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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Greek: 4693. σπήλαιον (spélaion) -- Cave, den</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/4693.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/matthew/13-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/greek/4693.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Greek</a> > 4693</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../greek/4692.htm" title="4692">◄</a> 4693. spélaion <a href="../greek/4694.htm" title="4694">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">spélaion: Cave, den</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="greek">σπήλαιον</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Noun, Neuter<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>spélaion<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>SPAY-lah-yon<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(spay'-lah-yon)<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Cave, den<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>a cave, den, hideout.<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>Derived from the Greek verb σπέος (speos), meaning "cave" or "grotto."<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span> - <b>H4631 (מְעָרָה, me'arah):</b> Often translated as "cave" or "den," used in the Old Testament to describe natural caves or hiding places, such as the cave of Adullam where David sought refuge (1 Samuel 22:1).<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>In the New Testament, "spélaion" is used to describe a cave or a den. It often conveys a sense of a hidden or secretive place, sometimes with negative connotations, such as a den of robbers. The term is used metaphorically to describe places of refuge or concealment, as well as places of illicit activity.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In ancient times, caves were commonly used as places of shelter, burial, and refuge. They were natural formations that provided protection from the elements and enemies. In the context of the New Testament, caves could also be associated with banditry and lawlessness, as they were often used as hideouts by robbers. The imagery of a "den of robbers" would have been a powerful metaphor for corruption and moral decay, particularly in religious contexts.<div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>from speos (a cave)<br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>a cave<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>cave (1), caves (2), den (3).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Thayer's Greek Lexicon</div><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 4693: σπήλαιον</span><br><br><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">σπήλαιον</span></span>, <span class="greek2">σπηλαίου</span>, <span class="greek2">τό</span> (<span class="greek2">σπέος</span> (cavern; cf. <span class="abbreviation">Curtius</span>, § 111)), <span class="accented">a cave</span> (den): <a href="/interlinear/matthew/21-13.htm">Matthew 21:13</a>; <a href="/interlinear/mark/11-17.htm">Mark 11:17</a>; <a href="/interlinear/luke/19-46.htm">Luke 19:46</a>; <a href="/interlinear/john/11-38.htm">John 11:38</a>; <a href="/interlinear/hebrews/11-38.htm">Hebrews 11:38</a>; <a href="/interlinear/revelation/6-15.htm">Revelation 6:15</a>. (<span class="abbreviation">Plato</span>, <span class="abbreviation">Plutarch</span>, <span class="abbreviation">Lucian</span>, <span class="abbreviation">Aelian</span>, others; the <span class="manuref">Sept.</span> for <span class="hebrew">מְעָרָה</span>.)<FOOTNOTE:1> <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>cave, den. <p>Neuter of a presumed derivative of speos (a grotto); a cavern; by implication, a hiding-place or resort -- cave, den. <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>σπηλαια σπήλαια σπηλαιοις σπηλαίοις σπηλαιον σπήλαιον σπηλαίου σπηλαίω σπιθα΄μης σπιθαμή σπιθαμής spelaia spēlaia spḗlaia spelaiois spelaíois spēlaiois spēlaíois spelaion spēlaion spḗlaion<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/matthew/21-13.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Matthew 21:13</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular">N-ANS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/matthew/21.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">αὐτὸν ποιεῖτε <b>σπήλαιον</b> λῃστῶν </span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/matthew/21.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> but you are making it a ROBBERS' <span class="itali">DEN.</span><br><a href="/kjvs/matthew/21.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> have made it <span class="itali">a den</span> of thieves.<br><a href="/interlinear/matthew/21-13.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> it have made <span class="itali">a den</span> of robbers<p><b><a href="/text/mark/11-17.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Mark 11:17</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular">N-ANS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/mark/11.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">πεποιήκατε αὐτὸν <b>σπήλαιον</b> λῃστῶν </span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/mark/11.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> But you have made it a ROBBERS' <span class="itali">DEN.</span><br><a href="/kjvs/mark/11.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> have made it <span class="itali">a den</span> of thieves.<br><a href="/interlinear/mark/11-17.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> made it <span class="itali">a den</span> of robbers<p><b><a href="/text/luke/19-46.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Luke 19:46</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular">N-ANS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/luke/19.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">αὐτὸν ἐποιήσατε <b>σπήλαιον</b> λῃστῶν </span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/luke/19.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> but you have made it a ROBBERS' <span class="itali">DEN.</span><br><a href="/kjvs/luke/19.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> have made it <span class="itali">a den</span> of thieves.<br><a href="/interlinear/luke/19-46.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> it have made <span class="itali">a den</span> of robbers<p><b><a href="/text/john/11-38.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">John 11:38</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular">N-NNS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/john/11.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ἦν δὲ <b>σπήλαιον</b> καὶ λίθος</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/john/11.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> Now <span class="itali">it was a cave,</span> and a stone<br><a href="/kjvs/john/11.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> It was <span class="itali">a cave,</span> and a stone<br><a href="/interlinear/john/11-38.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> it was moreover <span class="itali">a cave</span> and a stone<p><b><a href="/text/hebrews/11-38.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Hebrews 11:38</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Dative Neuter Plural">N-DNP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/hebrews/11.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ὄρεσιν καὶ <b>σπηλαίοις</b> καὶ ταῖς</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/hebrews/11.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> and mountains <span class="itali">and caves</span> and holes<br><a href="/kjvs/hebrews/11.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> and <span class="itali">[in] dens</span> and<br><a href="/interlinear/hebrews/11-38.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> in mountains and <span class="itali">in caves</span> and in the<p><b><a href="/text/revelation/6-15.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Revelation 6:15</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural">N-ANP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/revelation/6.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">εἰς τὰ <b>σπήλαια</b> καὶ εἰς</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/revelation/6.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> themselves <span class="itali">in the caves</span> and among<br><a href="/kjvs/revelation/6.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> themselves in <span class="itali">the dens</span> and in<br><a href="/interlinear/revelation/6-15.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> in the <span class="itali">caves</span> and in<p><b><a href="/greek/4693.htm">Strong's Greek 4693</a><br><a href="/greek/strongs_4693.htm">6 Occurrences</a></b><br><br><a href="/greek/spe_laia_4693.htm">σπήλαια — 1 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/spe_laiois_4693.htm">σπηλαίοις — 1 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/spe_laion_4693.htm">σπήλαιον — 4 Occ.</a><br><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="/greek/4692.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="4692"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="4692" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/greek/4694.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="4694"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="4694" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>