7740. Shaveh
Lexical Summary
Shaveh: Shaveh

Original Word: שָׁוֵה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Shaveh
Pronunciation: shah-veh'
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-vay')
KJV: Shaveh
NASB: Shaveh
Word Origin: [from H7737 (שָׁוָה - To level)]

1. plain
2. Shaveh, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Shaveh

From shavah; plain; Shaveh, a place in Palestine -- Shaveh.

see HEBREW shavah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from shavah
Definition
a valley near Salem
NASB Translation
Shaveh (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. שָׁוֵה in proper name, of a location ׳עֵמֶק שׁ Genesis 14:17 (see ׳ע); Σαυη.

Topical Lexicon
Etymology and Sense

שָׁוֵה (Shaveh) denotes a “level place” or “plain.” In both occurrences it functions as a place-name that underscores the topography—a flat, open area conducive to large gatherings, travel, or military action.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Genesis 14:5 – “They defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim.”
2. Genesis 14:17 – “After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).”

Geographical Setting

• Shaveh Kiriathaim lay east of the Jordan in Moabite territory, paired with Kiriathaim (“double city”). Its level terrain formed a natural corridor for the coalition led by Chedorlaomer.
• The Valley of Shaveh, equated with “the King’s Valley,” is widely identified with the Kidron Valley just south-east of Jerusalem. It borders the Judean hills on the west and the wilderness descent toward the Jordan on the east, giving it strategic and ceremonial value. Later, Absalom erected a monument for himself in “the King’s Valley” (2 Samuel 18:18), corroborating the site’s regal associations.

Historical Context

Genesis 14 records the earliest detailed military campaign in Scripture. Four eastern kings swept through Transjordan and Canaan, subduing peoples noted for size and strength (Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim). The mention of Shaveh Kiriathaim shows the campaign’s breadth—extending deep into Moabite lands.

After Abram’s victorious rescue of Lot, royal emissaries converge in the Valley of Shaveh. This neutral, open plain allows the king of Sodom to approach Abram while Melchizedek, king-priest of Salem, simultaneously comes forth with bread, wine, and blessing. The scene anticipates the later role of Jerusalem as Israel’s royal-priestly center.

Theological Significance

1. Meeting Place of Kings and Covenant Bearer

Shaveh becomes the backdrop for a threefold encounter: the pagan king of Sodom, the righteous king-priest Melchizedek, and Abram, the covenant bearer. The plain underscores the public, historical verifiability of God’s dealings with Abram.

2. Foreshadowing of Christ’s Priesthood

Melchizedek’s appearance “in the Valley of Shaveh” prefigures the Messiah’s dual offices. Hebrews 7 draws a straight line from this event to Jesus Christ, “a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” Thus Shaveh marks the first biblical stage upon which the eternal priest-king steps.

3. Warfare and Divine Deliverance

In Shaveh Kiriathaim the formidable Emim fall beneath human armies, highlighting mortality even among “giants.” Conversely, in the Valley of Shaveh Abram’s 318 men plus divine favor rout a confederacy of kings. Both sites teach that the Lord determines the outcome of battles, whether against giants or coalitions.

Ministry Implications

• Fellowship Around Bread and Wine: Melchizedek’s offering anticipates the ordinance of Communion. Ministry that elevates Christ’s body and blood rightly positions believers to receive blessing.
• Tithing as Worship: Abram “gave him a tenth of everything” (Genesis 14:20). Generous giving remains a voluntary yet powerful acknowledgment of God’s supremacy and provision.
• Spiritual Discernment: Abram rejects the spoils offered by the king of Sodom, demonstrating separation from worldly entanglements while accepting blessing from God’s priest. Effective ministry distinguishes between alliances that honor God and those that compromise witness.

Prophetic and Eschatological Threads

Zechariah foresees the Mount of Olives splitting and a valley forming “to Azal” (Zechariah 14:4-5), possibly extending the King’s Valley. The place where the shadow-figure of Christ blessed Abram may also frame the Messiah’s climactic return, knitting Genesis to Revelation in geographic continuity.

Related Passages for Further Study

2 Samuel 18:18; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:1-28; John 6:53-58; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Forms and Transliterations
בְּשָׁוֵ֖ה בשוה שָׁוֵ֔ה שוה bə·šā·wêh bəšāwêh beshaVeh šā·wêh šāwêh shaVeh
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 14:5
HEB: וְאֵת֙ הָֽאֵימִ֔ים בְּשָׁוֵ֖ה קִרְיָתָֽיִם׃
INT: Ham and the Emim Shaveh Kiriathaim

Genesis 14:17
HEB: אֶל־ עֵ֣מֶק שָׁוֵ֔ה ה֖וּא עֵ֥מֶק
NAS: him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's
KJV: that [were] with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which
INT: at the valley of Shaveh which the valley

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7740
2 Occurrences


bə·šā·wêh — 1 Occ.
šā·wêh — 1 Occ.

7739b
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