Joshua 10:17 — Word Study
WLCוַיֻּגַּ֖ד לִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ לֵאמֹ֑ר נִמְצְאוּ֙ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת הַמְּלָכִ֔ים נֶחְבְּאִ֥ים בַּמְּעָרָ֖ה בְּמַקֵּדָֽה׃
BSAAnd JoshuaYᵉhôwshûwaʻ [the leader, God's appointed one] was informednâgad▸ [told, declared openly] The fivechâmêsh [number, a quantity of five] kingsmelek [royal rulers, monarchs] have been foundmâtsâʼ■ [discovered, located] they are hidingchâbâʼ [concealed, secreted] in the cavemᵉʻârâh [a dark or hidden place] at MakkedahMaqqêdâh [place of shepherds, a city in Palestine]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֻּגַּ֖ד | and it was told | Verb, Hophal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ | to Joshua | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| לֵאמֹ֑ר | saying | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| נִמְצְאוּ֙ | they have been found | Verb, Niphal, perfect third person common plural |
| חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת | [the] five | Adj |
| הַמְּלָכִ֔ים | the kings | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| נֶחְבְּאִ֥ים | hidden | Verb, Niphal, participle (active) masculine plural |
| בַּמְּעָרָ֖ה | in the cave | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| בְּמַקֵּדָֽה׃ | at Makkedah | Preposition, noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | And Joshua was informed: “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.” |
| KJV | And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah. |
| ASV | And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah. |
| YLT | and it is declared to Joshua, saying, 'The five kings have been found hidden in a cave at Makkedah.' |
| WEB | Joshua was told, saying, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” |
| BBE | And word was given to Joshua that the five kings had been taken in a hole in the rock at Makkedah. |
Where they part company is נִמְצְאוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause introduces the report, followed by two phrases that provide critical information about the kings' status and location.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָגַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Joshua 10:17
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Capture of the Five Kingsgenerated
Joshua 10:17 describes how Joshua received news about the five Canaanite kings who had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah. This event occurs during the Israelite conquest of Canaan, highlighting Joshua's leadership and the unfolding military strategy against their enemies. The context shows the urgency of the situation, as Joshua's actions would determine the fate of these kings and the ongoing campaign.
Cross References
The Key Word — נִמְצְאוּ, nim.tze.'Ugenerated
The verb מָצָא (matsa') means 'to find' and is in the Niphal form here, indicating a passive voice: 'they have been found.' This construction emphasizes the action of discovery, suggesting that the kings were not merely lost but actively hidden, and now their location has been revealed.
The use of the Niphal form also implies that the kings are the recipients of the action, highlighting their vulnerability as they are discovered while attempting to conceal themselves. This word captures both the act of finding and the sense of being found, which is crucial in the narrative.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is וַיֻּגַּ֖ד, and it was told, which governs the entire sentence. Several phrases follow: a prepositional phrase indicating to whom the information was given, a participial phrase stating what was said, and two clauses describing the kings' status and location.
The structure emphasizes the reporting of the information first, followed by the details of the kings being found and their hiding place. This order highlights the urgency of the message conveyed to Joshua.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיֻּגַּ֖ד as ἀπηγγέλη (apēngelē), meaning 'it was reported' or 'it was announced.' This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning of declaring something openly, reinforcing the idea of a public announcement.
For נִמְצְאוּ, the LXX uses εὕρηνται (heurēntai), which also means 'they have been found.' This maintains the sense of discovery and aligns closely with the Hebrew context.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 10:17 tells us that Joshua was informed that five kings had been found hiding in a cave at Makkedah. This moment is significant as it shows the outcome of the pursuit of the kings and sets the stage for Joshua's next actions in the conquest of Canaan.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that the kings' attempt to hide has failed, and they are now vulnerable to capture by Joshua and the Israelites.
The kings were hiding to escape capture after their defeat in battle against the Israelites, demonstrating their fear and desperation.
Makkedah is significant as the location where the kings were captured, marking an important victory for Joshua and the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan.
This event illustrates Joshua's leadership and God's assistance in the Israelite conquest, showcasing the fulfillment of God's promises to the Israelites.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from Joshua's leadership in this situation?
- How does the discovery of the kings impact the overall conquest of Canaan?
- What does this event tell us about the consequences of attempting to hide from God?
- In what ways can we apply the lessons from this passage to our own lives?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 10:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd it was told Joshua,.... Either by some of his own people, or by some of the inhabitants of the land in his interest, who had observed it: saying, the five kings are found hid in a cave at
Read John Gill on Joshua 10 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 10 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJoshua 10:17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.Ver. 17. In a cave at Makkedah.] In the confines and country adjacent, and belonging to this city.
Read John Trapp on Joshua 10 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. in a cave] “lurkinge in the spelunk,” Wyclif; in one of the numerous limestone caves, with which the district abounds, though the article here, both in the Hebrew and the LXX., seems to intimate that it was a well-known cave, overshadowed probably by a grove of trees (comp. Joshua 10:26). Many such caves, large and dry, and often branching out into chambers, are found in the lime and chalk rocks of Palestine. Comp. (i) the cave in which Lot dwelt after the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19:30); (ii) the cave at Rimmon (Judges 20:47), which could contain six hundred men in its spacious recess; (iii) David’s cave of Adullam, where he concealed “his brethren, and all his father’s house” (1…
Read Cambridge on Joshua 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
And Joshua was informed: “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”
Joshua was told, saying, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”
And Joshua was informed: “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”
Joshua was told, “The five kings have been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”
Tyndale line
And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.
And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.
And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
And it was tolde Ioshua, saying, The fiue Kings are found hid in a caue at Makkedah.
Strictly literal
And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings have been found, hid in the cave at Makkedah.
and it is declared to Joshua, saying, 'The five kings have been found hidden in a cave at Makkedah.'
and it is declared to Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in a cave at Makkedah.”
And it was told to Joshua, saying, The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.
It was told to Joshua, “They have been found!—the five kings hidden in the cave at Makkedah!”
From the Latin
And it was told Josue that the five kings were found hidden in a cave of the city of Maceda.
Simplified
When Joshua was told that the five kings were hiding in a cave at Makkedah,
And word was given to Joshua that the five kings had been taken in a hole in the rock at Makkedah.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states that Joshua was informed about the five kings hiding in a cave at Makkedah. The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in content, as all nine words match in meaning, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. There are no significant differences in the core message between these witnesses.
וַיֻּגַּ֖ד לִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ לֵאמֹ֑ר נִמְצְאוּ֙ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת הַמְּלָכִ֔ים נֶחְבְּאִ֥ים בַּמְּעָרָ֖ה בְּמַקֵּדָֽה׃
9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Joshua 10:17
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.
[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous
Hiph. declare, tell
Hoph. be told, announced, reported
base
H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell
. be told, announced, reported
5046 nagad naw-gad'
a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out
opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;
figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one
present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,
praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),
denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,
rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.
נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.
1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known
1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare
1a1) to tell, announce, report
1a2) to declare, make known, expound
1a3) to inform of
1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim
1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess
1a5a) messenger (participle)
1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
Conj | V-Hophal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hophal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/VHw3ms
The Hebrew word יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (*Yhowshuwa`*) refers to Joshua, the successor of Moses and leader of the Israelites. It encompasses various figures, including a resident of Beth-shemesh, a high priest after the restoration, and a governor of Jerusalem under Josiah. The name means 'Jehovah is salvation' and appears in different contexts throughout the Old Testament.
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, and (later) יֵשׁוּעַ, n.pr.m. (& loc., v. 9 infr.) (י׳ is salvation or י׳ is opulence)
Moses’ successor, son of Nun
a Bethshemite
h.p. after the restoration, son of Jehozadak
governor of Jerusalem under Josiah
head of one of the classes of priests
a Levitical family-name of frequent occurrence
father of a builder at the wall
a Judaite family-name
n.pr.loc. in south of Judah
base
H3091 יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, and (later) יֵשׁוּעַ . Moses’ successor, son of Nun
. a Bethshemite
. h. p. after the restoration, son of Jehozadak
. governor of Jerusalem under Josiah
. head of one of the classes of priests
. a Levitical family-name of frequent occurrence
. father of a builder at the wall
. a Judaite family-name
. n. pr. loc. in south of Judah
3091 Yhowshuwa` yeh-ho-shoo'-ah
or Yhowshua {yeh-ho-shoo'-ah}; from 3068 and 3467;
Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish
leader:--Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare 1954, 3442.
see HEBREW for 03068
see HEBREW for 03467
see HEBREW for 01954
see HEBREW for 03442
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (ye.ho.shu.a) — Joshua.
A man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness and Israel before the Monarchy, first mentioned at Exo.17.9;
son of: Nun (H5126); also called Hoshea (KJV: Oshea) at Num.13.8; Jeshua at Neh.8.17;
§ Joshua or Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation"
1) son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan
2) a resident of Beth-shemesh on whose land the Ark of the Covenant came to a stop after the Philistines returned it
3) son of Jehozadak and high priest after the restoration
4) governor of Jerusalem under king Josiah who gave his name to a gate of the city of Jerusalem
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (ye.ho.shu.a) — Joshua.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.6.14
§ Joshua or Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation"
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
Joshua
Jehovah is his help, or Jehovah the Saviour. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, the successor of Moses as the leader of Israel. He is called Jehoshua in Num. 13:16 (A.V.), and Jesus in Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8 (R.V., Joshua).
He was born in Egypt, and was probably of the age of Caleb, with whom he is generally associated. He shared in all the events of the Exodus, and held the place of commander of the host of the Israelites at their great battle against the Amalekites in Rephidim (Ex. 17:8-16). He became Moses’ minister or servant, and accompanied him part of the way when he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the two tables (
(saviour, or whose help is Jehovah). His name appears in the various forms of HOSHEAHOSHEA, OSHEA, JEHOSHUA, JESHUA and JESUS. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Chronicles 7:27) (B.C. 1530-1420.) He was nearly forty years old when he shared in the hurried triumph of the exodus. He is mentioned first in connection with the fight against Amalek at Rephidim, when he was chosen by Moses to lead the Israelites. (Exodus 17:9) Soon afterward he was one of the twelve chiefs who were sent, (Numbers 13:17) to explore the land of Canaan, and one of the two, ch. (Numbers 14:6) who gave an encouraging report of their journey. Moses, shortly before his death, was directed, (
1. The son of Nun, a distinguished leader of the Hebrews, and the successor of Moses. His name at first was Oshea, Nu 13:8,16; and in the New Testament he is called Jesus, Ac 7:45 Heb 4:8. Both the names, Joshua and Jesus, signify savior, deliverer. See JESUS. Joshua led Israel over the Jordan, and took possession of the promised land; he conquered the Canaanites, and then distributed the country among the tribes. He is first mentioned as the leader of Israel against the Amalekites at Rephidim,
Ex 17:8-16. See also Nu 14:6. At the passage over Jordan he was eighty-four years of age; and after about twenty-six years employed…
a savior; a deliverer
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
מָצָא (matsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to find or attain. It encompasses a range of actions, including discovering something lost, encountering someone, or coming upon a situation. The word can also imply being present or sufficient. Lexicons note various forms and uses, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, which indicate different nuances of finding and encountering.
מָצָא 452 vb. attain to, find
Qal
find
find out
= come upon, light upon
noteworthy phrases
Niph. pass. of Qal, be found
Hiph.
cause to find, attain
cause to light upon, come upon, come
cause to encounter
present unto
base
H4672 מָצָא attain to, find
4672 matsa' maw-tsaw'
a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or
exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire;
figuratively, to occur, meet or be present:--+ be able,
befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to
hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion,
out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left,
light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present,
ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.
