Original Word: מָעוֹן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ma`own
Pronunciation: mah-ohn
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-ohn')
KJV: den, dwelling((-)place), habitation
NASB: habitation, dwelling place, haunt, dwelling, den
Word Origin: [from the same as H5772 (עוֹנָה - Season)]

1. an abode, of God (the Tabernacle or the Temple), men (their home) or animals (their lair)
2. (hence) a retreat (asylum)

den, dwelling-place, habitation

Or maiyn (1 Chronicles 4:41) {maw-een'}; from the same as ownah; an abode, of God (the Tabernacle or the Temple), men (their home) or animals (their lair); hence, a retreat (asylum) -- den, dwelling((-)place), habitation.

see HEBREW ownah

Word Origin
from un
Definition
dwelling, habitation
NASB Translation
den (1), dwelling (3), dwelling place (4), habitation (6), haunt (4).

I. מָעוֺן noun [masculine] dwelling, habitation; — absolute ׳מ Psalm 71:3 +, construct מְעוֺן Jeremiah 25:30 +, suffix מְעוֺנֶ֑ךָ Psalm 91:9, etc.; —

1 lair of jackals Jeremiah 9:10; Jeremiah 10:22; Jeremiah 49:33; Jeremiah 51:37 (all of desolated cities); אֲרָיוֺת ׳מ Nahum 2:12 ("" מִרְעֶה; figurative of Nineveh).

2 dwelling of ׳י:

a. in heaven קָדְשְׁךָ ׳מ Deuteronomy 26:15 compare Jeremiah 25:30 ("" מָרוֺם), Zechariah 2:17; Psalm 68:6; 2Chronicles 30:27.

b. in temple בְּיתֶ֑ךָ ׳מ Psalm 26:8, מְעוֺנוֺ2Chronicles 36:15 (only here alone).

3 figurative of ׳י as abode of his people, ׳צוּר מ Psalm 71:3, ׳מ alone Psalm 90:1; Psalm 91:9. — ׳מ 1 Samuel 2:29,32 is unintelligible (see Commentaries), possibly read מְעוֺיֵן (eyeing [enviously], see עין denominative) Klo HPS, compare ᵐ5 Bu. מְעוֺנָהּ Zephaniah 3:7 is difficult in context, ᵐ5 We Now read מֵעֵינֶיה (compare Joshua 9:23; 2 Samuel 3:29).

Core Theme: The Dwelling-Place Motif

מָעוֹן revolves around the idea of a stable, protective dwelling—whether of God, of His people, or of wild beasts. Across the canon it moves from literal habitations to rich theological symbolism, uniting the believer’s earthly pilgrimage with the eternal refuge found in the covenant Lord.

1. God’s Heavenly Abode and Earthly Sanctuary

• Deuteronomy 26:15 anchors the word in heaven itself: “Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel…”. From the first entry מָעוֹן signals that the true “dwelling” is God’s own presence, the source of all blessing.

• Psalm 68:5 extols Him as “a father of the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His holy habitation.” The term elevates divine transcendence while affirming tender immanence.

• 2 Chronicles 30:27 shows priestly intercession rising to “His holy dwelling in heaven.” Temple worship on earth reaches its full meaning only because God’s real מָעוֹן is above.

2. The Tabernacle and Temple as Foretastes of the Ultimate Dwelling

• Psalm 26:8—“O LORD, I love the house where You dwell, the place where Your glory resides.” Here מָעוֹן overlaps with Mishkan (tabernacle) but adds the warmth of a home.

• Psalm 71:3 blends fortress imagery with habitation: “Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go… for You are my rock and my fortress.” The believer’s safety is not in walls but in a Person who welcomes.

3. Refuge Imagery in the Wilderness Psalms

• Psalm 90:1, Moses’ prayer: “Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.” Long before Israel knew settled houses, God Himself was the nomads’ מָעוֹן.

• Psalm 91:9 intensifies the promise: “Because you have made the LORD your dwelling—my refuge, the Most High—no evil shall befall you.” Life under covenant moves from geography to relationship.

4. Exposure of Empty Religion

• 1 Samuel 2 exposes the corruption of Eli’s sons. Verse 29 rebukes them for scorning “My dwelling” and verse 32 predicts distress “in My dwelling.” מָעוֹן clarifies that desecrating worship is a personal affront to the Resident, not merely the building.

• 2 Chronicles 36:15 laments Judah’s refusal of prophetic warnings even though the LORD “rose early and sent them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.” His habitation is inseparable from His redemptive patience.

5. Judgment on Nations and Ruined Lairs

In prophetic oracles מָעוֹן flips from secure refuge to desolate lair, underscoring divine justice.

• Jeremiah 9:11; 10:22; 25:30 portray Jerusalem becoming “a heap of ruins, a dwelling for jackals.”

• Jeremiah 49:33; 51:37 and Nahum 2:11 extend the image to Hazor, Babylon, and Nineveh—oppressive powers reduced to haunted dens. The same word that conveys covenant shelter now brands covenant violators with loss of shelter.

6. Eschatological Silence and Awe

• Zechariah 2:13 anticipates the day when “all flesh” falls silent before the LORD, “for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.” מָעוֹן frames the final unveiling of divine glory: the house stirs, history shifts.

7. Ministry Significance

Pastors and teachers draw three enduring lessons:

1. Presence over Place

God’s habitation defines true worship; buildings serve only as conduits to communion (compare John 4:23).

2. Holiness of the Gathering

Defilement of worship (1 Samuel 2) or neglect of prophetic truth (2 Chronicles 36) insults the Dweller Himself.

3. Secure Refuge for the Pilgrim

From Psalm 90 to Psalm 91, believers find identity and safety not in circumstance but in the Lord who receives them as household members (Ephesians 2:19).

8. Christological Fulfillment

The Incarnation is the ultimate מָעוֹן: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Jesus embodies and secures the habitation motif, and through His resurrection prepares “many rooms” (John 14:2) where the redeemed will forever experience what Moses tasted in the wilderness psalm.

9. Devotional Application

• Pray Deuteronomy 26:15 in missions: call for blessing from the heavenly habitation upon the harvest.
• Meditate on Psalm 91 during trials, consciously “making the LORD your dwelling.”
• Let Zechariah 2:13 shape corporate worship—enter the sanctuary with expectant silence, aware that heaven’s house is stirring.

מָעוֹן thus threads Scripture from Torah to Prophets to Writings, inviting every generation to move from tents to temples to Christ, until the climactic promise is fulfilled: “Look! The dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3).

בִּמְע֥וֹן במעון וּמִמְּע֤וֹן וממעון לִמְע֥וֹן למעון מְע֣וֹן מְע֥וֹן מְעוֹן־ מְעוֹנֶֽךָ׃ מְעוֹנֽוֹ׃ מִמְּע֥וֹן מִמְּע֨וֹן מָע֑וֹן מָע֔וֹן מָע֡וֹן מָע֣וֹן ממעון מעון מעון־ מעונו׃ מעונך׃ bim‘ōwn bim·‘ō·wn bimon lim‘ōwn lim·‘ō·wn limon mā‘ōwn mā·‘ō·wn maon mə‘ōwn mə‘ōwn- mə‘ōwneḵā mə‘ōwnōw mə·‘ō·w·ne·ḵā mə·‘ō·w·nōw mə·‘ō·wn mə·‘ō·wn- meon meoNecha meoNo mim·mə·‘ō·wn mimeon mimmə‘ōwn ū·mim·mə·‘ō·wn umimeon ūmimmə‘ōwnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts