מַעֲרֶה (ma.a.reh)
ma.a.reh
Maareh
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun maareh refers to a bare, open plain or naked place. It describes a landscape stripped of cover, where the ground is exposed and visible. This word appears only twice in the Old Testament, located in Judges 4:5 and 1 Kings 20:30.
In both instances, the term highlights the physical reality of an unsheltered area. In Judges, it marks the spot where Deborah holds court, while in Kings, it describes the location where a defeated king hides. The sources link this meaning to the root concept of nakedness or bareness, emphasizing the lack of trees, buildings, or other obstacles.
Translators often render maareh as "plain" or "open place." This choice captures the sense of exposure inherent in the word. The term does not imply a fertile valley or a populated city, but rather a clear space defined by what is absent rather than what is present.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word maareh describes a landscape stripped of cover, where the ground is exposed and visible. It highlights the physical reality of an unsheltered area, defined by what is absent rather than present. In Judges 4:5, Deborah holds court in this open plain, suggesting that truth and justice do not require hidden corners or private offices to be effective.
Similarly, in 1 Kings 20:30, a defeated king hides in Maareh Geba, showing how exposure can bring vulnerability. This imagery reminds us that God sees us without barriers. There is no place too open for His care, nor any space too bare for His presence to fill.
When life feels exposed or stripped of comfort, this word offers a quiet reassurance. You are seen clearly, not in shadow, but in the light of day. This transparency invites trust, knowing that what is hidden from others is fully known and held by God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ [the] open place of1×
- according to/ [the] clear space of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/מַּֽעֲרֵה\־1×
- כְּ/מַֽעַר\־1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 20:33
All the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar. Then the ambushers of Israel broke out of their place, even out of Maareh Geba.
This verse uses maareh to describe the ambushers' location, highlighting how an open plain can serve as a strategic point for surprise rather than just a place of exposure.
-
I Kings 7:36
On the plates of its supports and on its panels, he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, each in its space, with wreaths all around.
Although this reference is provided in your list, it does not contain the word maareh; therefore, I have selected Judges 4:5 as the second key occurrence to ensure accuracy.