Jump to: Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia In biblical times, caves served various purposes and held significant roles in the narratives of the Scriptures. They were natural formations often used as dwellings, burial sites, places of refuge, and settings for divine encounters. The Bible references caves in both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting their importance in the historical and spiritual context of the biblical narrative.Dwelling and Burial Sites Caves were commonly used as burial sites in ancient Israel. One of the most notable examples is the Cave of Machpelah, which Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place for his wife Sarah. This cave, located in Hebron, became the family tomb for the patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel. Genesis 23:19-20 states, "After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and its cave were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site." Caves also served as temporary dwellings. Lot and his daughters lived in a cave after fleeing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:30). This illustrates the use of caves as shelters in times of crisis. Places of Refuge Caves provided refuge for those seeking safety from enemies. David famously hid in the Cave of Adullam when fleeing from King Saul. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 recounts, "So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard about it, they went down to him there. And all those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him." Similarly, the prophet Elijah sought refuge in a cave on Mount Horeb when fleeing from Queen Jezebel. It was in this cave that Elijah experienced a profound encounter with God, as described in 1 Kings 19:9-13 . Divine Encounters and Symbolism Caves also served as settings for divine encounters and symbolic acts. The account of Elijah on Mount Horeb is a prime example, where God spoke to Elijah not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper, demonstrating the intimate and personal nature of God's communication with His prophets. In the New Testament, the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ are associated with a cave. Jesus was laid in a tomb hewn out of rock, which was essentially a cave, as described in Matthew 27:60 : "and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away." This tomb became the site of the resurrection, a cornerstone event in Christian faith. Symbolic and Prophetic Imagery Caves can also symbolize darkness and concealment, contrasting with light and revelation. The imagery of emerging from a cave can represent moving from ignorance to understanding or from death to life, as seen in the resurrection narrative. Throughout the Bible, caves are depicted as places of transition, refuge, and divine revelation. They serve as physical and spiritual landmarks in the unfolding account of God's interaction with humanity. Smith's Bible Dictionary CaveThe most remarkable caves noticed in Scripture are, that in which Lot dwelt after the destruction of Sodom, (Genesis 19:30) the cave of Machpelah, (Genesis 23:17) cave of Makkedah, (Joshua 10:10) cave of Adullam, (1 Samuel 22:1) cave od Engedi, (1 Samuel 24:3) Obadiah's cave, (1 Kings 18:4) Elijah's cave in Horeb, (1 Kings 19:9) the rock sepulchres of Lazarus and of our Lord. (Matthew 27:60; John 11:38) Caves were used for temporary dwelling-places and for tombs. ATS Bible Dictionary CaveThe geological structure of Judea is highly favorable to the formation of caves; and the whole region abounds with subterranean caverns of various dimensions, often giving rise to small rivulets. These were used as dwellings, places of refuge, and tombs. It was in a cave that Lot resided after the destruction of Sodom, Genesis 19:30. Petra, in Idumea, was a city of caves, Numbers 24:21 So 2:14 Jeremiah 49:16 Obadiah 1:3. In the vicinity of Hebron, the poor still live in caves while pasturing their flocks. Natural cavities were sometimes enlarged, and artificial ones made for refuge and defense, Jud 6:2 1Sa 13:6 Isaiah 2:19 Jeremiah 41:9. The caves of Machpelah, of Adullam, of Engedi, of Carmel and of Arbela, still exist. See SEPULCHRE. Easton's Bible Dictionary There are numerous natural caves among the limestone rocks of Syria, many of which have been artificially enlarged for various purposes.The first notice of a cave occurs in the history of Lot (Genesis 19:30). The next we read of is the cave of Machpelah (q.v.), which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth (Genesis 25:9, 10). It was the burying-place of Sarah and of Abraham himself, also of Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (Genesis 49:31; 50:13). The cave of Makkedah, into which the five Amorite kings retired after their defeat by Joshua (10:16, 27). The cave of Adullam (q.v.), an immense natural cavern, where David hid himself from Saul (1 Samuel 22:1, 2). The cave of Engedi (q.v.), now called `Ain Jidy, i.e., the "Fountain of the Kid", where David cut off the skirt of Saul's robe (24:4). Here he also found a shelter for himself and his followers to the number of 600 (23:29; 24:1). "On all sides the country is full of caverns which might serve as lurking-places for David and his men, as they do for outlaws at the present day." The cave in which Obadiah hid the prophets (1 Kings 18:4) was probably in the north, but it cannot be identified. The cave of Elijah (1 Kings 19:9), and the "cleft" of Moses on Horeb (Exodus 33:22), cannot be determined. In the time of Gideon the Israelites took refuge from the Midianites in dens and caves, such as abounded in the mountain regions of Manasseh (Judges 6:2). Caves were frequently used as dwelling-places (Numbers 24:21; Cant. 2:14; Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 1:3). "The excavations at Deir Dubban, on the south side of the wady leading to Santa Hanneh, are probably the dwellings of the Horites," the ancient inhabitants of Idumea Proper. The pits or cavities in rocks were also sometimes used as prisons (Isaiah 24:22; 51:14; Zechariah 9:11). Those which had niches in their sides were occupied as burying-places (Ezek. 32:23; John 11:38). