33 Bible Verses about Caves

Most Relevant Verses

1 Kings 19:9

Elijah arrived at a cave and stayed there. All of a sudden this message came from the LORD: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Judges 6:2

Midian's control predominated throughout Israel, and because of Midian the Israelis went out to find temporary hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and fortified places.

1 Samuel 22:1-2

David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father's family heard about this and went down to him there. Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was malcontent gathered around him, and he became their leader. There were about 400 men with him.

Genesis 19:30

Later on, Lot and his two daughters abandoned Zoar and settled in the hills because Lot was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived there in a cave, along with his two daughters.

Joshua 10:16-18

Meanwhile, the five kings had fled and hidden themselves inside a cave at Makkedah. Joshua was informed, "The five kings have been discovered hiding in the cave at Makkedah." So Joshua gave an order, "Roll large stones up against the mouth of the cave and assign men to stand guard there,

Judges 15:8

So he attacked them ruthlessly in a massive slaughter, then left to live in the caves of Etam.

1 Samuel 13:6

When the men of Israel saw that they were in distress (for the people were in difficult circumstances), the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in crags, in tombs, and in pits.

1 Samuel 24:2-22

Saul took 3,000 of his best troops from all over Israel, and he went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. David's men told him, "Look, today is the day about which the LORD spoke to you when he said, "I'll give your enemy into your hand.' Do to him whatever you want!"read more.
David rose and stealthily cut off the corner of Saul's robe. Afterwards, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. He told his men, "God forbid that I should do this thing to your majesty, the LORD's anointed, by stretching out my hand against him, since he's the LORD's anointed." David restrained his men with his words and did not allow them to rebel against Saul. Saul got up from the cave and started off. Then David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul: "Your majesty!" Saul looked behind him, and David bowed down with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. Then David told Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of those who say, "Look, David is trying to harm you?' Look, this very day you saw with your own eyes that the LORD gave you into my control in the cave, and one of my men told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and responded, "I won't lift my hand against his majesty because he's the LORD's anointed.' Looke, my father, look! The corner of your robe is in my hand. Indeed, by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, you may know and understand that I have no evil intent or transgression I haven't wronged you, even though you are hunting me to take my life. May the LORD judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won't be attacking you. Just like the ancient proverb says, "From wicked people comes wickedness,' but I'm not against you. After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? May the LORD act as judge, and may he decide between me and you. May he see, may he plead my case, and may he vindicate me in this dispute against you." When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul cried loudly to David, "You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I've treated you poorly. You have explained how you treated me well, in that the LORD delivered me into your hand but you didn't kill me. For who would find his enemy and then send him away safely? May the LORD repay you for what you have done for me today. Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority. Now swear to me by the LORD that you will never eliminate my descendants after me, and that you won't erase my name from my father's family." David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.

2 Samuel 17:9

Look! He's probably already hiding in a cave or someplace like that. If the first attack fails, people will hear about it and think, "Absalom's army is losing!'

2 Samuel 23:13

One day while the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants, three of the 30 leaders joined David at the cave of Adullam.

1 Chronicles 11:15

Later, the Three Warriors went down to David's hideout at the cave of Adullam when the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants.

1 Kings 18:4

had taken 100 prophets and had hidden them by fifties in a cave, providing them with food and water when Jezebel was trying to destroy the LORD's prophets.

Psalm 57:1

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy, for in you I have placed my trust. Even in the shadow of your wings will I find my refuge until this calamity passes.

Psalm 142:1

My voice cries out to the LORD; my voice pleads for mercy to the LORD.

Isaiah 2:19-21

"They will enter caverns in the rocks and holes in the ground to escape the presence of the terror of the LORD, to escape the splendor of his majesty when he arises to terrify the earth. At that time, mankind will throw their silver and gold idols that their fingers have made as objects of worship to the moles and to the bats. They will enter caverns in the rocks and clefts in the cliffs, to escape the terror of the LORD and to escape the splendor of his majesty, when he arises to terrorize the earth.

Jeremiah 48:28

Abandon the cities, and live on the cliffs, you inhabitants of Moab. Be like a dove that builds a nest by the mouth of a cave.

Jeremiah 49:8

Flee, turn around! Go to a remote place to stay, residents of Dedan! For I'll bring Esau's disaster on him at the time when I punish him.

Ezekiel 33:27

"Tell them this: "This is what the Lord GOD says: "As certainly as I'm alive and living, those who live in the wastelands are certain to die violently, I'll give those who die in the open fields to the wild animals for food, and whoever takes refuge in caves and fortified places will die of diseases.

Revelation 6:15

Then the kings of the earth, the important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and all the slaves and free people concealed themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains.

John 11:38

Groaning deeply again, Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying in front of it.

Genesis 23:8-20

and addressed them, "If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, listen to me and make a request of Zohar's son Ephron on my behalf. Give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him, at the end of his field. He should sell it to me in your presence at full price for a burial site." Now since Ephron the Hittite had taken a seat there among the Hittites, he responded publicly to Abraham where the Hittites and everyone who was entering the gate of his city could hear him: read more.
"No, sir. Listen to me! I'll give you the field, and I'll give you the cave that's in it. I give it to you publicly, in the sight of my people. Bury your dead." Abraham bowed before the people of the land and then addressed Ephron so all the people of the land could hear him: "Please listen to me! I'm willing to pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, so I may bury my dead there." So Ephron answered Abraham, "Sir, listen to me! The land is worth 400 shekels of silver, but what's that between us? You may bury your dead." Abraham agreed with Ephron, so he weighed out to Ephron the money to which he had agreed publicly while the Hittites were listening: 400 shekels of silver at the current merchant rate. That's how Ephron's field in Machpelah, east of Mamre the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were within the boundaries of the field came to be deeded to Abraham in the presence of all the Hittites and everyone who was entering the city gate. After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave at the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan. And so the field with its cave was deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.

