Bible Dictionary
OHOLAH
Oholah is a symbolic name used by Ezekiel for Samaria, representing the northern kingdom of Israel. The name may mean “her tent” or “tent-woman,” though its exact form and meaning are debated.
Definition
Oholah is a symbolic name used by Ezekiel for Samaria, or the kingdom of Israel. Its precise meaning is disputed: as written it may mean “tent-woman,” while another form could mean “her tent.”
Biblical Usage
Ezekiel uses Oholah symbolically for Samaria and the northern kingdom of Israel in the allegory of the two sisters.
Historical Background
The uncertainty concerns the form and meaning of the Hebrew name, including whether the final consonant should be read with a distinguishing mark.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>o-ho'-la ('oholah; the King James Version Aholah): The exact meaning is a matter of dispute. As written, it seems to mean a tent-woman, or the woman living in a tent. With a mappik in the last consonant it could mean "her tent." The term is used symbolically by Ezekiel to designate Samaria or the kingdom of Israel (Eze 23:4,5,36,44).</p><p>See OHOLIBAH.</p>