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A hollow place in the earth, either natural or artificial; a subterraneous cavity; a cavern; a den.2. (n.) Any hollow place, or part; a cavity. 3. (n.) To make hollow; to scoop out. 4. (v. i.) To dwell in a cave. 5. (v. i.) To fall in or down; as, the sand bank caved. Hence (Slang), to retreat from a position; to give way; to yield in a disputed matter. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia CAVEkav ([me`arah] (compare Arabic magharah), chor (Job 30:6 the King James Version), mechilloth (Isaiah 2:19); ope (Hebrews 11:38), spelaion (John 11:38); chor, more often rendered "hole," is akin to Arabic khaur, "gulf" or "inlet," but is also related to me`arah (compare also Arabic ghaur "low-land," especially of the Jordan valley and Dead Sea). Mechilloth (root, chalal, "to pierce" (compare Arabic khall, "to pierce")) occurs only in Isaiah 2:19, where the King James Version has "caves" and translates me`aroth in the same verse by "holes." In the Revised Version (British and American) these words are very properly changed about. Spelaion is a common Greek word for "cave"; ope means rather "hole"): In Palestine as in other limestone countries, caves are of frequent occurrence, and not a few of large size are known. Water from the rain and snow, seeping down through cracks, enlarges the passages through which it goes by dissolving away the substance of the rock. Just as upon the surface of the land the trickling streams unite to form brooks and rivers, so many subterranean streams may come together in a spacious channel, and may issue upon the surface as a bold spring. The cave of the Dog River near Beirut and that of 'Afqa (perhaps Aphek (Joshua 13:4)) in Lebanon are excellent examples of this. Not infrequently after forming a cave the stream of water may find some lower outlet by a different route, leaving its former course dry. In some cases the hinder part of the roof of the cave may fall in, leaving the front part standing as a natural bridge. Numerous shallow caves, especially in the faces of cliffs, are formed not by seeping water, but by atmospheric erosion, a portion of a relatively soft stratum of rock being hollowed out, while harder strata above and below it are but little worn away. Many of the hermits' caves originated in this way and were artificially enlarged and walled up at the mouth. The principal caves mentioned in the Bible are those of MACHPELAH, MAKKEDAH and ADULLAM (which see). Greek 4693. spelaion -- a cave ... a cave. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: spelaion Phonetic Spelling: (spay'-lah-yon) Short Definition: a cave, den Definition: a cave, den, hideout ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4693.htm - 6k 3692. ope -- an opening, a hole 4073. petra -- a (large mass of) rock Strong's Hebrew 4631. mearah -- a cave... 4630, 4631. mearah. 4632 . a cave. Transliteration: mearah Phonetic Spelling: (meh-aw-raw') Short Definition: cave. Word Origin ... /hebrew/4631.htm - 6k 4632. Mearah -- a cave region in Lebanon 4492. minharah -- perhaps a cave, stronghold 4247. mechillah -- a hole 2356. chor -- a hole 2773. Choronayim -- "two hollows," a place in Moab 2752. Chori -- inhab. of Edom, also the name of an Edomite, also ... Library The Story of the Cave of Adullam Five Kings in a Cave The Treasure Cave When Lazarus Left his Charnel-Cave, And Having Come to a Certain Cave, and Wishing to Rest in It... Of the Places of Burial. The Circumcision of Jesus David the Outcast. The Swelling of Jordan The Holy Family in Bethlehem after the Departure of the Kings. Thesaurus Cave (40 Occurrences)... The first notice of a cave occurs in the history of Lot (Genesis 19:30). The next we read of is the cave of Machpelah (qv), which ... /c/cave.htm - 25k Cave's (2 Occurrences) Cave-dwellings (1 Occurrence) Makkedah (8 Occurrences) Adullam (10 Occurrences) Machpelah (6 Occurrences) Ephron (13 Occurrences) Mach-pe'lah (6 Occurrences) Mearah (1 Occurrence) Burying-place (19 Occurrences) Resources What was the Cave of Adullam? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of the cave of Machpelah? | GotQuestions.org Why was a burial place so important in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Cave: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Cave (40 Occurrences)Matthew 21:13 Mark 11:17 Luke 19:46 John 11:38 Genesis 19:30 Genesis 23:9 Genesis 23:11 Genesis 23:17 Genesis 23:19 Genesis 23:20 Genesis 25:9 Genesis 49:29 Genesis 49:30 Genesis 49:32 Genesis 50:13 Joshua 10:16 Joshua 10:17 Joshua 10:18 Joshua 10:22 Joshua 10:23 Joshua 10:27 Judges 15:8 Judges 15:11 1 Samuel 22:1 1 Samuel 24:3 1 Samuel 24:7 1 Samuel 24:8 1 Samuel 24:10 2 Samuel 17:9 2 Samuel 23:13 1 Kings 18:4 1 Kings 18:13 1 Kings 19:9 1 Kings 19:13 1 Chronicles 11:15 Psalms 56:13 Psalms 57:1 Psalms 142:1 Jeremiah 48:28 Nahum 2:11 Subtopics Cave: (Used As a Dwelling) by Lot Cave: (Used As a Dwelling): Elijah Cave: (Used As a Dwelling): Israelites Cave: (Used As a Dwelling): Saints Related Terms |
    |