מָצָא (ma.tsa) — to find.
1) to find, attain to
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to find
1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought)
1a1b) to find (what is lost)
1a1c) to meet, encounter
1a1d) to find (a condition)
1a1e) to learn, devise
1a2) to find out
1a2a) to find out
1a2b) to detect
1a2c) to guess
1a3) to come upon, light upon
1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with
1a3b) to hit
1a3c) to befall
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be found
1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered
1b1b) to appear, be recognised
1b1c) to be discovered, be detected
1b1d) to be gained, be secured
1b2) to be, be found
1b2a) to be found in
1b2b) to be in the possession of
1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be
1b2d) to be left (after war)
1b2e) to be present
1b2f) to prove to be
1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to find, attain
1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come
1c3) to cause to encounter
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person common pluralHVNp3cp
חָמֵשׁ (chamesh) means 'five' in Hebrew. It serves as both a cardinal number and can indicate a multiple of five when combined with another number. The word also has an ordinal form, 'fifth.' The entries consistently define this numeral without any noted disagreement.
חָמֵשׁ, חֲמִשָּׁה 342 n.m. and f. five
base
H2568 חָמֵשׁ, חֲמִשָּׁה five
2568 chamesh khaw-maysh'
masculine chamishshah {kham-ish-shaw}; a primitive numeral;
five:--fif(-teen), fifth, five (X apiece).
חָמֵשׁ (cha.mesh) — five.
1) five
1a) five (cardinal number)
1b) a multiple of five (with another number)
1c) fifth (ordinal number)
Adj — AdjHAcbsc
fiv (chamesh; pente).
See NUMBER.
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
of Judah and Israel. For the list see table at the end of this volume.
חָבָא (chaba') is a Hebrew verb meaning to withdraw or hide. It has various forms, including Niph'al (to hide oneself), Pual (to be forced into hiding), and Hiph'il (to hide something). The entries suggest a range of meanings from simply hiding to drawing together or thickening, indicating a nuanced use of the term in different contexts.
[חָבָא] vb. withdraw, hide (not in Qal)
Niph. hide oneself
Pu. have been hidden
Hiph. hide, trans.
Hoph. be hidden
Hithp.
draw back, hide oneself
draw together, thicken, harden
base
H2244 חָבָא withdraw, hide
2244 chaba' khaw-baw'
a primitive root (compare 2245); to secrete:--X held, hide
(self), do secretly.
see HEBREW for 02245
חָבָא (cha.va) — to hide.
1) to withdraw, hide
1a) (Niphal) to hide oneself
1b) (Pual) to be forced into hiding
1c) (Hiphil) to hide
1d) (Hophal) to be hidden
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to hide oneself, draw back
1e2) to draw together, thicken, harden
V-Niphal — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine pluralHVNrmpa
hid'-'n: The translation of Taman, "to hide," "to bury" (Job 3:16); of tsaphan "to conceal," "store up" (Job 15:20, "The number of years is hidden to the oppressor," the Revised Version (British and American) "even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor," margin "and years that are numbered are laid up"; Job 24:1, "Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty," the Revised Version (British and American) "Why are times not laid up by the Almighty?" margin as the King James Version with "Why is it?" prefixed; Ps 83:3, "They consulted (the Revised Version (British and American) "consult") against thy hidden ones"); of matspunim (from tsaphan), "hidden…
מְעָרָה (me'arah) means 'cave' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be dark.' It refers to a cavern or hole, often associated with darkness. The entries consistently define it as a cave, den, or hole, without significant disagreement among lexicons.
