### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **maʼăbûwç**, represented by `{{H3965}}`, refers to a **granary** or **storehouse**. It is a rare term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** within the scriptures.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H3965}}` occurs in a prophecy of judgment against Babylon. In [[Jeremiah 50:26]], the Lord commands an invading force to come against the city, **open** her **storehouses**, and cast up her contents as heaps to be utterly destroyed. The term here symbolizes the nation's accumulated wealth and sustenance, which is targeted for complete plundering and annihilation, leaving nothing behind [[Jeremiah 50:26]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in its only context illuminate the actions taken against the **storehouse**:
* `{{H6605}}` **pâthach** (to open wide): This is the command to expose the contents of the storehouses, marking the beginning of their desecration. It is used elsewhere to describe the opening of heavens, ears, and mouths ([[Malachi 3:10]], [[Isaiah 35:5]], [[Proverbs 31:26]]).
* `{{H6194}}` **ʻârêm** (a heap; specifically, a sheaf): This describes the fate of the provisions from the storehouse. What was once ordered and valuable is to be piled up like rubble or sheaves for destruction [[Jeremiah 50:26]].
* `{{H5549}}` **çâlal** (to mound up): This verb describes the action of piling up the contents of the storehouse. It can also mean to exalt or extol, but here it is used for the purpose of destruction [[Jeremiah 50:26]].
* `{{H2763}}` **châram** (to devote to religious uses, especially destruction): This word signifies the finality of the judgment. The storehouse and its contents are not merely plundered but are devoted to utter destruction as a consecrated act [[Jeremiah 50:26]].
* `{{H7611}}` **shᵉʼêrîyth** (a remainder or residual portion): The command ensures that no **remnant** is left, emphasizing the totality of the destruction. This contrasts with other uses where God promises to preserve a remnant of His people [[Jeremiah 23:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3965}}` is tied directly to its role in divine judgment.
* **Symbol of National Security:** The **storehouse** represents a nation's wealth, provision, and self-sufficiency. Targeting it for destruction signifies the dismantling of earthly power and pride.
* **Prelude to Annihilation:** The command to **open** `{{H6605}}` the **storehouses** `{{H3965}}` is a key step in a process that culminates in utter destruction (`châram`, `{{H2763}}`). It illustrates that the removal of a nation's resources is part of its complete end.
* **Reversal of Fortune:** The contents of the storehouse are turned into **heaps** `{{H6194}}`, vividly portraying the reversal of fortune. What was once a source of strength becomes a pile of ruin, a testament to divine authority over human kingdoms.
### Summary
In summary, while **maʼăbûwç** `{{H3965}}` appears only once, its context gives it significant symbolic meaning. It is more than just a granary; it stands for the hoarded wealth and security of a great empire. Its singular mention in scripture serves as a powerful illustration of how divine judgment can swiftly target and dismantle the very foundations of human power, turning symbols of prosperity into monuments of desolation.
TRV