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מָעוֹן

𐤌𐤏𐤅𐤍

mâʻôwn

H4583 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עון to dwell, to provide a fixed abode

Definition

A place of habitation or dwelling, primarily denoting a fixed abode or residence. Used for both human dwellings (homes, habitations), animal lairs, and as a figurative term for the divine dwelling (sanctuary/tabernacle). The term can also carry the sense of a refuge or place of safety, especially when used metaphorically or in poetry. The semantic range encompasses literal, physical locations of residence and broader, sometimes abstract senses such as refuge or home in a spiritual sense.

Semantic Range

dwelling place, habitation, home, animal lair, residence, den, divine abode (sanctuary, tabernacle), retreat, refuge, place of shelter

Root / Etymology

From the root עון, whose basic sense relates to 'providing a dwelling, to reside.' The formation is nominal, using the mem-prefix (מ), commonly marking nouns expressing place or means in Hebrew. The close parallel form מָעִין (maʻin, 1 Chronicles 4:41) is a variant, possibly dialectical or orthographic, without significant lexical distinction. The root is not widely attested outside this family of words, and the deeper etymology is uncertain, though generally accepted as dwelling-related.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מָעוֹן is used with subtle variations in different periods and texts. In narratives and poetry, it can describe the physical habitations of people (homes), animals (lairs or dens), and in a cultic context, the habitation of the deity—most notably the Tabernacle during the wilderness period and, by later usage, the Temple. Although sometimes translated 'refuge' or 'asylum,' the primary meaning is not that of a legal sanctuary but a dwelling place, with nuances of safety or security arising contextually. In post-exilic literature, the term can refer symbolically to the heavenly abode of God. English translations often render מָעוֹן as 'dwelling' or 'habitation,' but may, in poetic passages, use 'refuge' or 'asylum,' sometimes obscuring the more concrete sense of the Hebrew. The term is distinct from similar roots like יֵשֶׁב (to dwell/live/reside), which focus more on the act of dwelling, whereas מָעוֹן focuses on the place itself as an established abode.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מָעִין; (1 Chronicles 4:41), from the same as עוֹנָה; an abode, of God (the Tabernacle or the Temple), men (their home) or animals (their lair); hence, a retreat (asylum); den, dwelling((-) place), habitation.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עון (ʿ-w-n) — to dwell, to reside, to provide a fixed abode

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1010 בֵּית בַּעַל מְעוֹן Dwelling-Place
H1186 בַּעַל מְעוֹן Dwelling-place
H4584 מָעוֹן in Dwelling-place
H4585 מְעוֹנָה in our dwelling-places
H4587 מְעוֹנֹתַי and Dweller-of-dwellings

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4583-04 מְע֣וֹן meon HNcbsc a-dwelling dwelling-place 5
H4583-03 מָע֑וֹן maon HNcbsa dwelling place dwelling place 4
H4583-02 לִ/מְע֥וֹן limeon HR/Ncbsc a haunt for dwelling-place of 2
H4583-07 מִ/מְּע֨וֹן mimeon HR/Ncbsc from His dwelling from a dwelling-place 2
H4583-08 וּ/מִ/מְּע֤וֹן umimeon HC/R/Ncbsc and-from-habitation and from dwelling-place of 1
H4583-05 מְעוֹנֶֽ/ךָ meonekha HNcbsc/Sp2ms your habitation your dwelling-place 1
H4583-01 בִּ/מְע֥וֹן bimeon HR/Ncbsc in-dwelling in dwelling-of 1
H4583-06 מְעוֹנֽ/וֹ meono HNcbsc/Sp3ms his dwelling his dwelling-place 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4583-07 Deuteronomy 26:15 מִ/מְּע֨וֹן mimeon HR/Ncbsc from your habitation from a dwelling-place
H4583-03 1 Samuel 2:29 מָע֑וֹן maon HNcbsa for my dwelling dwelling place
H4583-03 1 Samuel 2:32 מָע֔וֹן maon HNcbsa of my dwelling dwelling place
H4583-04 Jeremiah 9:10 מְע֣וֹן meon HNcbsc a-dwelling dwelling-place
H4583-04 Jeremiah 10:22 מְע֥וֹן meon HNcbsc a lair dwelling-place
H4583-08 Jeremiah 25:30 וּ/מִ/מְּע֤וֹן umimeon HC/R/Ncbsc and-from-habitation and from dwelling-place of
H4583-02 Jeremiah 49:33 לִ/מְע֥וֹן limeon HR/Ncbsc a haunt for dwelling-place of
H4583-04 Jeremiah 51:37 מְעוֹן meon HNcbsc a dwelling place dwelling-place
H4583-04 Nahum 2:12 מְע֣וֹן meon HNcbsc the den dwelling-place
H4583-07 Zechariah 2:17 מִ/מְּע֥וֹן mimeon HR/Ncbsc from His dwelling from a dwelling-place
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