מַעֲבֶה
𐤌𐤏𐤁𐤄
maʻăbeh
H4568 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of soil that is dense or compacted, typically referring to heavy, adhesive earth or loam suitable for construction or pottery. In biblical context, specifically indicates a thick, clayey soil as opposed to sandy or loose earth. Used with reference to material that is especially firm or binding.
Semantic Range
clay, loam, dense earth, compacted soil, thick soil
Root / Etymology
From the root עבה (ʿ-b-h), meaning 'to be thick, dense'. מַעֲבֶה is a noun form denoting 'thickness' of a substance, here referring to the soil's compacted quality. The word is formed with the nominalizing prefix מַ- and the characteristic vowel patterns for such abstract or concrete nouns in Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
This rare term appears in job 21:33 where it is used in poetic description to contrast the burial of the wealthy with that of others, likely implying that the rich are interred in fertile or prized earth. The word may have connotations of a soil type that is both fertile and traditionally valued for burial or agriculture. English translations commonly render it as 'clay' or 'loam,' but the nuance highlights the soil's density and richness, not merely its material composition. The term is distinct from more general words for 'earth' (אֲדָמָה, אֶרֶץ) and from words that connote dryness or sandiness. Its specific use in scripture suggests an awareness of regionally differentiated soils in the ancient Israelite landscape. No significant semantic shift is documented for this term, as it is limited in attestation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָבָה; properly, compact (part of soil), i.e. loam; clay.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עבה (ʿ-b-h) — to be thick, to be dense, to be fat
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4568-01 |
בְּ/מַעֲבֵ֖ה | bemaaveh | HR/Ncmsc |
in the mold | in thick loam of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4568-01 |
1 Kings 7:46 | בְּ/מַעֲבֵ֖ה | bemaaveh | HR/Ncmsc |
in the mold | in thick loam of |