מְקֵרָה
a cooling off
Definition
The noun מְקֵרָה (mᵉqêrâh) refers to a 'cooling off' or a 'cool place,' specifically denoting the upper chamber of an ancient Israelite house. This room, often built on the flat roof, was designed to be cooler and more private than the main living quarters below. In its two biblical occurrences, it describes the private upper room where King Eglon of Moab was assassinated by Ehud (Judges 3:20, 24). The word's core meaning of a 'cool retreat' directly informs its specific architectural application.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Book of Judges, chapters 3:20 and 3:24, within the narrative of Ehud's deliverance of Israel. In both instances, it refers to the private upper room (the 'cool chamber') where King Eglon of Moab resided. The context is one of royal privacy and seclusion, which Ehud exploits to carry out his mission. The usage pattern is highly specific to this single story and architectural feature.
Etymology
מְקֵרָה is a noun derived from the root קָרַר (qārar, H7139), meaning 'to be cool' or 'to be cold.' It is related to the adjective קַר (qar, H7119), meaning 'cool' or 'cold.' The noun form indicates a place or state associated with coolness. Its semantic development from the basic concept of coolness to a specific cool room is straightforward, reflecting a practical adaptation to the climate.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is architectural, its use in Judges 3 is theologically significant. The 'cool chamber' becomes the divinely appointed setting for a key act of deliverance in the cyclical pattern of the Judges narrative. God uses a mundane, private space to execute judgment on an oppressor and initiate Israel's rescue. Understanding this term enriches the reading by highlighting the contrast between the king's presumed place of secure comfort and the sudden, decisive action of God's deliverer within it.
In ancient Israelite domestic architecture, an upper room (עֲלִיָּה, ‘ălîyyâh) on the roof was a common feature for privacy and relief from heat. The term מְקֵרָה specifies this as the 'cool room,' likely better ventilated and used during hot weather, often by those of high status. For King Eglon, it functioned as a private royal apartment or office. This differs from a modern understanding of an 'upstairs room,' as it was a distinct, semi-separate structure on the roof, not merely a second story.
עֲלִיָּה (‘ălîyyâh, H5944) — A more general term for an upper room or chamber, not necessarily emphasizing coolness. Used for guest rooms (2 Kings 4:10) and rooftop rooms (Judges 3:23).
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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