Lexical Summary mearah: cave, caves, den Original Word: מְעָרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cave, den, hole From uwr; a cavern (as dark) -- cave, den, hole. see HEBREW uwr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a cave NASB Translation cave (31), caves (5), den (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְעָרָה40 noun feminine cave; — absolute ׳מ Genesis 19:30 +; construct מְעָרַת Genesis 23:19 +; plural מְעָרוֺת Judges 6:2 +, construct id. Isaiah 2:19; — cave, especially as place of sojourn or refuge Genesis 19:30 (J), 1 Samuel 24:3 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 24:7; 1 Samuel 24:8; 1 Samuel 24:10 (Ginsb; v.1 Samuel 24:4; v.1 Samuel 24:8; v.1 Samuel 24:9; v.1 Samuel 24:11 van d. H. Bear), 1 Kings 19:1,13; Ezekiel 33:27; Joshua 10:16 (בַמַּקֵּדָה ׳מ) + 7 t. Joshua 10; Judges 6:2; 1 Samuel 13:6; 1 Kings 18:4,13, compare Psalm 57:1; Psalm 142:1; מְעָרוֺת צֻרִים Isaiah 2:19, hence מָּרִצִים ׳מ Jeremiah 7:11 robbers' cave; Isaiah 32:14 den (of wild beasts); — עֲדֻלָּם ׳מ 1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13, whence in "" 1 Chronicles 11:15, read probably ׳מְצֻדַת ע or מְצָדַת We, compare Dr, Bu Kit HPS; — as burial place, הַמַּכְמֵּלָה ׳מ Genesis 23:9 + (see מַכְמֵּלָה) = ׳מ alone Genesis 23:11,17,20; Genesis 49:29,32 (all P). אֲשֶׁר לַצִּידֹנִים ׳מ Joshua 13:4 (D), cave-region in Lebanon east of Sidon, modern Mughâr Gezzîn, according to most, but dubious; perhaps, rather, near Tyre BuhlMDPV 1895, 55. Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew noun מְעָרָה (meʿarah) designates a natural or hand-hewn cavity in rock—variously translated “cave,” “den,” or “cavern.” From the days of the patriarchs to the prophetic era, caves figure prominently in Israel’s geography, worship, warfare, poetry, and prophecy. Geographical and Natural Setting The limestone hills of Judah, the chalk cliffs of the Negev, and the porous slopes of Carmel abound in caves. These recesses offered shade from the desert sun, storage for grain and water, makeshift shelters for flocks, and strategic hideouts. Archaeology confirms extensive cave networks at Makkedah, Adullam, and Mount Carmel that match biblical references. Burial and Covenant Hope The first named purchase of real estate in Scripture is a cave. Abraham insisted on buying “the cave of Machpelah” (Genesis 23:17) so that Sarah’s resting place would belong irrevocably to the family line that carried the covenant promise. The patriarchs Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were likewise buried there (Genesis 49:30; 50:13). The act testified that the land promise was so certain that graves could be planted in hope of future resurrection. Refuge During National Crises When Midian oppressed Israel, the people “made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds” (Judges 6:2). Saul’s lightly armed troops, terrified by Philistine chariots, “hid themselves in caves, thickets, and cisterns” (1 Samuel 13:6). Isaiah foresees a coming Day when proud humanity “will flee to caves in the rocks… from the presence of the terror of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:19, 21). Thus meʿarah becomes a symbol of human frailty seeking cover before overwhelming power. Military Strategy and Judgment After the Lord routed the five Amorite kings, they “fled and hid in the cave at Makkedah” (Joshua 10:16). Joshua ordered the mouth sealed with stones until he could return, then executed judgment and consigned the bodies to the same cavern (Joshua 10:26–27). The episode illustrates that the God who makes creation a sanctuary for His people can also turn it into a prison for the wicked. Prophetic Shelter and Revelation Obadiah concealed one hundred prophets “in two caves, fifty each” during Jezebel’s purge (1 Kings 18:4, 13), preserving the prophetic voice that later confronted