Topical Encyclopedia A "couching-place" in biblical terms refers to a location where animals, particularly wild beasts or livestock, rest or lie down. This term is often used metaphorically in Scripture to describe places of rest, security, or lurking danger. The imagery of a couching-place is rich with pastoral and wilderness connotations, reflecting the agrarian and nomadic contexts of ancient Israelite life.Biblical References: 1. Genesis 49:9 · In Jacob's blessing over his sons, he describes Judah as a lion: "Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion, he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?" . Here, the couching-place is symbolic of strength, dominance, and regal authority, as Judah is likened to a lion resting after a successful hunt. 2. Numbers 24:9 · Balaam's prophecy over Israel includes a similar image: "He crouches, he lies down like a lion, and like a lioness—who will rouse him?" . This reinforces the idea of Israel's power and the security of God's chosen people, who are depicted as unassailable and at rest in their strength. 3. Job 38:40 · In God's discourse with Job, He asks, "When they crouch in their dens and lie in wait in the thicket?" . This reference to lions in their dens highlights the natural behavior of animals in their couching-places, emphasizing God's knowledge and control over creation. 4. Zephaniah 2:15 · The prophet Zephaniah speaks of Nineveh, saying, "This is the carefree city that dwells securely, that says in her heart, 'I am it, and there is none besides me.' What a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist" . Here, the couching-place becomes a symbol of desolation and judgment, as the once-proud city becomes a haunt for wild animals. Theological Significance: The concept of a couching-place in Scripture often carries dual meanings of rest and potential danger. For the righteous, it can symbolize a place of peace and divine protection, as seen in the blessings over Judah and Israel. For the wicked or those under judgment, it can represent desolation and abandonment, as in the case of Nineveh. In a broader theological context, the imagery of a couching-place invites reflection on the themes of rest, security, and the sovereignty of God over all creation. It serves as a reminder of the peace that comes from dwelling in God's presence and the consequences of turning away from His protection. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia COUCHING-PLACEkouch'-ing-plas (marbets; once in English Versions of the Bible, Ezekiel 25:5): The same Hebrew word, however, which means simply "place of lying down" of animals in repose, is used also in Ze 2:15 where the translation is "a place. to lie down in." The figure, a common one in Scripture (see besides, Isaiah 17:2; Isaiah 27:10), suggests desolation. Strong's Hebrew 4769. marbets -- (place of) lying down... couching place, place to lie down. From rabats; a reclining place, ie Fold (for flocks) -- couching place, place to lie down. see HEBREW rabats. 4768, 4769. ... /hebrew/4769.htm - 6k Thesaurus Couchingplace... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia COUCHING-PLACE. kouch'-ing-plas (marbets; once in English Versions of the Bible, Ezekiel 25:5): The ... /c/couchingplace.htm - 6k Couching-place (3 Occurrences) Couching (4 Occurrences) Coughed-up (1 Occurrence) Security (41 Occurrences) Wave (65 Occurrences) Ammonites (97 Occurrences) Resources What can we learn from the tribe of Issachar? | GotQuestions.orgWhat were the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the temple / tabernacle? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about the value of a secret place? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Couching-place (3 Occurrences)Isaiah 65:10 Ezekiel 25:5 Zephaniah 2:15 Subtopics Related Terms |
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