Encyclopedia entry
Aven
Disambiguation
The source enumerates 3 distinct subjects under Aven. Jump to one below, or read in order.
Nothingness; vanity.
Aven (1)
#Hosea speaks of the “high places of Aven” (10:8), by which he means Bethel. He also calls it Beth-aven, i.e., “the house of vanity” (4:15), on account of the golden calves Jeroboam had set up there (1 Kings 12:28).
Aven (2)
#Translated by the LXX. “On” in Ezek. 30:17. The Egyptian Heliopolis or city of On (q.v.).
Aven (3)
#In Amos 1:5 it denotes the Syrian Heliopolis, the modern Baalbec.
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
(nothingness).
The “plain of Aven” is mentioned by (Amos 1:5) in his denunciation of Syria and the country to the north of Palestine. This Aven is by some supposed to be the once magnificent Heiropolis, “city of I the sun,” now Baalbek (Bal’bek) of Coele-Syria, whose ruins are one of the wonders of the ages. It was situated in a plain near the foot of the Anti-Libanus range of mountains, 42 miles northwest of Damascus. It is famous for the colossal ruins of its temples, one of which with its courts and porticos, extended over 1000 feet in length. The temples were built of marble or limestone and granite. Some of the columns were 7 feet in diameter and 62 feet high, or including capital and pedestal, 89 feet. Some of the building-stones were 64 feet long and 12 feet thick. The temples are of Roman origin. In (Hosea 10:8) the word is clearly an abbreviation of Bethaven, that is, Bethel. Comp. (Hosea 4:15) etc. The sacred city of Heliopolis or On, in Egypt. (Ezekiel 30:17)
In the Bible
10
Verses where Aven is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Samuel 13:5
Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
- 1 Samuel 14:23
So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.
- Amos 1:5
I will break down the gates of Damascus; I will cut off the ruler from the Valley of Aven and the one who wields the scepter in Beth-eden. The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,” says the LORD.
- Ezekiel 30:17
The young men of On and Pi-beseth will fall by the sword, and those cities will go into captivity.
- Hosea 4:15
Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
- Hosea 5:8
Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!
+4 more verses naming Aven.
Scripture on Aven
10
See all 10 +−
Entries that reference Aven
2
Aven references
17
Voices on Aven
24
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869) · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.