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אָרַב

𐤀𐤓𐤁

ʼârab

H693 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ארב to ambush, to lie in wait, to lurk

Definition

To lie in wait, to set an ambush; to conceal oneself with the intent to attack or surprise. The verb primarily denotes deliberate concealment or positioning with a view to hostile or predatory action, often in military or violent scenarios, but also in contexts of personal assault or predatory behavior. It can be used figuratively for scheming or intending harm.

Semantic Range

to lie in wait for hostile purposes, to set an ambush, to prepare a trap, to lurk with intent to attack, to await an opportunity to strike, to plot or scheme harm

Root / Etymology

The root אָרַב (ארב) carries the core meaning of 'to ambush, to lie in wait.' The verbal form expresses the act of lying in wait or lurking, usually with hostile intent. Derived nouns (e.g., מַאֲרָב - 'ambush', אֹרֵב - 'ambusher') are common in military and narrative contexts. The root appears across Semitic languages with similar meanings (cf. Arabic 'arab: to lie in wait, attack by surprise), supporting its antiquity and preserving the core predatory nuance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Tanakh, אָרַב is frequent in narrative and poetic contexts referring to both military tactics (such as ambushes in warfare, e.g., Joshua 8) and acts of personal predation (e.g., bandits or murderers lying in wait, Proverbs 1:11). The act implied is calculated, concealed, and typically hostile. Use of the term crosses from collective (army-level) to individual (assailant-level) actions. The noun derivatives are especially used in describing battle strategies among Israelites and their adversaries. While most often literal, the verb is occasionally used figuratively for planning evil or scheming surprise harm. English translations like "to ambush" or "to lie in wait" generally capture the primary sense, but can miss nuances of intent or subtle plotting inherent in the Hebrew. Related roots (such as צָפַן, 'to hide, to lay up') sometimes overlap in describing concealment, but אָרַב uniquely carries the sense of active, aggressive intent and strategic patience. The word's usage does not shift significantly across historical periods, though later literature may employ metaphorical or generalized senses. No connotations of religious or cultic activity are present; the term is strictly secular in meaning.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to lurk; (lie in) ambush(-ment), lay (lie in) wait.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ארב (ʾ-r-b) — to ambush, to lie in wait, to lurk

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3993 מַאֲרָב in ambush of
H694 אֲרָב Arav
H696 אֹרֶב his ambush
H698 אׇרֳבָה ambush-sites of
H699 אֲרֻבָּה apertures

Word Forms

22 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H693-05 הָֽ/אֹרֵב֙ haorev HTd/Vqrmsa the ambush the ambusher 4
H693-19 וְ/הָ/אוֹרֵ֡ב vehaorev HC/Td/Vqrmsa and-the-ambush and the one lying in wait 4
H693-11 אֹרֵ֛ב orev HVqrmsa an ambush ambusher 4
H693-13 תֶאֱרֹֽב teerov HVqi3fs lie in wait she will lie in wait 3
H693-22 יֶאֱרֹ֔בוּ yeerovu HVqi3mp lie in wait they lie in ambush 2
H693-20 וְ/אֹרֵ֧ב veorev HC/Vqrmsc and ambushers and ambushing one 2
H693-08 מְאָרְבִ֗ים mearevim HVprmpa ambushes ambush-setters 2
H693-02 אָֽרְב֡וּ arevu HVqp3cp they lay in wait they lay in ambush 2
H693-15 וַ/יֶּאֶרְב֣וּ vayeerevu HC/Vqw3mp and lay in wait and they lay in ambush 2
H693-12 אֹרְבִ֤ים orevim HVqrmpa liers in wait those lying in wait 2

Occurrences in Scripture

41 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H693-17 Deuteronomy 19:11 וְ/אָ֤רַב vearav HC/Vqq3ms and lies in wait and he lay in wait
H693-11 Joshua 8:2 אֹרֵ֛ב orev HVqrmsa an ambush ambusher
H693-12 Joshua 8:4 אֹרְבִ֤ים orevim HVqrmpa liers in wait those lying in wait
H693-09 Joshua 8:7 מֵ/הָ֣/אוֹרֵ֔ב mehaorev HR/Td/Vqrmsa from the ambush from the ambusher
H693-11 Joshua 8:12 אֹרֵ֗ב orev HVqrmsa to lie in ambush ambusher
H693-11 Joshua 8:14 אֹרֵ֥ב orev HVqrmsa an ambush ambusher
H693-19 Joshua 8:19 וְ/הָ/אוֹרֵ֡ב vehaorev HC/Td/Vqrmsa and-the-ambush and the one lying in wait
H693-05 Joshua 8:21 הָֽ/אֹרֵב֙ haorev HTd/Vqrmsa the ambush the ambusher
H693-08 Judges 9:25 מְאָרְבִ֗ים mearevim HVprmpa ambushes ambush-setters
H693-18 Judges 9:32 וֶ/אֱרֹ֖ב veerov HC/Vqv2ms and lie in wait and lie in wait!
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