Lexical Summary opé: Opening, hole, aperture Original Word: ὀπή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cave, place. Probably from optanomai; a hole (as if for light), i.e. Cavern; by analogy, a spring (of water) -- cave, place. see GREEK optanomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably from a prim. root op- (cf. horaó) Definition an opening, a hole NASB Translation holes (1), opening (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3692: ὀπήὀπή, ὀπῆς, ἡ (perhaps from ὄψ (root ὀπ (see ὁράω); cf. Curtius, § 627)), properly, through which one can see (Pollux (2, 53, p. 179) ὀπή, δἰ ἧς ἐστιν ἰδεῖν, cf. German Luke, Loch (?)), an opening, aperture (used of a window, Song of Solomon 5:4): of fissures in the earth, James 3:11 (Exodus 33:22); of caves in rocks or mountains, Hebrews 11:38 (here R. V. holes); Obadiah 1:3. (Of various other kinds of holes and openings, in Aristophanes, Aristotle, others.) Topical Lexicon Definition and Imagery The word denotes a natural or man-made opening in the earth or rock—anything from a narrow fissure to a spacious cavern, or the mouth of a spring. Scripture employs the term both literally and metaphorically, associating it with refuge, concealment, and the source from which something flows. Old Testament Background Although the exact Greek term is confined to the New Testament, its ideas echo Hebrew imagery: Elijah in the cave on Horeb (1 Kings 19:9), David hiding from Saul (1 Samuel 22:1), and the righteous who “dwelt in holes of the earth” (Isaiah 2:19). Such places were shelters for the persecuted and symbols of divine preservation amid hostility. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Hebrews 11:38 These two texts reveal complementary themes—persecution and purity—each casting light on the character of genuine faith. Hebrews 11:38: Refuge of the Persecuted “the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.” (Hebrews 11:38) Here the opening is a last resort for saints who refuse to compromise. The setting underscores: For pastors and teachers, the verse challenges congregations to esteem faithfulness above comfort and public acclaim, assuring believers that obscurity in the world’s eyes may be glory in God’s. James 3:11: The Opening that Reveals the Heart “Can both fresh water and bitter water flow from the same spring?” (James 3:11) The physical aperture of a water source becomes an image of the human mouth. From one opening only one kind of water should emerge, so from the believer’s lips should proceed consistent grace. James exposes: In ministry, the verse guides self-examination and corporate discipleship. Fellowship is strengthened when members guard vocabulary as carefully as they would protect a community’s drinking water. Intertestamental and Greco-Roman Usage Contemporary literature uses the term for crevices where hermits dwelt, hiding places for treasure, and mouths of springs along travel routes. The writers of Hebrews and James assume their readers grasp everyday realities—caves known to wanderers, fountains familiar to villagers—and then elevate those images to spiritual truths. Theological Significance • Providence: God supplies obscure havens for His servants. Practical Application in Ministry • Suffering Saints: Encourage believers who feel marginalized; the caves of Hebrews 11 promise that God notices every hardship endured for His name. Related Biblical Themes Refuge (Psalm 46:1), Concealment (Colossians 3:3), Springs of Living Water (John 4:14), Integrity of Speech (Proverbs 10:11), Pilgrimage and Exile (1 Peter 2:11). Summary Strong’s 3692 gathers under one image two essential truths: God shelters the faithful when the world is hostile, and God exposes the heart through the words that flow from the mouth. The believer who knows both the hiding place and the fountainhead walks securely and speaks life. Forms and Transliterations οπαις οπαίς ὀπαῖς οπή οπήν οπης οπής ὀπῆς οπήτιον οπητίω οπών opais opaîs opes opês opēs opē̂sLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Hebrews 11:38 N-DFPGRK: καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς NAS: and caves and holes in the ground. KJV: [in] dens and caves of the earth. INT: and in the holes of the earth James 3:11 N-GFS |
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