Biblical Meaning of the Number 4811 in Scripture
The number 4811 does not refer to a specific Hebrew or Greek word in biblical scripture. Instead, it is a numerical identifier used in some biblical study tools, such as Strong's Concordance or MACULA, to catalog individual words or lemmas [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. These numbers are assigned for organizational purposes and do not carry inherent theological meaning.
When "H4811" is encountered, it typically points to a specific Hebrew word. In this case, H4811 refers to the Hebrew proper noun מְרָיָה (Meraiah) [3]. This name appears in Nehemiah 12:12 and identifies a priest who lived during the period of the Exile and Return [3]. The name Meraiah itself means "rebellion" [3].
While the number 4811 itself has no biblical meaning, the chapters numbered 48 in various biblical books contain significant theological and historical content:
- Genesis 48 records Jacob blessing Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob states that he "never expected" to see Joseph again but God has shown him Joseph's offspring [1]. He blesses them, saying, "By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh'" [6]. He also speaks of the "angel who has redeemed me from all harm" [7].
- Isaiah 48 addresses the "house of Jacob" and "those called by the name of Israel" [5]. It contains God's declaration, "For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how can I allow my name to be profaned? I will not give my glory to another" [2]. The chapter also reminds Israel of God's provision during the Exodus, where water gushed from a rock, as a parallel to their rescue from Babylonian captivity [8]. This deliverance from Babylon is also seen as an exhortation to leave the "captivity of sin" and purify oneself [10].
- Jeremiah 48 contains a prophecy against Moab, detailing calamities that will befall it [11, 12]. The prophet describes Moab as having been "at ease from his youth" and "settled on his dregs," never having been "emptied from vessel to vessel" or gone into exile [4]. This imagery suggests Moab's undisturbed prosperity, which will now be shattered [4]. The destruction is attributed to the "Lord of hosts" and "God of Israel," who will plead Israel's cause against Moab [13].
- Ezekiel 48 describes the division of land among the tribes of Israel and the dimensions of the holy city in a vision [9]. John Gill interprets the city's vast circumference (eighteen thousand measures) as symbolic, indicating that no literal city is meant, but rather the church of Christ, which will be of great extent in the latter days, encompassing all nations [9].
These examples illustrate that while the number 4811 is a cataloging tool, the biblical texts found at chapter 48 in various books offer rich theological insights into God's covenant, judgment, and redemptive plans.
Sources
- MACULA Hebrew “Genesis 48:11 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: וַ יֹּ֤אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל יוֹסֵ֔ף רְאֹ֥ה פָנֶ֖י ךָ לֹ֣א פִלָּ֑לְתִּי וְ הִנֵּ֨ה הֶרְאָ֥ה אֹתִ֛ י אֱלֹהִ֖ים גַּ֥ם אֶת זַרְעֶֽ ךָ Word-by-word: וַ (wa) = "and" [2050b] C; יֹּ֤אמֶר (yyōʾmer) = "said" [0559] Vqw3ms; יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiśrāʾēl) = "Israel" [3478] Np; אֶל (ʾel-) = "to" [0413] R; יוֹסֵ֔ף (yôsēp̄) = "Joseph" [3130] Np; רְאֹ֥ה (rəʾōh) = "see" [7200] Vqc; פָנֶ֖י = "face" [6440] Ncbpc; ךָ = "your" [3509b] Sp2ms; לֹ֣א (lōʾ) = "never" [3808] Tn; פִלָּ֑לְתִּי (p̄illālətî) = "expected" [6419] Vpp1cs; וְ (wə) = "but" [2050b] C; הִנֵּ֨ה (h”
