Meaning of VALLEY

There are few places in Palestine that resemble the valleys of other countries. Two of the terms translated "valley" are also translated "plain" and refer to wide plains between the mountains.

Two other words refer to the narrow ravines or ravines through which torrents flow in winter, but which are generally dry in summer, and which are currently known as wadis.

The terms are:
(A) "bikah", "valley or plain", which is the term used for the valleys or plains of Aven, Jericho, Lebanon, Megiddo, Mizpah, and Ono.

(B) "Emek", "valley or plain", is the closest thing to an English "valley". It is applied to Achor, Aijalon, Baca, Beraca, Bet-aram, "of the decision" (Joel 3:14); Elah, "of the giants" (Josh. 15:8; 18:16); Gibeon, Hebron, Jehoshaphat, Jezreel, "the King's" (Gen. 14:17; 2 Sam. 18:18); of Rephaim, Save, Siddim and Sukkot.

(C) "Gay", "ge", glen, narrow valley, used of Charisim, Hamon-gog, Hinnom, Son of Hinnom, Jephte-el, Zeboim and Shephatha; it is used symbolically of “the valley of the mountains” (Zech. 14:5); "valley of those who pass by" (Ez. 39:11); "of salt" (2 Sam. 8:13; 2 Kings 14:7; 1 Chron. 18:12; 2 Chron. 25:11; Ps. 60, heading); "of the craftsmen" (Neh. 11:35); "of slaughter" (Jer. 7:32; 19:6); "of the vision" (1 Sam. 22:1, 5); "from the shadow of death" (Ps. 23:4).

(D) "Nachal", gorge, wadi, often translated "torrent" or "river"; the valleys are Eshcol, Gerar, Shittim, Sorech, and Zared.

(E) "Shephelah", translated valley and plains, and transcribed in most passages as Shephela. It refers to the lowlands that lie halfway between the highlands and the coastal plains of Judah. (See PALESTINE.)

(F) «Pharagê». "Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be lowered" (Lk. 3:5). This is a quote from Is. 40:4, where the term Heb. he is gay".