מַחֲבֵא
𐤌𐤇𐤁𐤀
machăbêʼ
H4224 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A concealed place, used as a refuge or for hiding; denotes a physical location where one withdraws from view, whether for safety, protection, or ambush. The term refers specifically to a spot intended for remaining unseen, typically with the intent either to evade danger or to plan an attack.
Semantic Range
hiding place, refuge, place of concealment, ambush site, lair, covert
Root / Etymology
From the root חבא (ḥ-b-ʼ), meaning 'to hide' or 'to conceal.' The noun מַחֲבֵא (machăbêʼ) is a derived form indicating the location or state of hiding, constructed with the ma- prefix often forming nouns indicating a place or instrument of the root action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מַחֲבֵא appears in post-monarchic texts (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah) and denotes a place of hiding, often in the context of danger or pursuit—whether from enemies, wild animals, or during flight from capture. The concept is tightly connected to personal safety, ambush, or concealment for strategic purposes. Unlike other terms such as מִסְתָּר (mistar), which can carry stronger connotations of secrecy or shadow, מַחֲבֵא suggests intentional concealment, sometimes with reference to a prepared or natural refuge (e.g., clefts, caves, thickets). English translations such as 'hiding place' or 'refuge' generally reflect the basic meaning but may not always indicate the active intent to hide or ambush implicit in the Hebrew. In later biblical usage and texts influenced by exile and foreign oppression, the term may have picked up associations with covert resistance or passive survival tactics. The alternate vocalization מַחֲבֹא is a variant spelling with the same meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or מַחֲבֹא; from חָבָא; a refuge; hiding (lurking) place.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חבא (ḥ-b-ʾ) — hide, conceal, withdraw from sight
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2244 | חָבָא | in hiding oneself |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4224-02 |
כְּ/מַֽחֲבֵא | kemachave | HR/Ncmsc |
like a hiding place | like a hiding-place of | 1 |
H4224-01 |
הַ/מַּֽחֲבֹאִים֙ | hamachavoim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the hiding places | the hiding-places | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4224-01 |
1 Samuel 23:23 | הַ/מַּֽחֲבֹאִים֙ | hamachavoim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the hiding places | the hiding-places |
H4224-02 |
Isaiah 32:2 | כְּ/מַֽחֲבֵא | kemachave | HR/Ncmsc |
like a hiding place | like a hiding-place of |