מַעֲרֶה
a nude place, i.e. a common
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַעֲרֶה (maʻăreh) refers to a 'naked' or 'bare place,' specifically an open, exposed area of land. It is derived from the root meaning 'to be bare' or 'to lay bare,' indicating a location stripped of cover, such as trees or buildings. In its single biblical occurrence in Judges 20:33, it is translated as 'meadows' (KJV) or 'open country' (NIV), describing the terrain near Baal-tamar where Israelite forces positioned themselves in battle. This term emphasizes the geographical feature of an uncovered, common area suitable for military maneuvering or gathering.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Judges 20:33. It is used in a military narrative context to describe the landscape where the Israelites set an ambush against the Benjamites. The term specifies the open, exposed nature of the location at Baal-tamar, which was strategically chosen for tactical advantage. No other biblical books use this word, making its usage pattern unique to this historical battle account.
Etymology
מַעֲרֶה (maʻăreh) is a noun derived from the root עָרָה (ʻārah, H6168), meaning 'to be bare,' 'to lay bare,' or 'to uncover.' This root conveys the idea of stripping away cover or exposure. Cognates in Semitic languages share similar meanings related to nakedness or openness. The development from the verbal root to this noun reflects a focus on a place characterized by such bareness, hence 'a nude place' or 'common.'
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, open, bare places like מַעֲרֶה were often associated with vulnerability or common use, as they lacked the protection or privacy of forested or built-up areas. Such locations could serve as gathering spots, battlefields, or grazing lands, reflecting the agrarian and military realities of the time. Understanding this term highlights how biblical narratives carefully note terrain details that impacted events, like the strategic choice of open ground in Judges 20:33 for warfare.
מִישׁוֹר (mîshôr, H4334) — a level plain or plateau, often implying fertile land. שָׂדֶה (śādeh, H7704) — a field or countryside, generally for agriculture. מִדְבָּר (midbār, H4057) — a wilderness or pastureland, typically arid and uninhabited.
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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