מַעֲרָה
an open spot
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַעֲרָה (maʻărâh) refers to an open, cleared area or bare spot, often in contrast to surrounding vegetation or cover. In its sole biblical occurrence in 1 Samuel 17:23, it describes the specific open ground from which Goliath the Philistine champion emerged to issue his challenge to Israel's army. The term implies a visible, exposed location suitable for a dramatic public confrontation. As the feminine form of מַעֲרֶה (maʻăreh, H4629), which can mean 'nakedness' or 'bare place,' it carries the core idea of a place stripped of concealment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the narrative of 1 Samuel 17:23. It appears in a military context, specifying the terrain feature ('the open spot' or 'the bare place') from which the Philistine champion Goliath came forward. Its usage pinpoints a specific, visible location on the battlefield, setting the stage for the iconic confrontation with David.
Etymology
מַעֲרָה (maʻărâh) is the feminine form of the noun מַעֲרֶה (maʻăreh, H4629), derived from the root עָרָה (ʻārâ), meaning 'to be bare' or 'to lay bare.' This root family relates to uncovering, stripping, or exposing. The feminine form likely emphasizes a 'place' or 'spot' characterized by this bare, exposed quality.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near Eastern context of warfare, battles often involved champions fighting in a designated space between two armies. The 'open spot' (מַעֲרָה) in 1 Samuel 17:23 served as this neutral, visible dueling ground. This cleared area ensured both armies could witness the contest, which was understood to decide the outcome of the larger conflict by divine judgment, making the location itself significant for the public, ritualized nature of the event.
מִישׁוֹר (mîyshôwr, H4334) — a level plain or flat country, broader than a single spot. שָׂדֶה (śādeh, H7704) — a field or open country, general for cultivated or open land. בָּמָה (bāmâh, H1116) — a high place, often a cultic site, elevated rather than simply open.
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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