In biblical times, the term "stall" refers to a place where animals, particularly livestock, were kept. Stalls were essential components of agrarian life in ancient Israel and the surrounding regions, serving as shelters and feeding areas for domesticated animals such as cattle, sheep, and donkeys. The concept of a stall is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Bible, illustrating both practical and symbolic uses.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament provides several references to stalls, often highlighting their role in the daily life and economy of the Israelites. In 1 Kings 4:26, we read about King Solomon's wealth and resources: "Solomon had four thousand stalls for his chariot horses and twelve thousand horses." This passage underscores the importance of stalls in maintaining the king's extensive cavalry, which was a symbol of his power and prosperity.

In Habakkuk 3:17, the prophet uses the imagery of empty stalls to convey a message of desolation and trust in God despite dire circumstances: "Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls." Here, the absence of cattle in the stalls signifies a time of hardship and scarcity, yet it is juxtaposed with a call to rejoice in the Lord.

Symbolic and Spiritual Significance

Stalls also carry symbolic meanings in the biblical narrative. In the prophetic literature, the condition of stalls can reflect the spiritual state of the people. For instance, in Malachi 4:2, the promise of healing and restoration is depicted with the imagery of well-fed calves: "But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall." This verse uses the image of calves leaping from their stalls to symbolize joy, freedom, and the blessings that come from faithfulness to God.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not frequently mention stalls, the concept remains relevant in understanding the cultural and historical backdrop of the Gospels. The nativity account, for example, involves a manger, which is akin to a feeding trough found in a stall. In Luke 2:7, it is noted that Mary "gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." This humble setting for the birth of Jesus highlights themes of humility and divine providence.

Practical Aspects

Stalls were typically constructed from available materials such as wood or stone and were designed to provide protection from the elements. They were often part of larger structures like barns or stables, which housed multiple animals. The maintenance of stalls was crucial for the health and productivity of livestock, which in turn supported the agricultural economy and sustenance of the community.

In summary, stalls in the Bible serve as a practical element of ancient life, a symbol of spiritual truths, and a backdrop for significant biblical events. They reflect the interconnectedness of daily life, faith, and divine provision in the biblical narrative.1. (n.) A stand; a station; a fixed spot; hence, the stand or place where a horse or an ox kept and fed; the division of a stable, or the compartment, for one horse, ox, or other animal.

2. (n.) A stable; a place for cattle.

3. (n.) A small apartment or shed in which merchandise is exposed for sale; as, a butcher's stall; a bookstall.

4. (n.) A bench or table on which small articles of merchandise are exposed for sale.

5. (n.) A seat in the choir of a church, for one of the officiating clergy. It is enclosed, either wholly or partially, at the back and sides. The stalls are frequently very rich, with canopies and elaborate carving.

6. (v. i.) In the theater, a seat with arms or otherwise partly enclosed, as distinguished from the benches, sofas, etc.

7. (n.) The space left by excavation between pillars. See Post and stall, under Post.

8. (v. t.) To put into a stall or stable; to keep in a stall or stalls; as, to stall an ox.

9. (v. t.) To fatten; as, to stall cattle.

10. (v. t.) To place in an office with the customary formalities; to install.

11. (v. t.) To plunge into mire or snow so as not to be able to get on; to set; to fix; as, to stall a cart.

12. (v. t.) To forestall; to anticipate. Having

13. (v. t.) To keep close; to keep secret.

14. (v. i.) To live in, or as in, a stall; to dwell.

15. (v. i.) To kennel, as dogs.

16. (v. i.) To be set, as in mire or snow; to stick fast.

17. (v. i.) To be tired of eating, as cattle.

