Memra

Memra is an Aramaic word meaning “word” and is frequently used in Aramaic biblical translations to speak about divine activity. Instead of describing God acting directly, these texts often say that the Memra of God creates, speaks, commands, or saves. This usage serves as an intermediary form of language that avoids portraying God with human traits or physical form. By attributing action to the Memra, interpreters could explain how God is active in the world while maintaining divine transcendence. Memra thus functions as a literary and interpretive device that reshapes biblical language to fit later theological concerns.