מָעוֹן (ma.on)
ma.on
Maon
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun ma‘ôn translates simply as "dwelling," "habitation," or "place of residence." In the Hebrew Bible, it appears six times, primarily in historical books like 1 Samuel and Judges, where it functions as a proper name for a specific location. The term denotes a settled place, distinguishing a fixed home from temporary encampments.
Lexical sources identify Ma‘ôn as a city in the territory of Judah, situated approximately eight miles south of Hebron. This geographic detail grounds the word in the concrete reality of ancient Israelite settlement patterns. It is not an abstract concept of shelter but a specific town mentioned in lists of fortified cities and tribal boundaries.
The usage highlights how ordinary vocabulary anchors biblical narrative in real geography. By naming Ma‘ôn, the text situates events within a known landscape, reminding readers that the stories of Israel unfolded in actual towns with distinct locations. The word itself carries no heavy theological weight beyond its literal sense of a place where people live and establish their community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ma‘ôn simply means a dwelling or place of residence. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears six times, primarily as the proper name for a specific town in Judah’s territory. This location, situated south of Hebron, grounds biblical narratives in real geography rather than abstract concepts. It reminds us that God’s people lived in actual towns with distinct identities.
For your faith, this word highlights how ordinary vocabulary anchors divine stories in concrete reality. The text situates events within a known landscape, showing that the journeys of Israel unfolded in specific places like Maon. This detail invites readers to imagine the tangible settings where biblical figures sought refuge or established their communities.
Understanding ma‘ôn helps us appreciate the historical context of Scripture. It is not merely a name but a reminder of settled life and community. By recognizing these real locations, we see how God’s work was woven into the daily lives of people in ancient Israel.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Maon4×
- and/ Maon2×
- [was] in/ Maon1×
- [was] Maon1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָע֑וֹן2×
- מָעוֹן֙1×
- מָעֽוֹן\׃1×
- מָע֥וֹן\׀1×
- וּ/מָע֖וֹן1×
- וּ/מָע֔וֹן1×
- בְּ/מָע֜וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 10:12
The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand.
The Maonites are listed among oppressors, showing how the name identifies a specific people group rather than just a location.