STALL

stol

((1) marbeq, literally, "a place for tying up" (Amos 6:4 Malachi 4:2),

(2) 'abhac, "to give fodder" (Proverbs 15:17),

(3) 'urvah, "to pluck and feed" (1 Kings 4:26 2 Chronicles 9:25; 2 Chronicles 32:28),

(4) repheth, "a resting place" (Habakkuk 3:17);

(5) phatne, "a manger" or "crib" (Luke 13:15; compare 'ebhuc, translated "crib" in Isaiah 1:3 Proverbs 14:4)): During the season when cattle are not being used they are allowed to roam in the fields. Otherwise they are tied in rooms in the winter time, or under shelters made of green boughs in the summer, and all their food brought to them. Horses and cattle alike are haltered and the chains fastened through holes made in stones projecting from the walls. No stanchions and no separating partitions between animals are used. The horses are usually hobbled as well.

James A. Patch

5336. phatne -- a manger
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: phatne Phonetic Spelling: (fat'-nay) Short Definition:
a manger, feeding-trough Definition: a manger, feeding-trough, stall. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5336.htm - 6k

3111. makellon -- a meat market
... a meat market, food market. Of Latin origin (macellum); a butcher's stall, meat
market or provision-shop -- shambles. (makello) -- 1 Occurrence. 3110, 3111. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3111.htm - 6k

4724. stello -- to arrange, prepare, gather up, hence to restrain
... Probably strengthened from the base of histemi; properly, to set fast ("stall"),
ie (figuratively) to repress (reflexively, abstain from associating with ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4724.htm - 6k

5469. chalinos -- a bridle
... bit, bridle. From chalao; a curb or head-stall (as curbing the spirit) -- bit, bridle.
see GREEK chalao. (chalinous) -- 1 Occurrence. (chalinon) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5469.htm - 6k

4770. marbeq -- a stall
... 4769, 4770. marbeq. 4771 . a stall. Transliteration: marbeq Phonetic Spelling:
(mar-bake') Short Definition: fattened. ... fatted, stall. ...
/hebrew/4770.htm - 5k

7517. repheth -- stable, stall
... 7516, 7517. repheth. 7518 . stable, stall. Transliteration: repheth Phonetic
Spelling: (reh'-feth) Short Definition: stalls. ... stall. ...
/hebrew/7517.htm - 6k

220. averah -- a stall -- cote
... 219b, 220. averah. 221 . a stall -- cote. Transliteration: averah Phonetic
Spelling: (av-ay-raw') Short Definition: stall. ... for urvah, qv. a stall -- cote ...
/hebrew/220.htm - 5k

723. urvah -- a manger, crib
... 722, 723. urvah. 723a . a manger, crib. Transliteration: urvah Phonetic
Spelling: (oor-vaw') Short Definition: stall. stall Or rarayah ...
/hebrew/723.htm - 5k

18. ebus -- a crib, feeding trough
... Word Origin from abas Definition a crib, feeding trough NASB Word Usage manger
(3). crib. From 'abac; a manger or stall -- crib. see HEBREW 'abac. 17, 18. ...
/hebrew/18.htm - 6k

4806. meri -- a fatling, fatlings
... From mara' in the sense of grossness, through the idea of domineering (compare mare');
stall-fed; often (as noun) a beeve -- fat (fed) beast (cattle, -ling). ...
/hebrew/4806.htm - 6k

4942. mishpethayim -- perhaps fireplaces, ash heaps
... burden, sheepfold. From shaphah; a stall for cattle (only dual) -- burden, sheepfold.
see HEBREW shaphah. 4941, 4942. mishpethayim. 4943 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/4942.htm - 6k

8240. shaphath -- perhaps fireplaces, ash heaps
... hook, pot From shaphath; a (double) stall (for cattle); also a (two-pronged) hook
(for flaying animals on) -- hook, pot. see HEBREW shaphath. 8239, 8240. ...
/hebrew/8240.htm - 5k

As to the Words of St. ...
... words of Ephraim: "Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised, like a calf I was
not trained." [3094] For a calf disports itself, and leaves its stall, and so ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter v as to the.htm

"Pan, Pan is Dead"
... On either side there are lines of booths, open to the air but shaded from the sun,
and we persuade a friendly stall-keeper to let us creep into her shelter. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxiii pan pan is.htm

