מְעָרָה
𐤌𐤏𐤓𐤄
mᵉʻârâh
H4631 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A natural or artificial subterranean chamber or hollow place in rock or earth; primarily used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to a cave, grotto, or large underground space, often as a place of dwelling, refuge, burial, or concealment. The word can denote both naturally occurring caves and those used for human purposes such as tombs or hiding places. In poetry or figurative language, it may refer to a place of darkness or isolation.
Semantic Range
cave, cavern, grotto, den, underground chamber, burial cave, hiding place, hole, place of refuge, place of concealment, (poetically) place of darkness or isolation
Root / Etymology
Root: ערה (ʿ-r-h), but the precise root connection is debated. Some link it to the root עוּר ('to be naked, exposed'), suggesting a connection to an open or hollowed place; others relate it to the idea of exposure or bareness within a rocky or earthen context. Overall, the etymology is uncertain and debated among scholars.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְעָרָה is widely attested in the Hebrew Bible, most often in narratives describing caves as places of burial (e.g., the Cave of Machpelah in Genesis 23), refuge (e.g., David hiding from Saul), or dwelling (e.g., Lot with his daughters, Judges 6:2). In the patriarchal and monarchic periods, caves and subterranean spaces served important functions for burial and safety, often in limestone-rich terrain where such features are common. By the exilic and post-exilic periods, the term retains its basic meaning and continues to denote natural and utilitarian subterranean spaces. English translations often render מְעָרָה as 'cave,' 'den,' or 'hole,' but sometimes do not fully capture its function as a burial site or significant place of refuge. Unlike מִנְהָרָה (minharah, 'tunnel'), which denotes a man-made passage, מְעָרָה typically refers to a chamber not predominantly shaped by human hands, even if sometimes modified for use. Usage may be literal (for physical caves) or figurative (as places of shelter, hiding, darkness, isolation). The word should not be confused with other terms for graves or tombs, though overlap appears in practice when מְעָרָה serves as a burial cave.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עוּר; a cavern (as dark); cave, den, hole.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ערה (ʿ-r-h) — to be bare, exposed; to strip; hollowness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4626 | מַעַר | like the exposed part of |
| H4629 | מַעֲרֶה | from an exposed pasture |
| H4630 | מַעֲרָה | bare clearings of |
| H4632 | מְעָרָה | and Mearah |
| H6168 | עָרָה | bare places |
Word Forms
15 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4631-05 |
הַ֨/מְּעָרָ֔ה | hamearah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the cave | the hollowed cave | 10 |
H4631-01 |
בַּ/מְּעָרָ֔ה | bamearah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in the cave | in the cave | 7 |
H4631-10 |
מְעָרַ֤ת | mearat | HNcfsc |
cave | cave of | 6 |
H4631-15 |
וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֥ה | vehamearah | HC/Td/Ncfsa |
and the cave | and the cave | 4 |
H4631-12 |
מֵ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֖ה | mehamearah | HR/Td/Ncfsa |
from the cave | from the cave | 2 |
H4631-14 |
בַ/מְּעָרָ֖ה | vamearah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in the cave | in the cave | 2 |
H4631-02 |
בַּ/מְּעָר֤וֹת | bamearot | HRd/Ncfpa |
in caves | in caverns | 1 |
H4631-11 |
מְעָרוֹת֙ | mearot | HNcfpa |
dens | caves | 1 |
H4631-03 |
בִּ/מְעָרַ֖ת | bimearat | HR/Ncfsc |
in the cave | in cave-of | 1 |
H4631-08 |
ה/מערה | hmrh | HTd/Ncfsa |
the cave | the cave | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
40 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4631-01 |
Genesis 19:30 | בַּ/מְּעָרָ֔ה | bamearah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in a cave | in the cave |
H4631-10 |
Genesis 23:9 | מְעָרַ֤ת | mearat | HNcfsc |
the cave | cave of |
H4631-15 |
Genesis 23:11 | וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֥ה | vehamearah | HC/Td/Ncfsa |
and the cave | and the cave |
H4631-15 |
Genesis 23:17 | וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֣ה | vehamearah | HC/Td/Ncfsa |
and the cave | and the cave |
H4631-10 |
Genesis 23:19 | מְעָרַ֞ת | mearat | HNcfsc |
the cave | cave of |
H4631-15 |
Genesis 23:20 | וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֧ה | vehamearah | HC/Td/Ncfsa |
and the cave | and the cave |
H4631-10 |
Genesis 25:9 | מְעָרַ֖ת | mearat | HNcfsc |
cave | cave of |
H4631-05 |
Genesis 49:29 | הַ֨/מְּעָרָ֔ה | hamearah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the cave | the hollowed cave |
H4631-01 |
Genesis 49:30 | בַּ/מְּעָרָ֞ה | bamearah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in the cave | in the cave |
H4631-15 |
Genesis 49:32 | וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֥ה | vehamearah | HC/Td/Ncfsa |
and the cave | and the cave |