מְעָרָה (me.a.rah)
me.a.rah
cave
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 29 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun meʿārâ refers to a cave, cavern, or natural hollow in the ground. It describes a physical space that offers shelter from the elements or serves as a hiding place. The word appears twenty-nine times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Genesis, Joshua, and 1 Kings.
In Genesis, the term carries deep emotional weight. Abraham purchases the cave of Machpelah as a family burial site (Genesis 23:9), establishing it as a place of permanent rest and covenant promise. Later, Lot retreats to a cave after fleeing Sodom (Genesis 19:30), where his daughters enact events that shape Israel’s origins.
The book of Joshua records military strategy involving caves. After the battle at Gibeon, five Amorite kings hide in the cave at Makkedah while their armies are defeated (Joshua 10:16–27). David also uses caves for refuge from Saul (1 Samuel 24:3), and Elijah encounters God in a cave on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:9).
The word derives from a root meaning to be dark or hidden. Translators render it as "cave," "den," or "hole" depending on context. In Isaiah, caves become dens of robbers (Isaiah 2:19), reflecting their use for concealment. The term consistently points to enclosed spaces that provide protection or secrecy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for cave appears twenty-nine times in the Old Testament, often marking moments where people sought safety from danger or prepared for permanent rest. In Genesis, Abraham buys a cave to bury his wife Sarah. This purchase was more than a real estate transaction; it was an act of faith that secured a family resting place in the land God promised. It shows how physical spaces can hold deep spiritual significance when we trust in God's long-term plans.
Later, figures like David and Elijah used caves as hiding places from enemies or during times of deep sorrow. These were not just dark holes in the ground but places where they met with God. Whether you are facing a threat that forces you to hide or preparing for a season of rest, this word reminds us that God meets us in our most enclosed and vulnerable moments.
When life feels overwhelming, remember that caves in Scripture are often sites of divine encounter. You do not have to face your fears alone. God’s presence is not limited by the walls around you. Instead, these spaces can become places where you find peace and direction, knowing that He is with you in the darkness as well as the light.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 29 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ cave9×
- in the/ cave6×
- [the] cave of6×
- and/ the/ cave4×
- ¿/ a den of1×
- the/ caves1×
- in/ caves of1×
- in/ [the] cave of1×
- in <the>/ caves1×
- caves1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מְּעָרָ֑ה4×
- מְעָרַ֖ת3×
- בַּ/מְּעָרָ֔ה3×
- וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֥ה2×
- הַ/מְּעָרָ֖ה2×
- מְעָרוֹת֙1×
- מְעָרַ֤ת1×
- מְעָרַ֣ת1×
- מְעָרַ֞ת1×
- וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֧ה1×
- וְ/הַ/מְּעָרָ֣ה1×
- הַ֨/מְּעָרָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
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Genesis 23:19
After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan.
This verse records Abraham burying Sarah in the cave of Machpelah, establishing it as a permanent family possession and a tangible sign of God's promise.
-
I Samuel 22:1
David therefore departed from there and escaped to Adullam’s cave. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
David flees to Adullam’s cave for safety, where his brothers gather around him, showing how a place of refuge can become a community center.
-
I Kings 19:9
He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah camps in a cave on Mount Horeb, where God speaks to him in a gentle whisper rather than a storm, highlighting intimacy in isolation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word meʿārâ mean?
Why is the cave of Machpelah important?
Who else used caves in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (29 verses across 9 books)
Genesis 11 verses
Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar.…
Genesis 23:9that he may sell me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him…
Genesis 23:11“No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of…
Genesis 23:17So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all…
Genesis 23:19After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the…
Genesis 23:20The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial…
Genesis 25:9Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite,…
Genesis 49:29He instructed them, and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in…
Genesis 49:30in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with…
Genesis 49:32the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth.”
Genesis 50:13for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham…