okinrus: I think I've already posted the correct meaning of "Mary," and it had nothing to do with temple priestess.
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M*W: Yes, you did post the definition of the title "Mary," but a woman who is "bitter" or "rebellious" is not the literal definition. Your definition is possibly a Christian definition, although I doubt that Christians consider Mary, the mother of Jesus to be neither "bitter" nor "rebellious." Your definition doesn't stand considering that "Mary" was a TITLE and not a NAME! Of course, the NT doesn't talk about "temple prostitutes," that would defeat its man-made purpose. You need to do some further reading into the customs of the peoples in the area: Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Babylonian and Sumerian customs. Please don't limit your religious education to that of the NT. Even in its simplest terms, the TITLE "Mary" means a woman of independent means. Like Mary Magdalene is referred to as "the tower," it means she was a woman of very high status. Haven't you ever wondered why all those women following Rabbi Jesus were called the "Marys?" FYI, the TITLE "Martha" means "initiate." Martha had not achieved Mary status but was a noviciate. Come on, okinrus, I know you're an intelligent young man. Don't be afraid to learn the code names of the bible.
