Bible Dictionary
Valley
A valley is a low area between hills, ranging from a narrow ravine to a broad plain or watercourse. Scripture frequently names valleys as places of settlement, battle, harvest, judgment, or blessing.
Definition
A valley is a cleft, low plain, ravine, watercourse, or lowland between higher ground. Biblical terms translated “valley” describe several different physical forms rather than one uniform landscape.
Biblical Usage
Valleys appear as places of habitation, warfare, cultivation, worship, judgment, blessing, and prophetic imagery. Scripture names the valleys of Hinnom, Achor, Elah, Berachah, Jehoshaphat, Rephaim, and others.
Historical Background
Some valleys were narrow glens, while others were broad plains bounded by mountains. A wady could also be a seasonal streambed, and the Shephelah referred to the lowland and foothills of western Palestine.
Scripture References
Deuteronomy 8:7
Deuteronomy 11:11
Psalms 104:8
Isaiah 41:18
Joshua 11:17
Joshua 12:7
2 Chronicles 35:22
Job 39:10
Job 39:21
Psalms 65:13
Song of Solomon 2:1
Joshua 15:8
2 Samuel 5:18
1 Samuel 17:2
2 Chronicles 20:26
Genesis 14:17
Joel 3:2
Joel 3:12
Joshua 7:24
Isaiah 65:10
Psalms 60:6
Joshua 10:12
Hosea 1:5
2 Kings 23:10
Deuteronomy 1:24
Judges 16:4
Isaiah 22:1
Psalms 125:2
Jeremiah 21:13
Genesis 26:19
Song of Solomon 6:11
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) Heb. bik’ah, a “cleft” of the mountains (Deut. 8:7; 11:11; Ps. 104:8; Isa. 41:18); also a low plain bounded by mountains, as the plain of Lebanon at the foot of Hermon around the sources of the Jordan (Josh. 11:17; 12:7), and the valley of Megiddo (2 Chr. 35:22). (2.) ‘Emek, “deep;” “a long, low plain” (Job 39:10, 21; Ps. 65:13; Cant. 2:1), such as the plain of Esdraelon; the “valley of giants” (Josh. 15:8), usually translated “valley of Rephaim” (2 Sam. 5:18); of Elah (1 Sam. 17:2), of Berachah (2 Chr. 20:26); the king’s “dale” (Gen. 14:17); of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2, 12), of Achor (Josh. 7:24; Isa. 65:10), Succoth (Ps. 60:6), Ajalon (Josh. 10:12), Jezreel (Hos. 1:5). (3.) Ge, “a bursting,” a “flowing together,” a narrow glen or ravine, such as the valley of the children of Hinnom (2 Kings 23:10); of Eshcol (Deut. 1:24); of Sorek (Judg. 16:4), etc. The “valley of vision” (Isa. 22:1) is usually regarded as denoting Jerusalem, which “may be so called,” says Barnes (Com. on Isa.), “either (1) because there were several valleys within the city and adjacent to it, as the vale between Mount Zion and Moriah, the vale between Mount Moriah and Mount Ophel, between these and Mount Bezetha, and the valley of Jehoshaphat, the valley of the brook Kidron, etc., without the walls of the city; or (2) more probably it was called the valley in reference to its being compassed with hills rising to a considerable elevation above the city” (Ps. 125:2; comp. also Jer. 21:13, where Jerusalem is called a “valley”). (4.) Heb. nahal, a wady or water-course (Gen. 26:19; Cant. 6:11).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>val'-i.</p><p>See VALE; VALLEY.</p>