4693. spélaion

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.

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.

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.)

Topical Lexicon

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

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H4631 מְעָרָה (me'arah): A cave or den, often used in the Old Testament to describe natural formations used as shelters or hideouts.
• H5787 עֲרָבוֹת (aravot): While not a direct equivalent, this term can refer to desolate places or wilderness areas, sometimes associated with caves or dens.

In summary, σπήλαιον is a term rich with both literal and metaphorical significance in the biblical narrative, illustrating themes of refuge, corruption, and the contrast between sacred purpose and human misuse.

Usage: The term σπήλαιον is used in the New Testament to describe a physical cave or den, often with connotations of a place of refuge or a hideout. It is also used metaphorically to describe a place of corruption or wrongdoing.

Context: The Greek word σπήλαιον appears in several key passages in the New Testament, often carrying significant symbolic meaning. In the Gospels, σπήλαιον is notably used in the context of Jesus' cleansing of the temple. In Matthew 21:13, Jesus declares, "It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a den of robbers." Here, σπήλαιον (translated as "den") is used metaphorically to describe the temple, which had become a place of exploitation and corruption, contrasting its intended purpose as a house of prayer.

The term also appears in the context of physical caves, such as in Hebrews 11:38, which refers to the faithful who "wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground." This usage highlights the historical reality of caves as places of refuge and survival for those facing persecution or hardship.

The metaphorical use of σπήλαιον as a "den of robbers" draws on Old Testament imagery, where caves and dens were often associated with hiding places for outlaws and those engaged in nefarious activities. This imagery underscores the moral and spiritual corruption that Jesus sought to address in His ministry.

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.