Aven
“Emptiness, vanity, wickedness, or nothingness”
Summary
A Hebrew word meaning 'emptiness' or 'vanity,' used to designate places of idol worship or as a contemptuous name for idolatrous locations.
☩Places Called Aven
The word aven appears in several contexts in Scripture. Hosea speaks of 'the high places of Aven' as the sin of Israel, referring to the idolatrous worship centers. The prophet Amos speaks of 'the valley of Aven' (Bikath-aven), probably referring to the valley between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon containing the famous temple of the sun-god at Baalbek (Heliopolis). Ezekiel uses 'Aven' as a contemptuous designation for On (Heliopolis in Egypt), the great center of sun worship.
☩Symbolic Meaning
The term carries strong negative connotations. Its meaning of 'emptiness,' 'vanity,' or 'wickedness' made it an appropriate designation for places of idolatrous worship, emphasizing the futility and sinfulness of worshipping false gods. By calling these places 'Aven,' the prophets were making a theological statement about the worthlessness of idol worship and the judgment that would come upon such centers of false religion.
Related Verses10 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Aven," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Aven," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).