מַעַר

מַעַר

a nude place, i.e. (literally) the pudenda, or (figuratively) a vacant space

Definition

The Hebrew noun מַעַר (maʻar) primarily denotes a 'nude place' or 'bare area.' In its literal sense, it refers to the pudenda or nakedness, as seen in Nahum 3:5, where God declares He will expose the 'nakedness' of Nineveh as an act of judgment and shaming. In a more figurative architectural sense, it describes a 'vacant space' or 'proportionate area,' specifically the measured panels or compartments on the stands of the bronze laver in Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 7:36). This dual usage shows the word can convey both physical exposure and a designed, empty surface.

Biblical Usage

This rare word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts. In 1 Kings 7:36, it appears in a detailed description of Temple furnishings, referring to the 'proportion' or engraved panels on the stands for the bronze basins. In Nahum 3:5, it is used metaphorically in a prophecy of judgment, where God threatens to lift the skirts of Nineveh to expose her 'nakedness' to the nations, symbolizing utter disgrace and vulnerability.

Etymology

Derived from the root עָרָה (ʻārah, H6168), meaning 'to be bare, lay bare, uncover.' This root is often used for uncovering oneself or removing a covering. מַעַר is a noun form indicating the state or result of that action—a place or thing that is bare, exposed, or uncovered.

Semantic Range

This word connects the concepts of divine judgment, shame, and sacred design. In Nahum 3:5, the exposure of 'nakedness' is a powerful metaphor for God's complete stripping away of a nation's pride and false security, revealing its true vulnerability and sin. Conversely, in 1 Kings 7:36, the same word describes the ordered, proportionate spaces on Temple implements, hinting at God's attention to detail and beauty in worship. Understanding this range enriches reading by showing how a single term can bridge themes of holy order and profound humiliation under God's sovereignty. In ancient Near Eastern culture, public exposure of nakedness, especially for a captive, was a supreme act of humiliation and degradation, worse than death. Nahum's prophecy would have been understood as a promise of total and shameful defeat. The architectural use in 1 Kings reflects the precision and artistry valued in Israel's worship spaces, where every element, even the 'proportions' on a basin stand, was part of a divinely instructed design. עֶרְוָה (ʻerwāh, H6172) — The more common term for nakedness or shameful exposure, often used in legal and prophetic contexts. מַעַר is a rarer synonym with a specific nuance of a 'bare place.'

Word Details