Merathaim

Merathaim is a Hebrew word found in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 50:21). It is generally understood to be a symbolic or poetic name for the land of Babylonia (or Chaldea). The name is likely formed from a combination of the Hebrew word "marah," meaning "bitter" or "rebellious," and a dual suffix "-taim," suggesting a double measure or form of the characteristic.

Therefore, "Merathaim" can be interpreted as "double rebellion" or "double bitterness," characterizing Babylonia's defiance against God. Its use in Jeremiah serves as a prophetic condemnation of Babylon's wickedness and a declaration of impending judgment upon the empire. The parallel poetic name used in the same verse, "Pekod," which means "visitation" or "punishment," reinforces this theme of divine retribution. Both names function as symbolic representations of Babylon's fate rather than literal place names necessarily known outside of prophetic literature.