אֲוֵרָה
a stall
Definition
The Hebrew noun אֲוֵרָה (ʼăvêrâh) refers to a stall or enclosure for livestock, specifically for cattle. It denotes a sheltered or fenced area where animals, particularly oxen or other herd animals, are kept and fed. The word appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Chronicles 32:28, where it is part of a list of King Hezekiah's agricultural and economic provisions. In this context, it signifies the stalls built to house the large herds that were a measure of the king's wealth and God's blessing during a time of national prosperity.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in 2 Chronicles 32:28. It occurs in a descriptive list of Hezekiah's possessions and building projects: 'storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds.' The usage is purely descriptive and economic, highlighting the material blessings and administrative organization under Hezekiah's reign following God's deliverance from the Assyrian siege.
Etymology
The word אֲוֵרָה (ʼăvêrâh) is considered by scholars to be a transposed or variant form of the more common word אֻרְוָה (ʼurvâh, H723), which also means 'stall' or 'manger.' This relationship suggests a shared semantic field related to animal husbandry and enclosures. The root idea connects to a place of gathering or housing for livestock.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a mundane agricultural term, its single biblical occurrence in 2 Chronicles 32:28 carries theological weight within its narrative context. The stalls are listed among the tangible blessings God bestowed upon Hezekiah and Judah following faithful prayer and divine deliverance (2 Chronicles 32:20-23). They symbolize God's provision, the restoration of peace, and the material prosperity that can accompany obedience. Understanding this term enriches the reading by highlighting how God's faithfulness was manifested in the very concrete, economic details of national life.
In ancient Israelite culture, livestock was a primary measure of wealth and economic stability. Stalls (ʼăvêrâh) were not merely pens but represented significant agricultural infrastructure. They allowed for the protection, controlled feeding, and management of valuable herds, which were vital for food, sacrifice, and trade. Their mention alongside storehouses in a royal inventory underscores their importance as assets reflecting a kingdom's prosperity and administrative capability.
אֻרְוָה (ʼurvâh, H723) — The more standard term for a stall or manger, used in passages like Proverbs 14:4 and Isaiah 1:3. רֶפֶת (repet, H7517) — A stall or feeding trough, specifically where oxen are tied (e.g., Proverbs 14:4, Job 6:5).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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