Merneptah (occasionally: Merenptah) was pharaoh of Ancient Egypt (1213 – 1203 BC), the fourth ruler of the 19th Dynasty. He was the 13th son of Ramesses II and came to power first after all his older brothers had died, by which time he was almost sixty years old. His throne name was Ba-en-re Mery-netjeru, which means "The Soul of Re, Beloved of the Gods".

Merenptah was probably the fourth child of Ramesses II's second wife, Istnofret (Isisnofret). He was married to queen Istnofret (Isisnofret), who must have been his sister, and possibly also to a queen Takhat. One of his sons with Istnofret was Seti-Merneptah, who probably became later pharaoh as Seti II.

It is likely that it is this pharaoh who is mentioned in the book Exodus. Without doubt he had to carry out several campaigns during his reigns, mainly fighting against the Libyans, who – with the assistance of the Sea People – were threatening Egypt from the West. His campaign against the Libyans was glorified in his famous stele, which also references a campaign in the Levant.

He died a natural death in high age. He was succeeded by his son Amenmesse, possibly a son of queen Takhat. His tomb is number KV8 in the Valley of the Kings, but his mummy was not found within this tomb. In 1898 it was discovered along with 18 others in the mummy cache within the tomb of Amenhotep II (KV35 ).