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אֵב

𐤀𐤁

ʼêb

H3 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A fresh, green (often immature) ear or stalk of grain; by extension, greenness or freshness in vegetation or growth. The term primarily refers to the early stage of agricultural produce, particularly grain, when it is newly sprouted or green and unripe. In broader usage, it can denote the general quality of verdancy or freshness in plants.

Semantic Range

green, unripe grain; green shoot or stalk; greenness; freshness of growth

Root / Etymology

From the root אביב (ʼ-b-b), meaning 'to be fresh, sprout, produce fresh growth.' The word אֵב (ʼêb) is directly associated with new, green shoots or stalks, particularly grain before it fully ripens.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term אֵב is rare in the Hebrew Bible and is used to describe early, tender growth in cereal crops, especially barley or wheat, before full maturation (e.g., Job 8:12). Its use reflects agricultural realities and seasonal cycles, with 'greenness' or 'freshness' being valuable indicators of crop progress. While related to אָבִיב (ʼaviv), which becomes the technical term for the spring month and the season of ripening barley, אֵב retains a narrower focus on the green, unripe phase. English translations sometimes render it as 'green ears' or 'green growth,' but such terms may fail to convey the agricultural nuance of early developmental stage. The term does not carry metaphorical or later ritual connotations present in related words like אָבִיב. It does not occur in later biblical Hebrew outside of rare poetic contexts, indicating its use faded as more precise agricultural terms developed.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as אָבִיב; a green plant; greenness, fruit.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

אבב (ʼâbîyb) — to bud, to sprout, to be fresh or young (root-level, but actual root unused/uncertain)

Root אבב to be fresh, sprout, produce new growth
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H24 אָבִיב his father

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3-01 בְּ/אִבֵּ֣י beibey HR/Ncmpc the blossoms of green shoots of green shoots of 1
H3-02 בְ֭/אִבּ/וֹ veibo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in its greenness in his fresh shoot in its greenness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3-02 Job 8:12 בְ֭/אִבּ/וֹ veibo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in its greenness in his fresh shoot in its greenness
H3-01 Song of Songs 6:11 בְּ/אִבֵּ֣י beibey HR/Ncmpc the blossoms of green shoots of green shoots of
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