מַרְבֵּץ
a reclining place, i.e. fold (for flocks)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַרְבֵּץ (marbêts) refers to a place where animals, specifically flocks, lie down to rest. It denotes a reclining place, fold, or couching area, often associated with the safety and provision of a sheepfold. In Ezekiel 25:5, it describes Ammon becoming a 'resting place for flocks,' symbolizing desolation and conquest. In Zephaniah 2:15, it portrays the arrogant city of Nineveh reduced to a 'place for beasts to lie down,' emphasizing divine judgment and humiliation. The word consistently conveys a location of repose, but its usage in prophecy applies it metaphorically to depict the downfall of nations.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in prophetic books (Ezekiel and Zephaniah) within oracles against foreign nations. In both instances, it is used metaphorically rather than literally. In Ezekiel 25:5, God declares He will make Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, a 'marbêts for flocks' as an act of judgment. Similarly, in Zephaniah 2:15, the prophet announces that the once-proud city of Nineveh will become a 'marbêts' for wild animals. The pattern is one of ironic reversal: places of human power and pride are transformed into mere animal resting places.
Etymology
מַרְבֵּץ is a noun derived from the root רָבַץ (rāvats, H7257), which means 'to lie down, stretch out, recline.' This root is commonly used for animals, especially flocks, lying down (e.g., Genesis 29:2). The noun form indicates the place or result of that action—a 'lying-down place.' Cognate words in other Semitic languages carry similar meanings related to resting or dwelling.
Semantic Range
Though a simple noun, מַרְבֵּץ gains theological weight through its prophetic usage. It illustrates a key theme in the prophets: God's sovereign judgment that humbles human arrogance. The transformation of a fortified city into a mere animal resting place starkly contrasts human pride with divine power, showing that God reverses the fortunes of the wicked. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the prophets' powerful use of ironic imagery to communicate the certainty and nature of God's judgment.
In an agrarian society, a secure place for flocks to lie down was essential for their well-being and the shepherd's success. A מַרְבֵּץ implied provision, safety, and rest from labor. When prophets applied this term to conquered cities, their original audience would immediately grasp the profound humiliation—a center of civilization and military strength being reduced to a function as mundane and passive as an animal pen. This contrasts with a modern view of ruins as merely historical; in the ancient context, it signaled a complete loss of identity and purpose.
נָוֶה (nāveh, H5116) — a pasture, habitation, or pleasant abode, often for flocks, with more positive connotations of beauty and dwelling. רֵבֶץ (revetz, H7257) — a verbal noun also from רָבַץ, meaning a lying down or crouching place, used more generally.
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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