 119 Samech, The 15th Part. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/

Mem (2 Occurrences)
...MEM. mam, mem "m": The 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, transliterated in this
Encyclopedia as "m". It came also to be used for the number 40. ...
/m/mem.htm - 7k

Remembrance (74 Occurrences)
... re-mem'-brans (cepher zikkdron, "book of record"): Is related in meaning to the
"Book of Life." It refers to a list of the righteous, recorded in a book that ...
/r/remembrance.htm - 33k

Quintus
...mem'-i-us, kwin'-tus (Kointos Memmios): One of the 2 Roman legates who bore a letter
to the Jews after their victory over Lysias 163 BC (2 Maccabees 11:34). ...
/q/quintus.htm - 7k

Remember (230 Occurrences)
... re-mem'-ber, re-mem'-brans: "Remember" is mostly the translation, in the Old Testament,
of zakhar, and in the New Testament of mnaomai (Matthew 5:23; Matthew 26 ...
/r/remember.htm - 41k

Memmius
...mem'-i-us, kwin'-tus (Kointos Memmios): One of the 2 Roman legates who bore a letter
to the Jews after their victory over Lysias 163 BC (2 Maccabees 11:34). ...
/m/memmius.htm - 7k

Member (20 Occurrences)
...mem'-ber (1) yatsur; melos; (2) shaphekhah, "membrum virile" (Deuteronomy 23:1)):
The first Hebrew word is derived from a root meaning "to knead," "to mold in ...
/m/member.htm - 17k

Number (2370 Occurrences)
... plurals of the units, so that the former, as written, differ from the latter only
by the addition of the two Hebrew letters yodh ("y") and mem ("m") composing ...
/n/number.htm - 40k

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)
... Some Septuagint manuscripts and 1 Chronicles 2:6 have "Zimri" (zimri); "the confusion
of the Hebrew letter beth (b) and the Hebrew letter mem (m) is phonetic ...
/z/zabdi.htm - 13k

Omega (3 Occurrences)
... the Son. God blesses Israel from 'aleph to taw (Leviticus 26:3-13), but
curses from waw to mem (Leviticus 26:14-43). So Abraham ...
/o/omega.htm - 9k

Lasha (1 Occurrence)
... des Hexateuch., 15) thinks we should read lesham, since the Hebrew letters, "m"
(mem) and " ` " (`ayin), are like each other in their Palmyrene form. ...
/l/lasha.htm - 8k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus