מ
Final form: ם
Mem
Water, chaos, the revealed and hidden, womb
Mem (מ) is the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and its ancient pictographic form was waves of water — making it one of the most visually intuitive letters. Water is central to the biblical narrative: creation began with waters, the flood covered the earth, Moses was drawn from water, Israel crossed the Red Sea and the Jordan, and Jesus was baptized in water. Mem's numerical value of 40 echoes throughout Scripture: 40 days of rain, 40 years in the wilderness, 40 days on Sinai, 40 days of Jesus' temptation. Mem has two forms — open (מ) and closed/final (ם) — representing revealed and hidden wisdom, the waters we can see and the depths we cannot fathom.
How to Pronounce Mem
Mem makes an 'M' sound, like the M in 'mother' or 'mercy.'
“She named him Moses (Moshe), saying, 'I drew him out of the water (mayim).'”
Ancient Pictographic Form
The ancient pictographic Mem was drawn as waves of water — a wavy line. It evolved through Phoenician into the Greek Mu (Μ) and the Latin M.
Pictograph: Waves of water
Spiritual Significance
Mem represents the waters of Torah, purification, and the deep things of God. Its two forms — open (מ) and closed (ם) — represent revealed and hidden wisdom. The number 40 symbolizes testing, transformation, and preparation for a new beginning. Water in Hebrew thought represents both life-giving sustenance and overwhelming chaos — both aspects of encountering God.
Connection to Scripture
Moses (Moshe, מֹשֶׁה) — whose name means 'drawn from water' — begins with Mem. The number 40 (Mem's value) appears in the flood, wilderness wandering, Moses on Sinai, and Jesus' temptation. Messiah (Mashiach, מָשִׁיחַ) also begins with Mem.
Words That Begin with Mem
Mayim
Water
Moshe
Moses
Mashiach
Messiah
Mitzvah
Commandment
Melech
King
Modern Hebrew Usage
In modern Hebrew, Mem appears in words like מַיִם (mayim, water), מֹשֶׁה (Moshe, Moses), מָשִׁיחַ (Mashiach, Messiah), and מִצְוָה (mitzvah, commandment). The prefix מ (me-/mi-) means 'from.'
People Also Ask
Why is the number 40 significant in the Bible?
The number 40 (represented by Mem) appears throughout Scripture as a period of testing, transformation, and preparation: 40 days of the flood, 40 years in the wilderness, 40 days Moses spent on Sinai, 40 days of Jesus' temptation. It represents the time needed for complete transformation.
What is the difference between open and closed Mem?
Open Mem (מ) is used at the beginning or middle of a word and has an opening in its shape. Closed Mem (ם, Mem Sofit) is used at the end of a word and is completely enclosed. Mystically, open Mem represents revealed wisdom and closed Mem represents hidden, sealed wisdom.
Fun Fact
Mem is one of five Hebrew letters with a final form (sofit). The closed Mem (ם) at the end of a word is completely enclosed — like a sealed container of hidden wisdom. The open Mem (מ) has a gap, representing wisdom that flows freely.
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