| Macedonia | The northern part of Greece, where Thessalonica and Philippi were. |
| make … pure | Or “make atonement for ….” The Hebrew word means “to cover,” or “to erase” a person’s sins. |
| man of God | Another title for a prophet. See “prophet.” |
| manna | The special food provided by God that the Israelites gathered daily from the ground during the 40 years they wandered through the desert. See Ex. 16:4-36. |
| Marduk | The most important god of the Babylonian people. |
| maskil | The meaning of this word is uncertain. It might mean “a poem of meditation,” “a poem of instruction,” or “a skillfully written poem.” |
| mast | The tall pole to which the sail is tied on a sailboat. |
| Medes and Persians | See “Medes.” |
| Medes | People of the Medo-Persian Empire (also called Media), which defeated the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 539 b.c. See Isa. 13:17. |
| mediator | A person who helps one person talk to or give something to another person. |
| medium | A person who tries to talk with the spirits of people who have died. |
| Meeting Tent | See “Holy Tent.” |
| Melchizedek | A priest and king who lived in the time of Abraham. See Gen. 14:17-24. |
| memorial stone | A stone that was set up to help people remember something special. In ancient Israel, people often set up stones at places where they worshiped false gods. |
| merchant | A person who earns a living by buying and selling things. |
| mercy-cover | The top part of the Box of the Agreement. The Hebrew word can mean “lid,” “cover,” or “the place where sins are atoned (covered, erased, or forgiven).” |
| message | See “Good News.” |
| miktam | The meaning of this word is uncertain. It might mean “a well-arranged song.” |
| Milcom | A god worshiped by the Ammonites, probably the same as the god Molech. See 1 Kings 11:5, 7. |
| mildew | A kind of fungus that often grows on cloth, leather, or wood that is in a warm, damp place. The Hebrew word also means “leprosy” or “skin disease.” |
| mill | Two large, flat rocks used for grinding grain to make flour. |
| Millo | Probably the stone foundation walls that were built on the steep slopes southeast of the Temple area in Jerusalem. |
| millstone | A large, round stone used for grinding grain. |
| miracle | An amazing act done by the power of God. |
| miraculous sign | An amazing act that demonstrates the power of God. |
| Moab | A country east of the Dead Sea, named after one of Lot’s sons. See Gen. 19:37. |
| Molech | A false god. This name is like the Hebrew word meaning “king.” |
| Moses | One of the most important leaders of the Israelites during the time of the Old Testament. God used him to give the people his law, which is often called “the Law of Moses.” |
| Most Holy Place | Literally, “holy of holies,” the most important room in the Holy Tent or the Temple, where the Box of the Agreement was kept. It was like a throne room where God sat as king of Israel and where the high priest entered into his presence on the Day of Atonement. |
| Mount Horeb | Another name for Mount Sinai. |
| Mount of Olives | A hill east of the city of Jerusalem from which a person could see the Temple area. |
| Mount Paran | This is probably an important mountain west of the Gulf of Aqaba and north of Mount Sinai. |
| Mount Sinai | The mountain located somewhere on the Sinai Peninsula (the eastern part of modern-day Egypt) where God gave his laws to Moses and the Israelites. Also called Mount Horeb. See Ex. 19 and 20. |
| Mount Zion | See “Zion.” |
| mourn, mourners | To express sorrow for someone who has died or for something lost. In ancient Israel people often put on special clothes, cried very loudly, and put ashes on their head to show their sadness. Professional “mourners” were sometimes paid to do this at a funeral. |
| mustard | A plant that has a very small seed but grows taller than a man. |
| myrrh | Sweet-smelling sap from the bark of trees or other plants that was used for perfume and also to prepare bodies for burial. Mixed with wine, it was probably used to relieve pain (Mk. 15:23). |