Diamond Woke Very Early in the Morning, and Thought what a Curious ...
... Diamond! Where are you, Diamond?" she called out. Diamond turned his head where
he sat like a knight on his steed in enchanted stall, and cried aloud,"-. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 3 diamond woke very.htm

Of the Appearance of the Angels.
... 'Tis even so"for from the sky Heav'n's hosts with joyful tidings hie, That He is
born in Bethl'hem's stall, Who Saviour is and Lord of all! Oh blessedness! ...
/.../gerhardt/paul gerhardts spiritual songs/of the appearance of the.htm

Sabbath Healing. Mustard Seed and Leaven.
... the Lord.] 15 But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each
one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxvii sabbath healing mustard seed.htm

Letter i. The Christian's Mark.
... It must wither and die."Again; it is said, "Ye shall go forth and grow up as calves
of the stall." A healthy calf, that is fed in the stall, cannot but grow ...
/.../letter i the christians mark.htm

The Carcass and the Eagles
... lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs
out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; 5. That ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the carcass and the eagles.htm

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity Paul's Thanks and Prayers for ...
... Even the two remaining cows in the stall must be brought into requisition, and war
waged to the last stick, until when the mutineer comes and we have neither ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty second sunday after trinity.htm

"He Has Trusted Me," Said the Cardinal, -- "I have Found Him...
... school hours being ended, had run off to the market, and were talking vivaciously
with a big brown sturdy woman, who was selling poultry at a stall, under a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/v he has trusted me.htm

John Chapter ii. 21-Dec
... Primianus has a stall at Carthage, Maximianus has another, Rogatus has another in
Mauritania, they have another in Numidia, this party and that, which it is ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate x john chapter ii.htm

Stall (7 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A small apartment or shed in which merchandise is exposed for sale; as,
a butcher's stall; a bookstall. ... See Post and stall, under Post. ...
/s/stall.htm - 11k

Stall-fed (1 Occurrence)
Stall-fed. Stalled, Stall-fed. Stallions . Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp.
& pp) of Stall-feed. Multi-Version Concordance Stall-fed (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/stall-fed.htm - 6k

Manger (7 Occurrences)
... phatne, rendered "stall" in Luke 13:15) given to the place where the infant Redeemer
was laid. It seems to have been a stall or crib for feeding cattle. ...
/m/manger.htm - 10k

Calves (34 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 46:21 Also her hired men in the midst of her are like calves of the stall;
for they also are turned back, they are fled away together, they didn't ...
/c/calves.htm - 19k

Rebekah (31 Occurrences)
... of her that bears it, by means of which men are snared or bound; The root is found
in Hebrew only in the noun meaning "hitching-place" or "stall," in the ...
/r/rebekah.htm - 21k

Calf (39 Occurrences)
... `Eghel is used of the golden calves and frequently in the expression, `eghel marbeq,
"fatted calf," or "calf of the stall," the latter being the literal ...
/c/calf.htm - 49k

Stalled (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Stall. 2. (a.) Put or kept in a stall;
hence, fatted. Multi-Version Concordance Stalled (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/stalled.htm - 6k

Kneadeth (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 28:24 And the woman hath a calf of the stall in the house, and she hasteth
and slaughtereth it, and taketh flour, and kneadeth, and baketh it ...
/k/kneadeth.htm - 7k

Untie (10 Occurrences)
... Luke 13:15 But the Lord's reply to him was, "Hypocrites, does not each of you on
the Sabbath untie his bullock or his ass from the stall and lead him to water? ...
/u/untie.htm - 9k

Leaping (8 Occurrences)
... Malachi 4:2 But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with
healing in its wings. You will go out, and leap like calves of the stall. ...
/l/leaping.htm - 9k

What is the sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills? | GotQuestions.org

What is pikuach nefesh? | GotQuestions.org

Stall: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus