Caverns, also referred to as caves in the Bible, are natural underground spaces that have served various purposes throughout biblical history. These geological formations are mentioned in several contexts, often as places of refuge, burial, or divine encounter.

Refuge and Shelter

Caverns frequently provided refuge and shelter for individuals seeking safety from enemies or harsh conditions. One of the most notable instances is found in the account of David. Pursued by King Saul, David sought refuge in the cave of Adullam. As recorded in 1 Samuel 22:1-2 , "So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household 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 found shelter in a cave on Mount Horeb. In 1 Kings 19:9 , it is written, "There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'"

Burial Sites

Caverns also served as burial sites, a practice that underscores their significance in ancient Near Eastern culture. The most prominent example is the Cave of Machpelah, which Abraham purchased as a burial site for his wife Sarah. This cave, located in Hebron, became the family tomb for the patriarchs. Genesis 23:19 states, "After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan."

Divine Encounters and Symbolism

Caves are sometimes depicted as places of divine encounter or symbolic of deeper spiritual truths. The account of Elijah on Mount Horeb is not only about physical refuge but also about a profound encounter with God. In 1 Kings 19:11-13 , God reveals Himself to Elijah not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper, demonstrating that divine presence is not always found in dramatic manifestations.

In the New Testament, the imagery of caves can be seen in the context of Jesus' resurrection. Although not explicitly described as a cave, the tomb where Jesus was laid was hewn out of rock, akin to a cavern. This tomb became the site of the most significant event in Christian faith—the resurrection of Christ. Matthew 28:2 recounts, "Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it."

Symbolic of Darkness and Light

Caverns, with their inherent darkness, can also symbolize spiritual darkness or the grave. Yet, they are places where light can penetrate, symbolizing hope and divine intervention. The transformation from darkness to light within a cave can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual awakening or deliverance.

In summary, caverns in the Bible are multifaceted in their significance, serving as places of refuge, burial, divine encounter, and symbolic representation of spiritual truths. They reflect the human experience of seeking safety, encountering God, and the hope of resurrection and new life.5366. neqarah -- a hole, crevice
... 5365, 5366. neqarah. 5367 . a hole, crevice. Transliteration: neqarah
Phonetic Spelling: (nek-aw-raw') Short Definition: caverns. ...
/hebrew/5366.htm - 6k

On the Name of Calvary.
... grotto. I also saw Eve living in some caverns near Hebron, where the Essenian
Monastery of Maspha was afterwards established. I ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter liv on the name.htm

What Injunctions Caesar Gave when He was Come Within the City. The ...
... The Number Of The Captives And Of Those That Perished In The Siege; As Also Concerning
Those That Had Escaped Into The Subterranean Caverns, Among Whom Were ...
/.../chapter 9 what injunctions caesar.htm

How the Sedition was Again Revived Within Jerusalem and yet the ...
... off guarding the gates any longer, and leaped down from their battlements before
they came to an engagement, and fled away into the subterranean caverns of the ...
/.../chapter 3 how the sedition.htm

The Church Saved, and Her Enemies Disappointed.
... down. 5 [Their secret fires in caverns lay, And we the sacrifice: But gloomy
caverns strove in vain To 'scape all-searching eyes. ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 147222222 the church saved.htm

The Church Saved, and Her Enemies Disappointed.
... And shakes their Babel down. [Their secret fires in caverns lay,. And we the sacrifice;
But gloomy caverns strove in vain. To 'scape all-searching eyes. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 92 the church saved.htm

Of the Parts of Man: the Eyes and Ears.
... to be naked and uncovered, which would have been less becoming and less useful;
since the voice might fly beyond the narrow space of simple caverns, and be ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap viii of the parts of.htm

Philip and the Desposyni
... close to them. These are our fortresses,' he said. Into one of these caverns
we drive some of our choicest cattle. It winds under ...
/.../chapter lxiv philip and the.htm

A Supplementary Chapter to the Bible in Spain
... and no human hum invaded my solitudes; the eagle nestled on my airy crags, and the
tortoise and the sea-calf dreamed in my watery caverns undisturbed; even ...
/.../a supplementary chapter to the.htm

The Saint's Heritage and Watchword
... "Britons never will be slaves.". "While for our princes they prepare,. In caverns
deep a burning snare,. He shot from heaven a piercing ray,. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 50 1904/the saints heritage and watchword.htm

Survival of the Fittest
... theme; but Tintoretto alone, says Mr. Ruskin, has grappled with this awful event
in its verity: "Bat-like, out of the holes and caverns and shadows of the earth ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/survival of the fittest.htm

Caverns (3 Occurrences)
...Caverns (3 Occurrences). Hebrews 11:38 (of whom the world was not worthy,) wandering
in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caverns of the earth. (DBY). ...
/c/caverns.htm - 7k

Quarries (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) The "Royal Quarries" (not found in Scripture) is
the name given to the vast caverns stretching far underneath the northern hill ...
/q/quarries.htm - 11k

Adullam (10 Occurrences)
... At this place is a hill some 500 feet high pierced with numerous caverns, in one
of which David gathered together "every one that was in distress, and every ...
/a/adullam.htm - 16k

Caves (17 Occurrences)

/c/caves.htm - 11k

Jericho (59 Occurrences)
... The wall is not far from the foot of the great precipice of Quarantania and its
numerous caverns, and the spies of Joshua could easily have fled from the city ...
/j/jericho.htm - 38k

Pool (25 Occurrences)
... Fund. These underground caverns are about thirty-five in number, and are
capable of storing about ten million gallons of water. ...
/p/pool.htm - 40k

Gate (248 Occurrences)
... (4.) Tombs (Matthew 27:60). (5.) Prisons (Acts 12:10; 16:27). (6.) Caverns
(1 Kings 19:13). (7.) Camps (Exodus 32:26, 27; Hebrews 13:12). ...
/g/gate.htm - 63k

Torches (18 Occurrences)
... yet in the valley of the Kidron "there fell great, deep shadows from the declivity
of the mountain and projecting rocks; there were there caverns and grottos ...
/t/torches.htm - 12k

Ragged (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 2:21 To go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged
rocks, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty ...
/r/ragged.htm - 7k

Dwell (474 Occurrences)
... deep occurs only in Jeremiah 49:8, and refers to the custom of seeking refuge from
impending danger, in retiring to the recesses of rocks and caverns, or to ...
/d/dwell.htm - 42k

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