מוֹבָא

מוֹבָא

an entrance

Definition

The Hebrew noun מוֹבָא (môwbâʼ) refers specifically to an entrance or a place of entry. It denotes the physical location where one enters a space, such as a building or a complex. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 43:11, it describes the entrance of the visionary temple, the point of access into the sacred precincts. The word is a variant form of the more common מָבוֹא (mābôw', H3996), which also means 'entrance' or 'coming in,' and both share the core concept of a point of ingress.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 43:11. The context is highly specific: the prophet Ezekiel is receiving detailed architectural instructions for the future temple. The word is used to describe the 'entrance' of the temple building itself, marking the threshold between the outer court and the inner holy space. Its singular usage in this prophetic, architectural blueprint gives it a specialized, technical sense related to sacred access.

Etymology

The word מוֹבָא (môwbâʼ) is a by-form or transposition of the more standard noun מָבוֹא (mābôw', H3996), which means 'entrance, coming in, place of entry.' Both derive from the common root בּוֹא (bw', H935), meaning 'to come in' or 'to enter.' The formation of מוֹבָא represents a slight phonetic and morphological variation, but its meaning remains firmly anchored in the concept of entry from this foundational verbal root.

Semantic Range

Although used only once, this word carries theological weight in its context. In Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple (Ezekiel 40-48), every architectural detail is divinely prescribed and symbolically significant. The specific term for the temple's 'entrance' (מוֹבָא) highlights the importance of proper, divinely-ordained access to God's holy presence. It underscores themes of holiness, separation, and the defined way in which people are to approach the Lord, prefiguring New Testament concepts of Christ as the true and living way (John 14:6). In ancient Near Eastern temple architecture, the entrance was not merely a doorway but a monumental, symbolic threshold. It often marked a transition from the profane to the sacred space. For Ezekiel's original audience, familiar with the layout of Solomon's temple, the detailed description of the temple's entrance would have reinforced ideas of reverence, ritual purity, and the awe associated with approaching the dwelling place of God. The term implies a formal, designated point of access, distinct from a casual opening. מָבוֹא (mābôw', H3996) — The standard, more frequently used term for 'entrance' or 'coming in,' found in various contexts (e.g., Genesis 23:10, 1 Kings 6:33). פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — A more general term for 'doorway,' 'opening,' or 'entrance,' often used for houses and tents (e.g., Genesis 18:1).

Word Details