Ahab. Elijah, having triumphed on Carmel yet fleeing Jezebel, took refuge at Horeb where “there he entered a cave and spent the night” (1 Kings 19:9). In that cave he received the quiet word that redirected his mission. Caves may represent obscurity, yet they also become chambers of renewed vision and assignment. Davidic Experience and Worship David twice found safety in caves—Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1; 1 Chronicles 11:15) and En-gedi (1 Samuel 24:3). From these dark enclaves came songs of faith: The inspired prayers forged in lonely caverns have strengthened generations of believers facing confinement, persecution, or despair. Poetic and Prophetic Imagery Job describes the outcasts of society dwelling “in terrifying ravines, in caves, and among the rocks” (Job 30:6), portraying social alienation. Nahum likens Nineveh to a lion whose “den” (Nahum 2:12) will soon be empty, declaring divine justice. Jeremiah condemns temple corruption with the charge, “Has this house… become a den of robbers in your sight?” (Jeremiah 7:11), a verse Jesus later invokes when cleansing the temple courts (Matthew 21:13), transferring the cave metaphor to religious hypocrisy. Messianic and New Testament Resonance Though meʿarah itself is Hebrew, its Greek counterpart σπήλαιον appears when Jesus cites Jeremiah: “You have made it a den of robbers.” The contrast between the sanctuary-cave of Machpelah (symbol of covenant faith) and the “den of robbers” (symbol of covenant violation) points forward to Christ, who transforms tombs and dens into gateways of resurrection and righteousness. The Lord’s own body lay in “a tomb cut out of the rock” (Mark 15:46), and the empty cave-like sepulchre announces the ultimate victory over death foreshadowed since Genesis. Lessons for Faith and Ministry Today 1. God meets His servants in obscurity. Isolation is no barrier to revelation (1 Kings 19:9). The motif of מְעָרָה weaves through Scripture as a tangible reminder that the Lord of creation commands even the dark recesses of the earth, turning them into altars of promise, sanctuaries of protection, or prisons of judgment according to His redemptive purposes. Forms and Transliterations בִּמְעָר֣וֹת בִּמְעָרַ֖ת בַּמְּעָר֤וֹת בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה בַּמְּעָרָ֖ה בַּמְּעָרָ֞ה בַּמְּעָרָֽה׃ בַמְּעָרָ֖ה בַמְּעָרָ֣ה במערה במערה׃ במערות במערת הַ֨מְּעָרָ֔ה הַמְּעָר֖וֹת הַמְּעָרָ֑ה הַמְּעָרָ֔ה הַמְּעָרָ֖ה הַמְּעָרָֽה׃ הַמְעָרַ֣ת המערה המערה׃ המערות המערת וְהַמְּעָרָ֣ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה וּבַמְּעָר֖וֹת ובמערות והמערה מְעָרַ֖ת מְעָרַ֞ת מְעָרַ֣ת מְעָרַ֤ת מְעָרָ֔ה מְעָרוֹת֙ מֵֽהַמְּעָרָ֔ה מֵהַמְּעָרָ֖ה מהמערה מערה מערות מערת bam·mə·‘ā·rāh ḇam·mə·‘ā·rāh bam·mə·‘ā·rō·wṯ bammə‘ārāh ḇammə‘ārāh bammə‘ārōwṯ bammeaRah bammeaRot bim‘āraṯ bim‘ārōwṯ bim·‘ā·raṯ bim·‘ā·rō·wṯ bimaRat bimaRot ham‘āraṯ ham·‘ā·raṯ ham·mə·‘ā·rāh ham·mə·‘ā·rō·wṯ hamaRat hammə‘ārāh hammə‘ārōwṯ hammeaRah hammeaRot mə‘ārāh mə‘āraṯ mə‘ārōwṯ mə·‘ā·rāh mə·‘ā·raṯ mə·‘ā·rō·wṯ mê·ham·mə·‘ā·rāh meaRah meaRat mearOt mêhammə‘ārāh mehammeaRah ū·ḇam·mə·‘ā·rō·wṯ ūḇammə‘ārōwṯ uvammeaRot vammeaRah vehammeaRah wə·ham·mə·‘ā·rāh wəhammə‘ārāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 19:30 HEB: בְּצ֑וֹעַר וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה ה֖וּא וּשְׁתֵּ֥י NAS: and he stayed in a cave, he and his two KJV: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two INT: Zoar stayed A cave he and his two Genesis 23:9 Genesis 23:11 Genesis 23:17 Genesis 23:19 Genesis 23:20 Genesis 25:9 Genesis 49:29 Genesis 49:30 Genesis 49:32 Genesis 50:13 Joshua 10:16 Joshua 10:17 Joshua 10:18 Joshua 10:22 Joshua 10:22 Joshua 10:23 Joshua 10:27 Joshua 10:27 Judges 6:2 1 Samuel 13:6 1 Samuel 22:1 1 Samuel 24:3 1 Samuel 24:3 1 Samuel 24:7 39 Occurrences |
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