What does עֵמֶק (ʿēmeq) mean in the Bible?
The Hebrew noun emeq names a broad valley or vale, often as part of a specific place-name. Valleys hold fields, flocks, routes, settlements, armies, harvests, and remembered events.
Hebrew · H6010
עֵמֶק
A vale (i.e. broad depression)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
עֵמֶקH6010
Pronunciationʿēmeq
What does עֵמֶק (ʿēmeq) mean in the Bible?
The Hebrew noun emeq names a broad valley or vale, often as part of a specific place-name. Valleys hold fields, flocks, routes, settlements, armies, harvests, and remembered events.
Reader summary
Full entry for עֵמֶק (H6010) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6010?
The BSB source-word alignment has 69 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include in the Valley (22), the Valley (13), in the valleys (3), and in the valley (2), and the valleys (2).
Where does עֵמֶק (ʿēmeq) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 14:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Joshua (12), Judges (8), 1 Chronicles (6), Genesis (6).
What This Word Actually Means
The Hebrew noun emeq names a broad valley or vale, often as part of a specific place-name. Valleys hold fields, flocks, routes, settlements, armies, harvests, and remembered events. Scripture names the Valley of Elah, Rephaim, Achor, Jezreel, Jehoshaphat, and other locations, and each carries its own narrative history. The noun itself does not mean discouragement, humility, or a private spiritual low point.
In Hosea, the Valley of Achor becomes a gateway of hope within a restoration promise that deliberately recalls a place associated with trouble. In Joel, the valley of decision concerns the Lord's judicial action among gathered nations, not primarily a moment when an individual decides whether to believe. Other passages show valleys covered with grain or chosen as battlefields.
Readers should identify the named valley, historical or poetic setting, and action before making application. Emeq can support rich canonical reflection, but it must not erase violence, turn geography into a formula, or make suffering people responsible for escaping a supposed valley through stronger faith.
How the Bible Uses It
Emeq names broad valleys that become settings for agriculture, battle, judgment, trouble, blessing, and hope, with named locations and surrounding narratives determining their significance.
- 1Sam.17.2
Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines.
Israel camps and forms battle lines in the Valley of Elah, locating the David and Goliath conflict in a specific military landscape.
- 1Kgs.20.28
Then the man of God approached the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans have said that the Lord is a god of the hills and not of the valleys, I will deliver all this great army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
The Lord answers Aramean claims that He is a god of hills but not valleys, exposing an attempt to restrict His authority by terrain.
- Hos.2.15
There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
Hosea promises vineyards and a gateway of hope in the Valley of Achor within a larger oracle of renewed covenant relationship.
- Joel.3.14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
Joel's multitudes stand in the valley of decision because the Day of the Lord's judgment is near, not because the crowd controls the verdict.
- Ps.65.13
The pastures are clothed with flocks, and the valleys are decked with grain. They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.
The psalm pictures valleys decked with grain and joining creation's triumphant song as God provides rain and abundance.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itin the Valley22×Genesis 14:8, Joshua 13:19, Joshua 17:16, Judges 6:33
the Valley13×Genesis 14:3, Genesis 14:17, Joshua 7:26, Joshua 8:13
in the valleys3×Numbers 14:25, 1 Chronicles 12:15, 1 Chronicles 27:29
and in the valley2×Joshua 13:27, Joshua 17:16
and the valleys2×Psalms 65:13, Micah 1:4
from the Valley2×Genesis 37:14, Joshua 15:7
of the Valley2×Joshua 15:8, Song Of Solomon 2:1
Valley2×2 Samuel 18:18, Jeremiah 31:40
. . .1×Joshua 18:21
above the valley1×Jeremiah 21:13
and make the Valley1×Hosea 2:15
and the Valley1×Isaiah 65:10
as [in] the Valley1×Isaiah 28:21
end of the Valley1×Joshua 18:16
into the plain1×Judges 1:34
into the valley1×Judges 5:15
Now the Valley1×Genesis 14:10
of the plains1×Judges 1:19
of the valleys1×1 Kings 20:28
of their valley1×Jeremiah 47:5
of your valleys1×Jeremiah 49:4
over the Valley1×Joshua 10:12
the valleys1×Job 39:10
through the Valley1×Psalms 84:6
to the Valley1×Joshua 7:24
Valley)1×Genesis 14:17
valleys1×Isaiah 22:7
was in a valley1×Judges 18:28
your valleys1×Jeremiah 49:4
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 14:3עֵ֖מֶקtothe ValleyNoun - masculine singular constructGenesis 14:8בְּעֵ֖מֶקtoin the ValleyPreposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructGenesis 14:10וְעֵ֣מֶקtoNow the ValleyConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructGenesis 14:17עֵ֣מֶקtothe ValleyNoun - masculine singular constructGenesis 14:17עֵ֥מֶקtoValley)Noun - masculine singular constructGenesis 37:14מֵעֵ֣מֶקtofrom the ValleyPreposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructNumbers 14:25בָּעֵ֑מֶקtoin the valleysPreposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularJoshua 7:24עֵ֥מֶקtoto the ValleyNoun - masculine singular constructJoshua 7:26עֵ֣מֶקtothe ValleyNoun - masculine singular constructJoshua 8:13הָעֵֽמֶק׃tothe valleyArticle | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 14:3
