עָרֵב
𐤏𐤓𐤁
ʻârêb
H6149 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be pleasant or pleasing, to give or receive delight, especially with reference to sensations such as taste, sound, or figurative experience. The word often expresses the idea of something being agreeable or pleasurable, in both literal and figurative senses, including that which is sweet, delightful, or charming.
Semantic Range
to be pleasant, to be pleasing, to be sweet (literally or figuratively), to be delightful, to give or receive pleasure, to be charming, to be enjoyable
Root / Etymology
From the root ערב (ʿ-r-b), meaning 'to be pleasant, sweet, agreeable.' There are several homographs of ערב in Hebrew with distinct roots and meanings, but this instance is related specifically to pleasantness or agreeableness. The form is a verb in the Qal stem, signifying a state or experience of pleasure or delight.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עָרֵב occurs in various passages of the Hebrew Bible and is typically associated with that which delights the senses (such as taste or sound), or that which is metaphorically satisfying (such as a pleasant experience or action). For example, in Psalm 104:34, the pleasing nature of one’s meditations upon YHWH is likened to sweetness. In Proverbs, it is used to describe something delightful or agreeable, such as words or counsel. The meaning remains consistent from earlier to later biblical periods, maintaining its association with pleasantness and agreeableness. There is overlap with terms for 'sweetness' (מָתוֹק), but עָרֵב has a wider semantic field that includes general pleasantness or delightfulness, not limited to taste. Modern English translation as 'pleasant' or 'agreeable' is generally accurate, though the term can carry deeper connotations of charm or delight depending on the context. It should not be confused with the homograph עָרָב (ʿārāb) meaning 'to pledge' or ערב meaning 'evening.'
Translation Consistency
'Please' is a natural, versatile English verb that captures both literal and figurative senses of being pleasant, sweet, or delightful. It works for sensory contexts (something pleases the palate/ear) and for emotional or figurative pleasure, and can be inflected naturally across all forms (pleases, pleased, pleasing). This gives a consistent, readable rendering for all occurrences of עָרֵב.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (rather identical with עָרַב through the idea of close association); to be agreeable; be pleasant(-ing), take pleasure in, be sweet.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
ע־ר־ב (ʻârêb) — to be pleasant, to be sweet, to be agreeable
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6149-05 |
וְ/עָֽרְבָה֙ | vearevah | HC/Vqq3fs |
will be pleasant | and she was pleasant | and it pleased | 2 |
H6149-01 |
עָרַ֣בְתְּ | aravete | HVqp2fs |
you were pleasant to | you were pleasing | you were pleasing | 1 |
H6149-02 |
עָ֥רְבָה | arevah | HVqp3fs |
was pleasant | she was pleasant | was pleasant | 1 |
H6149-03 |
עָ֥רְבוּ | arevu | HVqp3cp |
pleasing | they were pleasing | they were pleasing | 1 |
H6149-04 |
תֶּעֱרַ֣ב | teerav | HVqi3fs |
is sweet | she will be pleasant | it will be pleasant | 1 |
H6149-06 |
יֶעֱרַ֣ב | yeerav | HVqi3ms |
may be pleasing | he will be pleasing | may he be pleasing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6149-03 |
Jeremiah 6:20 | עָ֥רְבוּ | arevu | HVqp3cp |
pleasing | they were pleasing | they were pleasing |
H6149-02 |
Jeremiah 31:26 | עָ֥רְבָה | arevah | HVqp3fs |
was pleasant | she was pleasant | was pleasant |
H6149-01 |
Ezekiel 16:37 | עָרַ֣בְתְּ | aravete | HVqp2fs |
you were pleasant to | you were pleasing | you were pleasing |
H6149-05 |
Malachi 3:4 | וְ/עָֽרְבָה֙ | vearevah | HC/Vqq3fs |
will be pleasing | and she was pleasant | and it will be pleasing |
H6149-06 |
Psalms 104:34 | יֶעֱרַ֣ב | yeerav | HVqi3ms |
may be pleasing | he will be pleasing | may he be pleasing |
H6149-05 |
Proverbs 3:24 | וְֽ/עָרְבָ֥ה | vearevah | HC/Vqq3fs |
will be pleasant | and she was pleasant | and it pleased |
H6149-04 |
Proverbs 13:19 | תֶּעֱרַ֣ב | teerav | HVqi3fs |
is sweet | she will be pleasant | it will be pleasant |