σπήλαιον (spēlaion)
spēlaion
cave
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun spēlaion refers to a cave or cavern, serving as the standard Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word me’arah in the Septuagint. In the New Testament, it appears six times, often describing natural rock formations used for shelter or concealment. John the Baptist’s preaching about hiding in mountains (Matthew 3:3) and Jesus visiting the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:38) illustrate its use for significant burial sites.
A distinct nuance emerges when the word describes a den of thieves, as seen in the Gospels’ accounts of Jesus cleansing the temple (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17). Here, spēlaion conveys a place of refuge for criminals rather than a holy space. This usage highlights how the same physical structure can represent safety for some and danger for others, depending on who occupies it.
Its etymology likely connects to speos, a grotto, emphasizing its nature as a hollowed-out rock formation. Translators consistently render it as "cave" or "den," preserving the concrete reality of the setting without adding abstract theological layers. The word grounds biblical narratives in tangible geography, reminding readers that sacred and secular events often unfold in the same physical spaces.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word spēlaion simply means a cave or cavern. In Scripture, these rock hollows appear as places of shelter for those fleeing danger, such as the kings hiding in Revelation 6:15, or as burial sites like the tomb of Lazarus in John 11:38. They are concrete, physical spaces where people seek refuge from the storms of life.
Yet this same word also describes a den of robbers in Jesus’ cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:13). This contrast reminds us that a place is defined by its use. A space meant for prayer can become a hiding spot for injustice if we fill it with greed instead of reverence.
When you feel overwhelmed, remember that caves are often dark and confined, yet they offer protection from the elements. God meets us in these hidden places, not to keep us trapped, but to preserve us until He calls us out into the light again.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a den3×
- in caves1×
- caves1×
- a cave,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σπήλαιον3×
- σπήλαιον,1×
- σπήλαια1×
- σπηλαίοις1×
Key Verses
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John 11:38
Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
This verse identifies Lazarus' tomb as a cave, grounding the miracle of resurrection in a tangible, physical reality that Jesus approached with grief.
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Matthew 21:13
He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!”
Here the term shifts from a natural shelter to a 'den of robbers,' highlighting how the temple’s purpose was corrupted by exploitation.