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עָרֵב

𐤏𐤓𐤁

ʻârêb

H6149 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ע־ר־ב to be pleasant, to be sweet, to be agreeable

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.'

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 submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

ערב (ʿ-r-b) — to be pleasant, to be sweet, to be agreeable

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1026 בֵּית הָעֲרָבָה the arid plain
H4627 מַעֲרָב in your trade-goods
H4628 מַעֲרָב the sunset-region
H6148 עָרַב he became surety
H6150 עָרַב she grew dusky

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6149-05 וְ/עָֽרְבָה֙ vearevah HC/Vqq3fs will be pleasant and she was pleasant 2
H6149-06 יֶעֱרַ֣ב yeerav HVqi3ms may be pleasing he will be pleasing 1
H6149-03 עָ֥רְבוּ arevu HVqp3cp pleasing they were pleasing 1
H6149-04 תֶּעֱרַ֣ב teerav HVqi3fs is sweet she will be pleasant 1
H6149-02 עָ֥רְבָה arevah HVqp3fs was pleasant she was pleasant 1
H6149-01 עָרַ֣בְתְּ aravete HVqp2fs you were pleasant to you were pleasing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6149-03 Jeremiah 6:20 עָ֥רְבוּ arevu HVqp3cp pleasing they were pleasing
H6149-02 Jeremiah 31:26 עָ֥רְבָה arevah HVqp3fs was pleasant she was pleasant
H6149-01 Ezekiel 16:37 עָרַ֣בְתְּ aravete HVqp2fs you were pleasant to you were pleasing
H6149-05 Malachi 3:4 וְ/עָֽרְבָה֙ vearevah HC/Vqq3fs will be pleasing and she was pleasant
H6149-06 Psalms 104:34 יֶעֱרַ֣ב yeerav HVqi3ms may be pleasing he will be pleasing
H6149-05 Proverbs 3:24 וְֽ/עָרְבָ֥ה vearevah HC/Vqq3fs will be pleasant and she was pleasant
H6149-04 Proverbs 13:19 תֶּעֱרַ֣ב teerav HVqi3fs is sweet she will be pleasant
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