Aligned rows69
Books represented17
Genesis6Numbers1Joshua12Judges81 Samuel52 Samuel41 Kings11 Chronicles62 Chronicles2Job2Psalms4Song Of Solomon1Isaiah4Jeremiah6Hosea2Joel4Micah1
Source forms
בְּעֵ֥מֶק10xbə·‘ê·meqJoshua 10:12, Joshua 17:16, Joshua 18:16, Judges 6:33
בְּעֵ֖מֶק5xbə·‘ê·meqGenesis 14:8, 1 Samuel 17:19, Hosea 1:5, Joel 3:14
עֵ֥מֶק4x‘ê·meqGenesis 14:17, Joshua 7:24, 2 Chronicles 20:26, Hosea 2:15
בְּעֵ֣מֶק3xbə·‘ê·meq1 Samuel 17:2, 1 Samuel 21:9, Psalms 84:6
עֵ֖מֶק3x‘ê·meqGenesis 14:3, Joel 3:2, Joel 3:12
בָּעֵ֑מֶק2xbā·‘ê·meqNumbers 14:25, 1 Samuel 6:13
בָּעֵ֖מֶק2xbā·‘ê·meqJudges 5:15, Judges 18:28
בָּעֵֽמֶק׃2xbā·‘ê·meqJudges 7:1, 1 Chronicles 14:13
Parsing patterns
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct16xGenesis 14:8, Joshua 10:12, Joshua 17:16, Joshua 18:16
Noun - masculine singular construct10xGenesis 14:3, Genesis 14:17, Joshua 7:24, Joshua 7:26
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular10xNumbers 14:25, Judges 5:15, Judges 7:1, Judges 7:8
Article | Noun - masculine singular8xJoshua 8:13, Joshua 13:19, Joshua 17:16, Judges 1:19
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct4xGenesis 14:10, Psalms 60:6, Psalms 108:7, Isaiah 65:10
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular3x1 Samuel 17:2, 1 Samuel 17:19, 1 Samuel 21:9
Article | Noun - masculine plural2x1 Chronicles 12:15, Song Of Solomon 2:1
Noun - masculine plural2x1 Kings 20:28, Job 39:10
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- People facing depression, grief, trauma, or danger need patient care and appropriate support, not a lexical metaphor used as diagnosis.
- Communities revisiting a place of harm should name the history, protect affected people, and pursue repair rather than declaring easy restoration.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that emeq inherently means a spiritual low point; its governed witnesses name physical valleys and specific places.
- Do not claim that Joel 3:14 centers human choice, because the oracle describes the Lord gathering nations for judgment.
- Do not claim that Hosea's doorway of hope promises automatic recovery from every loss associated with a difficult place.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Broad, open valley contrasting with narrow gorge; often marks sites of decisive battles or judgment in OT narrative.
Source Gloss
a vale (i.e. broad depression)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Broad, open valley contrasting with narrow gorge; often marks sites of decisive battles or judgment in OT narrative.
a vale (i.e. broad depression) BDB: vale Usage: dale, vale, valley (often used as a part of proper names). See also 1025.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
עֵמֶק is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Emeq gives biblical events room to happen. Broad valleys can hold grain, herds, roads, armies, chariots, monuments, and communities. Their openness may make them productive or expose them to invasion and battle. Named valleys also gather memory. The Valley of Achor recalls grave trouble in Joshua, then Hosea speaks of that place as a gateway of hope within God's restoration of His people.
Joel's valley of decision is filled with nations summoned for the Lord's judgment; decision there describes the judicial crisis and verdict, not a neutral invitation for the crowd to choose its preferred outcome. First Kings rejects the Aramean idea that Israel's God has authority in hills but not valleys. These contexts show why valley cannot function as one automatic metaphor.
Faithful teaching may draw carefully framed canonical connections, but it should not tell grieving, traumatized, or depressed people that they remain in a valley because they failed to decide, believe, or climb. God is not restricted by terrain, and hope rests in His stated promise rather than in a landform's hidden symbolism.
Anchor passage
1Kgs.20.28
Doctrinal connections
- The Lord's authority is not divided by hills, valleys, military conditions, or rival territorial claims.
- Named places can carry painful memory while later prophecy announces restoration by God's initiative and covenant mercy.
- Divine judgment in Joel belongs to the Lord who gathers and judges nations according to the oracle.
- Agricultural valleys display creaturely dependence on rain, labor, peace, and conditions no community fully controls.
- Battlefield geography explains narrative movement without making warfare a reusable spiritual method or sacred ideal.
- Biblical hope can meet people in places of trouble without blaming them for suffering or demanding emotional triumph.
Emeq is a masculine Hebrew noun for a broad depression, valley, or vale. It frequently appears in construct phrases that name a particular valley, so the attached place-name carries essential context. It differs from other Hebrew terms that may describe narrower ravines or torrent valleys.
From Old to New Testament
The New Testament does not require one fixed valley symbolism. Its teaching about God's universal lordship, final judgment, persevering hope, and care for sufferers can illuminate these themes, but responsible connections preserve each named valley's Old Testament history and literary role.