Genesis 25:9

His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field that used to belong to Zohar the Hittite's son Ephron.

Genesis 49:29-32

In his last words, Jacob issued this set of instructions to them all: "I'm about to join our ancestors. Bury me alongside my ancestors in the cave in the field that used to belong to Ephron the Hittite. It's the cave in the field near Mamre at Machpelah in the land of Canaan that Abraham bought to serve as a cemetery. It's where Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, where Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and where I buried Leah. read more.
Both the field and the cave that's in it were purchased from the Hittites."

Genesis 50:13

they carried him to the territory of Canaan and buried him in the cave in Machpelah field near Mamre that Abraham had purchased as a cemetery from Ephron the Hittite.

1 Samuel 22:1

David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father's family heard about this and went down to him there.

Isaiah 2:19

"They will enter caverns in the rocks and holes in the ground to escape the presence of the terror of the LORD, to escape the splendor of his majesty when he arises to terrify the earth.

Genesis 23:9

Give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him, at the end of his field. He should sell it to me in your presence at full price for a burial site."

Joshua 10:16

Meanwhile, the five kings had fled and hidden themselves inside a cave at Makkedah.

From Thematic Bible


Caves » Were used as » Places of concealment

1 Samuel 13:6

When the men of Israel saw that they were in distress (for the people were in difficult circumstances), the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in crags, in tombs, and in pits.

1 Kings 18:4

had taken 100 prophets and had hidden them by fifties in a cave, providing them with food and water when Jezebel was trying to destroy the LORD's prophets.

1 Samuel 14:11

When the two of them showed themselves to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding."

Caves » Afford no protection from the judgments of God

Ezekiel 33:27

"Tell them this: "This is what the Lord GOD says: "As certainly as I'm alive and living, those who live in the wastelands are certain to die violently, I'll give those who die in the open fields to the wild animals for food, and whoever takes refuge in caves and fortified places will die of diseases.

Isaiah 2:19

"They will enter caverns in the rocks and holes in the ground to escape the presence of the terror of the LORD, to escape the splendor of his majesty when he arises to terrify the earth.

Revelation 6:15

Then the kings of the earth, the important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and all the slaves and free people concealed themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains.

Caves » Mentioned in scripture » En-gedi

1 Samuel 23:29-1

David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi. When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi."

1 Samuel 24:3

He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.

Caves » Were used as » Haunts of robbers

Jeremiah 7:11

Has this house that is called by my name become a hideout for bandits in your eyes? Look, I'm watching," declares the LORD.

Matthew 21:13

He told them, "It is written, "My house is to be called a house of prayer,' but you are turning it into a hideout for bandits!"

Caves » Often capacious

1 Samuel 22:1

David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father's family heard about this and went down to him there.

1 Samuel 24:3

He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.

Caves » Were used as » Resting places

1 Kings 19:9

Elijah arrived at a cave and stayed there. All of a sudden this message came from the LORD: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

1 Samuel 24:3

He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.

Caves » Were used as » Burial places

John 11:38

Groaning deeply again, Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying in front of it.

Genesis 23:19

After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave at the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

Caves » Mentioned in scripture » Makkedah

John 10:16-17

I have other sheep that don't belong to this fold. I must lead these also, and they'll listen to my voice. So there will be one flock and one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it back again.

Caves » Mentioned in scripture » Adullam

1 Samuel 22:1

David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father's family heard about this and went down to him there.

Caves » Were used as » Dwelling-places

Genesis 19:30

Later on, Lot and his two daughters abandoned Zoar and settled in the hills because Lot was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived there in a cave, along with his two daughters.

Caves » Found in the » Open fields

Genesis 23:20

And so the field with its cave was deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.

Caves » Natural

Caves » Mentioned in scripture » Machpelah

Genesis 23:9

Give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him, at the end of his field. He should sell it to me in your presence at full price for a burial site."

Caves » Found in the » Rocks

Isaiah 2:19

"They will enter caverns in the rocks and holes in the ground to escape the presence of the terror of the LORD, to escape the splendor of his majesty when he arises to terrify the earth.

Caves » Were used as » Hiding places of wild beasts

Nahum 2:12

This lion renders its prey to pieces to feed its whelps, and strangles enough prey for its mate, filling its lairs with prey and its dens with rendered flesh.

Caves » Artificial

Judges 6:2

Midian's control predominated throughout Israel, and because of Midian the Israelis went out to find temporary hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and fortified places.

Topics on Caves

Caves As Places Of Refuge

Judges 6:2

Midian's control predominated throughout Israel, and because of Midian the Israelis went out to find temporary hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and fortified places.

Caves For Burying

Genesis 23:9

Give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him, at the end of his field. He should sell it to me in your presence at full price for a burial site."

People In Caves

Isaiah 2:19

"They will enter caverns in the rocks and holes in the ground to escape the presence of the terror of the LORD, to escape the splendor of his majesty when he arises to terrify the earth.

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