65. Abel Mecholah

Lexicon

Abel Mecholah: Abel Mecholah

Original Word: אָבֵל מְחוֹלָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Abel Mchowlah
Pronunciation: ah-VEL meh-kho-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-bale' mekh-o-law')
Definition: Abel Mecholah
Meaning: Abel-Mecholah

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Abel-meholah

From 'abel and mchowlah; meadow of dancing; Abel-Mecholah, a place in Palestine -- Abel-meholah.

see HEBREW 'abel

see HEBREW mchowlah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from abel and mecholah
Definition
Elisha's birthplace in Pal.
NASB Translation
Abel-meholah (3).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from two Hebrew words: אָבֵל (Abel), meaning "meadow" or "stream," and מְחוֹלָה (Mecholah), meaning "dance" or "circle."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct corresponding Strong's Greek entries for Abel-Mecholah, as it is a specific Hebrew proper noun referring to a location in the Old Testament.

Usage: Abel-Mecholah is used as a proper noun in the Hebrew Bible, referring to a specific geographical location.

Context: Abel-Mecholah is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, primarily known as the birthplace of the prophet Elisha. It is situated in the Jordan Valley, within the territory of the tribe of Issachar, although some sources suggest it may have been in the territory of Manasseh. The name Abel-Mecholah translates to "meadow of dancing," which may indicate a place of celebration or a fertile area conducive to agriculture and community gatherings.

The first mention of Abel-Mecholah is found in the context of Gideon's battle against the Midianites. In Judges 7:22, the Midianites fled as far as Abel-Mecholah, near Tabbath, during their defeat by Gideon's forces. This indicates its location was significant in the narrative of Israel's deliverance from oppression.

Abel-Mecholah gains further prominence in the biblical narrative as the hometown of Elisha, the successor of the prophet Elijah. In 1 Kings 19:16, God instructs Elijah to anoint Elisha, the son of Shaphat of Abel-Mecholah, as a prophet in his place. This event marks the beginning of Elisha's ministry, which would be characterized by numerous miracles and a profound impact on the spiritual life of Israel.

The geographical and historical significance of Abel-Mecholah is underscored by its mention in these key biblical events. Its location in the fertile Jordan Valley would have made it an ideal place for agriculture and settlement, contributing to its role in the narratives of Israel's judges and prophets.

Forms and Transliterations

מְחוֹלָ֔ה מְחוֹלָ֖ה מחולה mə·ḥō·w·lāh mechoLah məḥōwlāh

Englishman's Concordance

Judges 7:22
HEB: שְׂפַת־ אָבֵ֥ל מְחוֹלָ֖ה עַל־ טַבָּֽת׃
NAS: as the edge of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.
KJV: [and] to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
INT: far as the edge of Abel-meholah by Tabbath

1 Kings 4:12
HEB: עַ֚ד אָבֵ֣ל מְחוֹלָ֔ה עַ֖ד מֵעֵ֥בֶר
NAS: from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah as far
KJV: from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, [even] unto [the place that is] beyond
INT: Beth-shean far to Abel-meholah far as the other

1 Kings 19:16
HEB: שָׁפָט֙ מֵאָבֵ֣ל מְחוֹלָ֔ה תִּמְשַׁ֥ח לְנָבִ֖יא
NAS: of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint
KJV: of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint
INT: the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shall anoint prophet

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 65
3 Occurrences

mə·ḥō·w·lāh — 3 Occ.