מְעָרָה 40 n.f. cave
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H4631 מְעָרָה, מְעָרָה cave
4631 m`arah meh-aw-raw'
from 5783; a cavern (as dark):--cave, den, hole.
see HEBREW for 05783
מְעָרָה (me.a.rah) — cave.
cave, den, hole
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
kav ([me`arah] (compare Arabic magharah), chor (Job 30:6 the King James Version), mechilloth (Isa 2:19); ope (Hebrews 11:38), spelaion (Joh 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 Isa 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…
Cave
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 (Gen. 19:30).
The next we read of is the cave of Machpelah (q.v.), which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth (Gen. 25:9, 10). It was the burying-place of Sarah and of Abraham himself, also of Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (Gen. 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 Sam. 22:1, 2).
The 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)…
The 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, Ge 19:30. Petra, in Idumea, was a city of caves, Nu 24:21 So 2:14 Jer 49:16 Ob 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,
מַקֵּדָה (Maqqedah) refers to a location in Judah, meaning 'place of shepherds.' It is noted for the cave where Joshua captured five Canaanite kings during the conquest of the land. The word is derived from a root related to herding, linking it to the concept of a fold.
מַקֵּדָה n.pr.loc. in Judah, near Beth Horon, and Libnah, where was a cave, captured by Joshua, with a king
base
H4719 מַקֵּדָה
4719 Maqqedah mak-kay-daw'
from the same as 5348 in the denominative sense of herding
(compare 5349); fold; Makkedah, a place in Palestine:--
Makkedah.
see HEBREW for 05348
see HEBREW for 05349
מַקֵּדָה (maq.qe.dah) — Makkedah.
§ Makkedah = "place of shepherds"
the location of a cave in Judah where Joshua captured and executed five Canaanite kings during the conquest; located near Bethhoron and Libnah
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
ma-ke'-da (maqqedhah; Makeda): A Canaanite royal city which Joshua captured, utterly destroying the inhabitants, and doing to the king as he had done unto the king of Jericho (Jos 10:28; 12:16). It lay in the Shephelah of Judah (Jos 15:41). It was brought into prominence by the flight thither of the 5 kings of the Amorites who, having united their forces for the destruction of Gibeon, were themselves defeated and pursued by Joshua (chapter 10). Seeing their danger, the men of Gibeon sent to the camp at Gilgal beseeching Joshua to save and help them. That energetic commander marched all night with his full strength, fell upon the allies at Gibeon, slew them with a great slaughter, chased the fugitives down the valley by way of Beth-horon, and smote them unto Azekah and unto…
Makkedah
Herdsman’s place, one of the royal cities of the Canaanites (Josh. 12:16), near which was a cave where the five kings who had confederated against Israel sought refuge (10:10-29). They were put to death by Joshua, who afterwards suspended their bodies upon five trees. It has been identified with the modern village called Sumeil, standing on a low hill about 7 miles to the north-west of Eleutheropolis (Beit Jibrin), where are ancient remains and a great cave. The Palestine Exploration surveyors have, however, identified it with el-Mughar, or “the caves,” 3 miles from Jabneh and 2 1/2 southwest of Ekron, because, they say, “at this site only of all possible sites for Makkedah in the Palestine plain do caves still exist.” (See ADONI-ZEDEC.)
(place of shepherds), a place memorable in the annals of the conquest of Canaan as the scene of the execution by Joshua of the five confederate kings, (Joshua 10:10-50) who had hidden themselves in a cave at this place. (It was a royal city of the Canaanites, in the plains of Judah. Conder identifies it with the modern el-Moghar , 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem, where are two caves large enough to contain five men each. Schaff says that "one cave has, curiously enough, five loculi rudely scooped in its side, and an enthusiast might contend that this was the very place of sepulchre of the five kings."-ED.)
A chief city of the Canaanites, near which five confederate kings were defeated, taken in the cave to which they had fled, and executed. It lay in the vicinity of Libnah, Azekah, and Lachish, southwest of Jerusalem, in the tribe of Judah, Jos 10:10-28; 12:16; 15:41.