אָבֵל מְחוֹלָה
𐤀𐤁𐤋 𐤌𐤇𐤅𐤋𐤄
Avel Mecholah
H65 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A toponym designating a location, likely meaning 'meadow of (the) dance' or 'meadow of dancing', with reference to a place associated with festive gathering, dancing, or celebration. Appears in the Hebrew Bible as a specific settlement, most notably as the home of Elisha the prophet, and as a geographic marker in tribal or narrative contexts. The semantic range focuses on its function as a place name, with linguistic roots evoking images of grassland (meadow) and communal dance or celebration.
Semantic Range
meadow of dancing, meadow of the dance, Abel-meholah (place name); site known for communal dancing or celebration
Root / Etymology
Compound formed from אָבֵל (ʼabel, typically 'meadow' or 'grassy place') and מְחֹלָה (mecholah, 'dance' or 'dancing'). The noun אָבֵל derives from a root probably meaning 'grassy area or meadow', distinct from אָבֶל ('mourning'). מְחֹלָה comes from the root חול (ḥwl), 'to dance' or 'to whirl', so the compound yields 'meadow of the dance' or 'meadow of dancing'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Abel-meholah is mentioned in Judges 7:22 as a place along the route of the fleeing Midianites, and in 1 Kings 4:12 and 19:16 as the hometown of Elisha. Its precise identification in modern geography is uncertain, though it is generally believed to be south of Beth-shean, near the Jordan River. The combination of a geographical term (meadow) with 'dancing' may indicate that the locale was known for festivals, celebrations, or local gatherings—perhaps a site with historical or cultic significance. English translations render it as 'Abel-meholah', usually as a proper place name, but the full nuance of 'meadow of dancing' is often not brought out in translation. The term does not refer to inhabitants, nor does it carry religious meaning beyond that suggested by its name. Its use is consistent across the Deuteronomistic History, and does not shift significantly across different periods of biblical literature. The word's form is distinct from the similarly spelled word for 'mourning' (אָבֶל), which is unrelated.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָבֵל and מְחֹלָהxlit mᵉchôwlâh corrected to mᵉchôlâh; meadow of dancing; Abel-Mecholah, a place in Palestine; Abel-meholah.
Bantu Hebrew
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אבל מחול (ʾ-b-l m-ḥ-w-l) — meadow, grassy area, dance, whirling
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H65-03 |
מְחוֹלָ֖ה | mecholah | HNp |
Meholah | Meadow of Dancing | 3 |
H65-01 |
אָבֵ֥ל | avel | HNp |
Abel | unjust | 2 |
H65-02 |
מֵ/אָבֵ֣ל | meavel | HR/Np |
of Abel | Meadow-of-Dancing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H65-01 |
Judges 7:22 | אָבֵ֥ל | avel | HNp |
Abel | unjust |
H65-03 |
Judges 7:22 | מְחוֹלָ֖ה | mecholah | HNp |
Meholah | Meadow of Dancing |
H65-01 |
1 Kings 4:12 | אָבֵ֣ל | avel | HNp |
Abel | unjust |
H65-03 |
1 Kings 4:12 | מְחוֹלָ֔ה | mecholah | HNp |
meholah | Meadow of Dancing |
H65-02 |
1 Kings 19:16 | מֵ/אָבֵ֣ל | meavel | HR/Np |
of Abel | Meadow-of-Dancing |
H65-03 |
1 Kings 19:16 | מְחוֹלָ֔ה | mecholah | HNp |
Meholah | Meadow of Dancing |