מִנְהָרָה
𐤌𐤍𐤄𐤓𐤄
minhârâh
H4492 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cleft, slit, or cavity in rock, most often referring to a natural opening in the earth, such as a crevice, fissure, or cavern used as a hiding place or refuge. In context, minhârâh typically describes a small cave or den, especially as a place where people or animals may seek shelter.
Semantic Range
crevice in rock, fissure, narrow opening, cavern, den, natural refuge
Root / Etymology
The word derives from the root נָהַר (n-h-r), which in its verb form means 'to flow,' associated with streams or rivers. However, in the formation minhârâh, the noun refers not to water but to a depression or fissure in rock—a place through which water might flow or erode a passage. The connection is metaphorical: minhârâh describes a split or opening in a rocky surface, formed either by natural processes (possibly water erosion) or by inherent fissures in the rock.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Minhârâh occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible; notably in Judges 6:2, where it describes natural refuges used by Israelites to hide from Midianite attacks. The term refers more specifically to narrow natural openings, fissures, or small caves as opposed to larger man-made caves (מְעָרָה, me‘arah). Minhârâh is never a human dwelling but a temporary or emergency refuge. The semantic overlap with me‘arah is partial, but me‘arah more typically refers to larger, habitable caves, whereas minhârâh suggests smaller, less accessible spots cut into the rock, likely created by natural forces such as flowing water. Most English versions translate minhârâh as 'cave,' 'den,' or 'cavern,' though 'crevice' or 'rock fissure' might be more precise. In post-biblical use, the word does not persist, indicating its function as an archaic or poetic term in biblical Hebrew with a narrowly defined physical sense. There is no evidence in the biblical context for later connotations such as ritual use or settled habitation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָהַר; properly, a channel or fissure, i.e. (by implication) a cavern; den.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נהר (n-h-r) — to flow, to stream
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5094 | נְהִיר | brightness |
| H5102 | נָהַר | and you radiated |
| H5103 | נְהַר | the river |
| H5104 | נָהָר | in the flowing river |
| H5105 | נְהָרָה | streaming daylight |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4492-01 |
הַ/מִּנְהָרוֹת֙ | hamineharot | HTd/Ncfpa |
the dens | the rock-crevices | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4492-01 |
Judges 6:2 | הַ/מִּנְהָרוֹת֙ | hamineharot | HTd/Ncfpa |
the dens | the rock-crevices |