- MACULA Hebrew “Isaiah 48:11 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: לְמַעֲנִ֧ י לְמַעֲנִ֛ י אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה כִּ֣י אֵ֣יךְ יֵחָ֑ל וּ כְבוֹדִ֖ י לְ אַחֵ֥ר לֹֽא אֶתֵּֽן Word-by-word: לְמַעֲנִ֧ = "for ~ sake" [4616] R; י = "my own" [2967a] Sp1cs; לְמַעֲנִ֛ = "for ~ sake" [4616] R; י = "my own" [2967a] Sp1cs; אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה (ʾeʿĕśeh) = "do" [6213] Vqi1cs; כִּ֣י (kiy) = "for" [3588] C; אֵ֣יךְ (ʾēyḵ) = "how" [0349] Ti; יֵחָ֑ל (yēḥāl) = "profaned" [2490] VNi3ms; וּ (û) = "and" [2050b] C; כְבוֹדִ֖ = "glory" [3519] Ncbsc; י = "my" [2967a] Sp1cs; לְ (lə) = "to" [3807a] R; אַחֵ֥ר (ʾaḥēr) = "another" [0312] Aamsa; לֹֽא (lōʾ-) =”
- STEPBible TBESG “[H4811] H4811 = (H4811) — A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.12.12 <BR> § Meraiah = "rebellion"<br> a priest after the exile in the days of Joiakim<br>”
- MACULA Hebrew “Jeremiah 48:11 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: שַׁאֲנַ֨ן מוֹאָ֜ב מִ נְּעוּרָ֗י ו וְ שֹׁקֵ֥ט הוּא֙ אֶל שְׁמָרָ֔י ו וְ לֹֽא הוּרַ֤ק מִ כְּלִי֙ אֶל כֶּ֔לִי וּ בַ גּוֹלָ֖ה לֹ֣א הָלָ֑ךְ עַל כֵּ֗ן עָמַ֤ד טַעְמ וֹ֙ בּ֔ וֹ וְ רֵיח֖ וֹ לֹ֥א נָמָֽר Word-by-word: שַׁאֲנַ֨ן (šaʾănan) = "at ease" [7599] Vkp3ms; מוֹאָ֜ב (môʾāḇ) = "Moab" [4124] Np; מִ (mi) = "from" [4480] R; נְּעוּרָ֗י = "youth" [5271] Ncbpc; ו = "his" [2050c] Sp3ms; וְ (wə) = "and" [2050b] C; שֹׁקֵ֥ט (šōqēṭ) = "settled" [8252] Vqrmsa; הוּא֙ (hûʾ) = "he" [1931] Pp3ms; אֶל (ʾel-) = "on" [0413] R; שְׁמָרָ֔י = "dregs" [8105] Ncmpc;”
- MACULA Hebrew “Isaiah 48:1 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: שִׁמְעוּ זֹ֣את בֵּֽית יַעֲקֹ֗ב הַ נִּקְרָאִים֙ בְּ שֵׁ֣ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּ מִ מֵּ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה יָצָ֑אוּ הַֽ נִּשְׁבָּעִ֣ים בְּ שֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֗ה וּ בֵ אלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יַזְכִּ֔ירוּ לֹ֥א בֶ אֱמֶ֖ת וְ לֹ֥א בִ צְדָקָֽה Word-by-word: שִׁמְעוּ (šimʿû-) = "hear" [8085] Vqv2mp; זֹ֣את (zōʾṯ) = "this" [2063] Pdxfs; בֵּֽית (bēyṯ-) = "house" [1004] Ncmsc; יַעֲקֹ֗ב (yaʿăqōḇ) = "Jacob" [3290] Np; הַ (ha) = "those" [1886a] Td; נִּקְרָאִים֙ (nniqrāʾîm) = "called" [7121] VNrmpa; בְּ (bə) = "by" [0871a] R; שֵׁ֣ם (šēm) = "name" [8034] Ncmsc; יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiśrā”
- MACULA Hebrew “Genesis 48:20 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: וַ יְבָ֨רֲכֵ֜ ם בַּ יּ֣וֹם הַ הוּא֮ לֵ אמוֹר֒ בְּ ךָ֗ יְבָרֵ֤ךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵ אמֹ֔ר יְשִֽׂמְ ךָ֣ אֱלֹהִ֔ים כְּ אֶפְרַ֖יִם וְ כִ מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַ יָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת אֶפְרַ֖יִם לִ פְנֵ֥י מְנַשֶּֽׁה Word-by-word: וַ (wa) = "and" [2050b] C; יְבָ֨רֲכֵ֜ = "blessed" [1288] Vpw3ms; ם = "them" [3963a] Sp3mp; בַּ (ba) = "on" [0871a] Rd; יּ֣וֹם (yyôm) = "day" [3117] Ncmsa; הַ (ha) = "the" [1886a] Td; הוּא֮ (hûʾ) = "that" [1931] Pp3ms; לֵ (lē) = "to" [3807a] R; אמוֹר֒ (ʾmôr) = "saying" [0559] Vqc; בְּ = "by" [0871a] R; ךָ֗ = "you" [3509b] Sp2ms; יְבָרֵ֤ךְ”
