Hebrew noun (feminine) · H4631
מְעָרָה
mearahmeh-aw-raw'
cave
37 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: mᵉʻârâh
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H4631is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 10 of 39Old Testament books
- 26spellings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · H4631
a cavern (as dark)
The King James renders it: cave, den, hole.
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
mearah is rendered "cave". It stands 37 times in the Hebrew text, across ten books.
- Eleven of the uses stand in Genesis, more than in any other book.
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Genesis 19:30Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains—for he was afraid to stay in Zoar—where they lived in a cave.
- The Greek text spells it twenty-six different ways.
The first use
Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains—for he was afraid to stay in Zoar—where they lived in a cave.
Genesis 19:30בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה
The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.
Where the word stands
What the word means
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- the cave10
- in the cave7
- cave of6
- and the cave4
- from the cave2
- ¿ a den of1
- a cave1
- and in the caves1
- caves1
- in cave of1
- in caves of1
- in the caves1
and 1 more, 37 uses in all
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
| Word | Written | Meaning | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| מְעָה | meah | belly | Uses1 |
Other numbers on this spelling
Strong gave these words the same spelling and different numbers, so the site counts and defines them apart.
All 37, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
26 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה4
- הַמְּעָרָ֑ה4
- הַמְּעָרָ֖ה3
- מְעָרַ֖ת3
- וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה2
- בַמְּעָרָ֖ה1
- בַּמְּעָרָ֞ה1
- בַּמְּעָרָ֖ה1
- בִּמְעָר֣וֹת1
- בַּמְּעָר֤וֹת1
- בִּמְעָרַ֖ת1
- הַ֨מְּעָרָ֔ה1
and 14 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singular10HTd/Ncfsa
- preposition with the article + noun · feminine singular7HRd/Ncfsa
- noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)6HNcfsc
- conjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singular4HC/Td/Ncfsa
- preposition + the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singular2HR/Td/Ncfsa
- conjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · feminine plural1HC/Rd/Ncfpa
- noun · feminine plural1HNcfpa
- noun · feminine singular1HNcfsa
- preposition + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)1HR/Ncfpc
- preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)1HR/Ncfsc
- preposition with the article + noun · feminine plural1HRd/Ncfpa
- the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine plural1HTd/Ncfpa
Genesis
eleven uses
Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains—for he was afraid to stay in Zoar—where they lived in a cave.
- בַּמְּעָרָ֔הbamearahpreposition with the article + noun · feminine singulartagged: in the cave
to sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence for full price, so that I may have a burial site.”
- מְעָרַ֤תmearatnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: cave of
“No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”
- וְהַמְּעָרָ֥הvehamearahconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: and the cave
So Ephron’s field at Machpelah near Mamre, the cave that was in it, and all the trees within the boundaries of the field were deeded over
- וְהַמְּעָרָ֣הvehamearahconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: and the cave
After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
- מְעָרַ֞תmearatnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: cave of
So the field and its cave were deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.
- וְהַמְּעָרָ֧הvehamearahconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: and the cave
His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite.
- מְעָרַ֖תmearatnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: cave of
Then Jacob instructed them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.
- הַ֨מְּעָרָ֔הhamearahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the cave
The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
- בַּמְּעָרָ֞הbamearahpreposition with the article + noun · feminine singulartagged: in the cave
The field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the Hittites.”
- וְהַמְּעָרָ֥הvehamearahconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: and the cave
They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
- בִּמְעָרַ֖תbimaratpreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in cave of
Joshua
eight uses
Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah.
- בַמְּעָרָ֖הvamearahpreposition with the article + noun · feminine singulartagged: in the cave
And Joshua was informed: “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”
- בַּמְּעָרָ֖הbamearahpreposition with the article + noun · feminine singulartagged: in the cave
So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post men there to guard them.
- הַמְּעָרָ֑הhamearahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the cave
Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”
- הַמְּעָרָ֑הhamearahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the cave
- הַמְּעָרָֽה׃hamearahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the cave
So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
- הַמְּעָרָ֑הhamearahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the cave
At sunset Joshua ordered that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this day.
- הַמְּעָרָ֖הhamearahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the cave
- הַמְּעָרָ֔הhamearahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the cave
Judges
one use
and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.
- הַמְּעָר֖וֹתhamearotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine pluraltagged: the caves
1 Samuel
seven uses
Seeing that they were in danger because their troops were hard-pressed, the men of Israel hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in cellars and cisterns.
- בַּמְּעָר֤וֹתbamearotpreposition with the article + noun · feminine pluraltagged: in the caves
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.
- מְעָרַ֣תmearatnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: cave of
Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave.
- מְעָרָ֔הmearahnoun · feminine singulartagged: a cave
- הַמְּעָרָ֖הhamearahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the cave
With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
- מֵהַמְּעָרָ֖הmehamearahpreposition + the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: from the cave
After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
- מֵֽהַמְּעָרָ֔הmehamearahpreposition + the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: from the cave
Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
- בַּמְּעָרָ֔הbamearahpreposition with the article + noun · feminine singulartagged: in the cave
2 Samuel
one use
At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
- מְעָרַ֖תmearatnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: cave of
1 Kings
four uses
for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)
- בַּמְּעָרָ֔הbamearahpreposition with the article + noun · feminine singulartagged: in the cave
Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD, fifty men per cave, and I provided them with food and water.
- בַּמְּעָרָ֔הbamearahpreposition with the article + noun · feminine singulartagged: in the cave
There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
- הַמְּעָרָ֖הhamearahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the cave
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
- הַמְּעָרָ֑הhamearahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the cave
1 Chronicles
one use
Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
- מְעָרַ֖תmearatnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: cave of
Isaiah
two uses
Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.
- בִּמְעָר֣וֹתbimarotpreposition + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in caves of
For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever—the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks—
- מְעָרוֹת֙mearotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: caves
Jeremiah
one use
Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD.
- הַמְעָרַ֣תhamaratquestion particle + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: ¿ a den of
Ezekiel
one use
Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘As surely as I live, those in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the open field I will give to be devoured by wild animals, and those in the strongholds and caves will die by plague.
- וּבַמְּעָר֖וֹתuvamearotconjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · feminine pluraltagged: and in the caves
Where it leads
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.