Lexical Summary Aven: Iniquity, trouble, wickedness, vanity, idolatry Original Word: אָוֶן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Aven The same as 'aven; idolatry; Aven, the contemptuous synonym of three places, one in Coele-Syria, one in Egypt (On), and one in Palestine (Bethel) -- Aven. See also 'Own, Beyth 'Aven. see HEBREW 'aven see HEBREW 'Own see HEBREW Beyth 'Aven NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as aven Definition "wickedness," a contemptuous synonym for two places NASB Translation Aven (2). Topical Lexicon 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 Aven appears twice in Scripture as a proper place-name, each time within an oracle of judgment: 1. Ezekiel 30:17 sets Aven among the cities of the eastern Nile Delta. Most scholars identify it with the famous Heliopolis (“City of the Sun”) north-east of modern Cairo. Once a center of solar worship under pharaonic religion, it symbolized Egypt’s scientific learning and spiritual pride. The prophet foretells that “the young men of Aven and of Pi-beseth will fall by the sword, and the women will go into captivity”, highlighting the city’s vulnerability despite its ancient prestige. 2. Amos 1:5 places Aven in Syria, translated “Valley of Aven” or “Plain of Wickedness.” The setting is the fertile corridor between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon—later called the Beqaa Valley—known in antiquity for Baal worship at Baalbek. The Lord declares, “I will cut off the ruler from the Valley of Aven… the Arameans will be exiled to Kir”, announcing that Damascus’s political stronghold and its idolatrous heartland will alike be broken. Although the two sites lie hundreds of miles apart, both were prominent religious centers whose gods rivaled the covenant LORD. Their shared name becomes an inspired commentary on the emptiness of all pagan strength. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 1. Idolatry’s Futility. Aven embodies the principle that idols are “worthless” (compare Isaiah 44:9–20; Jeremiah 10:14–15). Cities built around false worship ultimately inherit the emptiness of their gods. 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 By exposing Aven, the prophets point forward to the One who would confront idolatry definitively. Jesus Christ, “the true light” (John 1:9), entered a world still darkened by the cults of sun and storm. At Calvary He bore the very “iniquity” (Hebrew ʿāwen) of His people (Isaiah 53:6), disarming every spiritual power (Colossians 2:15). Thus the toppling of Aven foreshadows the cross, where emptiness meets fullness in the Savior. 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 Psalm 24:4; Isaiah 1:13; Hosea 10:8; Hosea 12:11; Revelation 14:8. Together these texts present a consistent biblical testimony that all “vain” worship will collapse, while those who seek the Lord find enduring security. Forms and Transliterations אָ֔וֶן אָ֛וֶן און ’ā·wen ’āwen AvenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 30:17 HEB: בַּח֥וּרֵי אָ֛וֶן וּפִי־ בֶ֖סֶת KJV: The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth INT: the young of Aven Pi-beseth the sword Amos 1:5 2 Occurrences |
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