Bible Dictionary
Aven
Aven means vanity or nothingness. It is used as a term of contempt for idolatrous centers, including Beth-aven, and also refers to places associated with Heliopolis in Egypt and Syria.
Definition
Aven means “nothingness,” “emptiness,” or “vanity.” It is used as a contemptuous designation for idolatrous places, including Beth-aven, and for Heliopolis in Egypt and Syria.
Biblical Usage
Hosea calls Bethel Beth-aven, “house of vanity,” because of Jeroboam’s golden calves. Aven also denotes On, or Heliopolis, in Egypt, and the valley of Aven near Damascus, associated with Baalbek. The word is rendered “idol” in Isaiah 66:3.
Historical Background
The Egyptian Aven is identified with Heliopolis, the city of On. The Syrian Aven is associated with Heliopolis, modern Baalbek.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Nothingness; vanity. (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). (2.) Translated by the LXX. “On” in Ezek. 30:17. The Egyptian Heliopolis or city of On (q.v.). (3.) In Amos 1:5 it denotes the Syrian Heliopolis, the modern Baalbec.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(nothingness).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a'-ven 'awen "emptiness," "vanity": Used in Eze 30:17 for On or Heliopolis, in Egypt. See ON. As a term of contempt Hosea calls Beth-el "Beth-aven" (4:15; 10:5). So Amos speaks of some valley near Damascus as "the valley of Aven" (that is, of the idol, 1:5), in which Baalbek (Heliopolis) was situated. The word is rendered "idol" in Isa 66:3.</p>