Original Word: מַאֲבוּס
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ma`abuwc
Pronunciation: mah-ah-BOOS
Phonetic Spelling: (mah-ab-ooce')
KJV: storehouse
NASB: barns
Word Origin: [from H75 (אָבַס - fattened)]

1. a granary

storehouse

From 'abac; a granary -- storehouse.

see HEBREW 'abac

Word Origin
from abas
Definition
granary
NASB Translation
barns (1).

[מַאֲבוּס] noun [masculine] granary (= place of fodder; ? Assyrian bit abûsâti Dl^{W 46}) plural suffix מַאֲבֻסֶיהָ Jeremiah 50:26.

אֲבַעְבֻּעֹת see בוע.

אבץ (meaning unknown).

Definition and Literal Sense

The term refers to a granary or storehouse—a building or room where harvested grain or other produce was kept for protection, rationing, and future use. In agrarian societies such facilities symbolized both material security and divine blessing, for without adequate storage abundant harvests could be lost.

Biblical Occurrence

Jeremiah 50:26 is the sole biblical instance: “Come against her from afar; break open her granaries; pile her up like heaps; and annihilate her. Let nothing be left to her”. The prophet envisions Babylon’s silos being forced open, their carefully gathered wealth becoming useless rubble under divine judgment.

Historical and Cultural Background

In the Ancient Near East, storehouses were critical infrastructure. Cities such as Babylon possessed vast magazines to sustain armies, support trade, and project imperial power. To breach these repositories was to cripple a city’s economy and morale. Jeremiah’s audience, acquainted with Assyrian and Babylonian logistics, would have recognized the gravity of attacking a granary complex: it signified the collapse of a seemingly impregnable empire.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty over Human Security

Storehouses, however well guarded, cannot shield a nation from God’s justice. Babylon trusted in its reserves; God shattered them.
2. Reversal of Fortune

That which once represented abundance becomes a witness to desolation. This reversal echoes Hannah’s song (1 Samuel 2:7) and Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:52-53).
3. Accountability of World Powers

The destruction of Babylon’s stores underscores that every empire answers to the Lord of hosts, who “weighs the hearts” (Proverbs 21:2).

Prophetic Implications

Jeremiah 50 announces the downfall of the oppressor and the liberation of Israel. The opened granaries anticipate the redistribution of resources: what Babylon hoarded will ultimately serve God’s redemptive purpose for His people (Jeremiah 50:19-20). The image prepares the way for later prophetic visions where wealth of the nations flows to Zion (Isaiah 60:5-11).

Lessons for Ministry and Discipleship

• Stewardship: Believers are to manage resources faithfully, recognizing that abundance is God’s gift (Deuteronomy 28:8) and hoarding for self alone invites loss (Luke 12:15-21).
• Trust: Security rests in the Lord, not in barns or bank accounts (Proverbs 3:9-10; Matthew 6:19-21).
• Justice: Ministries should remember that God defends the oppressed; misuse of wealth against others will be judged, just as Babylon’s surplus was turned into spoil.

Christological and Eschatological Connections

Jesus’ parable of the rich fool echoes Jeremiah’s imagery: “I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones…” (Luke 12:18). Both passages confront self-sufficiency and foretell sudden ruin. Revelation 18 extends the motif: the fall of “Babylon the Great” brings merchants’ warehouses to silence, completing the pattern begun in Jeremiah.

Related Scriptures

Genesis 41:48; Deuteronomy 28:8; Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:10; Luke 12:18; Revelation 18:17.

Practical Applications

1. Churches are encouraged to use resources missionally rather than stockpiling for prestige.
2. Personal finances should reflect dependence on God, with generosity toward the needy.
3. Intercessors may pray that modern “Babylons” repent, lest their storehouses testify against them.

Summary

Though appearing only once, the word paints a vivid picture: God can fling open the strongest vaults and render earthly wealth worthless. The granary of Babylon becomes a signpost, directing readers toward humble reliance on the Lord who alone grants true security and enduring riches.

מַאֲבֻסֶ֔יהָ מאבסיה ma’ăḇusehā ma·’ă·ḇu·se·hā maavuSeihaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts