Bible Dictionary
CABIN
A cabin was a vaulted cell or small chamber in an ancient prison, often arranged around a pit or dungeon. The term occurs in the description of Jeremiah’s imprisonment.
Definition
A cabin was a vaulted cell or small chamber in an eastern prison. Such cells were arranged around a pit or dungeon-house in which prisoners were confined.
Biblical Usage
The term appears in the Revised Version in Jeremiah’s description of Jeremiah’s imprisonment. It is rendered “cells,” though the phrase may be a gloss and seem unnecessary after “dungeon-house.”
Historical Background
Ancient eastern prisons could consist of a pit surrounded by vaulted chambers. The related Hebrew word means “vaults,” and the exact textual status of the expression is uncertain.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>kab'-in (chanuyyoth, "vaults"; Jer 37:16 the Revised Version (British and American), "cells"): In the East the prison often consisted of a pit (compare "dungeon-house" the Revised Version (British and American) and "house of the pit" the Revised Version, margin) with vaulted cells around it for the confinement of prisoners. The word is probably a gloss. The phrase "and into the cells" seems superfluous after "into the dungeonhouse."</p>