The Hebrew word meri means rebellion, defiance, or contrariness. It is used as a noun form of the verb marah (H4784), meaning to be disobedient or rebellious. Ezekiel uses meri as a virtual title for the rebellious house of Israel, particularly in the phrase 'house of rebellion.'
The frequency of meri in Ezekiel is striking — God repeatedly refers to Israel as a 'house of rebellion' (beit meri). This is not incidental language; it is a theological diagnosis. Israel's fundamental problem is not merely external behavior but the posture of the heart — a deep-seated defiance of God's authority. This connects to the New Testament concept of enmity with God (Romans 8:7) and the need for a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). The antidote to meri is not merely reform but transformation — the removal of the heart of stone and the gift of a heart of flesh that is responsive to God's will.