4693. spélaion

Strong's Lexicon

spélaion: Cave, den

Original Word: σπήλαιον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: spélaion
Pronunciation: SPAY-lah-yon
Phonetic Spelling: (spay'-lah-yon)
Definition: Cave, den
Meaning: a cave, den, hideout.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb σπέος (speos), meaning "cave" or "grotto."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H4631 (מְעָרָה, me'arah): Often translated as "cave" or "den," used in the Old Testament to describe natural caves or hiding places, such as the cave of Adullam where David sought refuge (1 Samuel 22:1).

Usage: In the New Testament, "spélaion" is used to describe a cave or a den. It often conveys a sense of a hidden or secretive place, sometimes with negative connotations, such as a den of robbers. The term is used metaphorically to describe places of refuge or concealment, as well as places of illicit activity.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient times, caves were commonly used as places of shelter, burial, and refuge. They were natural formations that provided protection from the elements and enemies. In the context of the New Testament, caves could also be associated with banditry and lawlessness, as they were often used as hideouts by robbers. The imagery of a "den of robbers" would have been a powerful metaphor for corruption and moral decay, particularly in religious contexts.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from speos (a cave)
Definition
a cave
NASB Translation
cave (1), caves (2), den (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4693: σπήλαιον

σπήλαιον, σπηλαίου, τό (σπέος (cavern; cf. Curtius, § 111)), a cave (den): Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46; John 11:38; Hebrews 11:38; Revelation 6:15. (Plato, Plutarch, Lucian, Aelian, others; the Sept. for מְעָרָה.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

cave, den.

Neuter of a presumed derivative of speos (a grotto); a cavern; by implication, a hiding-place or resort -- cave, den.

Forms and Transliterations

σπηλαια σπήλαια σπηλαιοις σπηλαίοις σπηλαιον σπήλαιον σπηλαίου σπηλαίω σπιθα΄μης σπιθαμή σπιθαμής spelaia spēlaia spḗlaia spelaiois spelaíois spēlaiois spēlaíois spelaion spēlaion spḗlaion

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 21:13 N-ANS
GRK: αὐτὸν ποιεῖτε σπήλαιον λῃστῶν
NAS: but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN.
KJV: have made it a den of thieves.
INT: it have made a den of robbers

Mark 11:17 N-ANS
GRK: πεποιήκατε αὐτὸν σπήλαιον λῃστῶν
NAS: But you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN.
KJV: have made it a den of thieves.
INT: made it a den of robbers

Luke 19:46 N-ANS
GRK: αὐτὸν ἐποιήσατε σπήλαιον λῃστῶν
NAS: but you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN.
KJV: have made it a den of thieves.
INT: it have made a den of robbers

John 11:38 N-NNS
GRK: ἦν δὲ σπήλαιον καὶ λίθος
NAS: Now it was a cave, and a stone
KJV: It was a cave, and a stone
INT: it was moreover a cave and a stone

Hebrews 11:38 N-DNP
GRK: ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς
NAS: and mountains and caves and holes
KJV: and [in] dens and
INT: in mountains and in caves and in the

Revelation 6:15 N-ANP
GRK: εἰς τὰ σπήλαια καὶ εἰς
NAS: themselves in the caves and among
KJV: themselves in the dens and in
INT: in the caves and in

Strong's Greek 4693
6 Occurrences

σπήλαια — 1 Occ.
σπηλαίοις — 1 Occ.
σπήλαιον — 4 Occ.