Word Study for H4349 (מָכוֹן)

mâkôwn /maw-kone'/ Ask about this word

Meaningproperly, a fixture, i.e. a basis; generally a place, especially as an abode

KJV usagefoundation, habitation, (dwelling-, settled) place.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâkôwn — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mâkôwn, represented by H4349, denotes a fixture, basis, or foundation. It appears 17 times in 17 unique verses. Its meaning ranges from a literal foundation to a fixed or settled place of dwelling, often referring to a habitation for God.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In Scripture, H4349 is used to describe both physical and divine locations. It refers to the very foundations of the earth, which God established so they would not be moved Psalms 104:5. It is also used for God's designated place of worship on earth, such as the Sanctuary established by God's hands Exodus 15:17 and the Temple, which Solomon built as a "settled place" for God to dwell in forever 1 Kings 8:13. The term frequently points to heaven as God's dwelling place, from which He hears prayer 1 Kings 8:39. Metaphorically, it describes the very basis of God's authority, as justice and judgment are the habitation of His throne Psalms 89:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of an established dwelling:

H3427 yâshab (to sit down, to dwell, to remain): This word is frequently paired with H4349 to describe the act of abiding in the established place. The desire to dwell in the house of the LORD is a recurring theme Psalms 27:4.
H2073 zᵉbûwl (a residence, dwelling, habitation): This term is used in parallel with H4349 to emphasize the nature of God's abode. Solomon builds "an house of habitation" for God, which is also called "a place for thy dwelling" 2 Chronicles 6:2.
H3678 kiççêʼ (a throne): The concept of a place is linked to authority, as H4349 is described as the habitation or foundation of God's throne Psalms 97:2. The Lord's throne in the heavens signifies His supreme rule Psalms 103:19.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4349 is significant, highlighting the stability and permanence of God's presence and rule.

The Foundation of Creation: The word establishes God as the master architect who laid the foundations of the earth, securing its very existence and demonstrating His creative power Psalms 104:5.
God's Established Dwelling: Whether referring to the earthly sanctuary Exodus 15:17 or His heavenly abode 1 Kings 8:43, H4349 portrays God's dwelling as a fixed, settled, and permanent reality, a place from which He governs and responds to His people.
The Moral Foundation of God's Throne: The term is elevated beyond a physical location to a spiritual principle. The habitation of God's throne is composed of righteousness H6664 and judgment H4941, revealing that His authority is founded on immutable moral character (Psalms 89:14, Psalms 97:2).

Summary

In summary, H4349 provides a powerful concept of foundation and stability. It connects the literal creation of the world to the spiritual foundations of divine authority. From the foundations of the earth to the Temple as a "settled place" and ultimately to the principles of justice and judgment that undergird God's heavenly throne, mâkôwn illustrates the fixed, reliable, and sovereign nature of God's presence in the cosmos.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 17 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מְכוֹן
מָכוֹן
מְכוֹנֶי

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 17 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Psalms (4 verses each); never once in the other 32.

Exodus

1 Kings

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Psalms

Isaiah

Daniel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.