- MACULA Hebrew “Genesis 48:16 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: הַ מַּלְאָךְ֩ הַ גֹּאֵ֨ל אֹתִ֜ י מִ כָּל רָ֗ע יְבָרֵךְ֮ אֶת הַ נְּעָרִים֒ וְ יִקָּרֵ֤א בָ הֶם֙ שְׁמִ֔ י וְ שֵׁ֥ם אֲבֹתַ֖ י אַבְרָהָ֣ם וְ יִצְחָ֑ק וְ יִדְגּ֥וּ לָ רֹ֖ב בְּ קֶ֥רֶב הָ אָֽרֶץ Word-by-word: הַ (ha) = "the" [1886a] Td; מַּלְאָךְ֩ (mmalʾāḵə) = "angel" [4397] Ncmsa; הַ (ha) = "the" [1886a] Td; גֹּאֵ֨ל (gōʾēl) = "redeemed" [1350] Vqrmsa; אֹתִ֜ [0853] To; י = "me" [2967a] Sp1cs; מִ (mi) = "from" [4480] R; כָּל (kol-) = "all" [3605] Ncmsc; רָ֗ע (rāʿ) = "harm" [7451] Aamsa; יְבָרֵךְ֮ (yəḇārēḵə) = "bless" [1288] Vpi3ms; אֶת (ʾeṯ-) ”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 48:21: 48:21 not thirsty . . . rock . . . water gushed: These reminders of God’s provision in the Exodus provide a fitting summary of what he would do to rescue Israel from captivity in Babylon (see Num 20:11).”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 48:28: It was round about eighteen thousand measures,.... Putting the numbers together which each side made, the circumference of the city was eighteen thousand measures; which, according to Cornelius a Lapide, were thirty two thousand miles; which shows that no city literally taken can be here meant, but mystically and spiritually the church of Christ, which will be of great extent in the latter day; and a large one it had need to be, to hold all nations that will flow into it; it will be spread all over the world; the world will become the church; the kingdoms of it will”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 52:11: 52:11-12 This is an exhortation to leave the captivity of sin (see 48:20 on leaving physical captivity in Babylon). See also 2 Cor 6:17; 2 Tim 2:19. 52:11 Here the imagery of leaving the unclean enemy city encourages the people to purify themselves by turning away from all known sin. Those who carry home the sacred objects of the Lord need to be pure.”
- Jeremiah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Jeremiah 48:1: Calamities to come on Moab. - Jer 48:1. "Thus saith Jahveh of hosts, the God of Israel, Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste! Kiriathaim is come to dishonour, it is taken: the fortress is come to dishonour and broken down. Jer 48:2. Moab's glory is no more. In Heshbon they have devised evil against her, [saying], Come, and let us cut her off from [being] a nation: thou also, O Madmen, art brought to silence; the sword shall go after thee. Jer 48:3. A sound of crying from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction. Jer 48:4. Moab is destroyed; her little ones hav”
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 48 (introduction): PROPHECY AGAINST MOAB. (Jer. 48:1-47) Nebo--a mountain and town of Moab; its meaning is "that which fructifies." Kiriathaim--a city of Moab, consisting of two cities, as the word signifies; originally held by the Emim (Gen 14:5). Misgab--meaning "elevation." It lay on an elevation.”
- Jeremiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 48:1: We may observe in these verses, I. The author of Moab's destruction; it is the Lord of hosts, that has armies, all armies, at his command, and the God of Israel (Jer 48:1), who will herein plead the cause of his Israel against a people that have always been vexatious to them, and will punish them now for the injuries done to Israel of old, though Israel was forbidden to meddle with them (Deu 2:9), therefore the destruction of Moab is called the work of the Lord (Jer 48:10), for it is he that pleads for Israel; and his work will exactly agree with his word, Jer 4”