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עָרֵל

𐤏𐤓𐤋

ʻârêl

H6189 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primarily denotes 'uncircumcised,' referring to a male whose foreskin has not been removed. The term functions both in a literal, physical sense and in extended metaphorical uses. Literal: an individual, especially a male, who has not undergone circumcision. Figurative: used to denote those considered outside the covenantal relationship associated with Israelites, or more generally as a term for non-Israelites or those seen as ritually or morally 'unclean.' The term can also be applied metaphorically to parts of the body (e.g., 'uncircumcised heart' or 'uncircumcised lips'), signifying insensitivity, impurity, or lack of receptivity.

Semantic Range

uncircumcised (male); uncircumcised (body part: heart, ear, lips—figurative sense); non-Israelite (as pejorative or distinctive label); insensible, unreceptive, ritually impure (figurative sense)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root ערל, which primarily means 'to be uncircumcised' or 'to have foreskin.' The form עָרֵל is an adjective meaning 'uncircumcised.' The root conveys the state of having an unremoved foreskin, but in usage the term develops broader metaphorical senses.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עָרֵל is most often used to describe non-Israelite males as 'uncircumcised,' marking them as outside the covenantal sign given to Abraham's descendants (cf. Genesis 17). The term could be pejorative or simply descriptive, depending on context, and became a distinguishing marker between Israelites and their neighbors. In later prophetic literature, metaphorical uses appear: 'uncircumcised in heart' (Jeremiah 9:25[26]), indicating moral or spiritual insensitivity or impurity, and 'uncircumcised lips' (Exodus 6:12), suggesting speech impediment or inability to communicate effectively. The term also appears in contrast to מוּל (mul, 'circumcised'). English translations typically use 'uncircumcised,' but this can obscure the broader metaphorical connotations present in biblical texts. In later periods, the term could be associated with foreignness or religious outsider status, but originally it was a physical and covenantal designation.

Translation Consistency

primary "uncircumcised" 33 occurrences

This adjective directly matches the primary literal meaning (a male lacking circumcision) and the widespread figurative uses in the lexicon (e.g. 'uncircumcised heart', 'uncircumcised lips', or as a label for non‑Israelites). It is the overwhelmingly attested English rendering (34 of 35 existing P2 instances), is natural English, and preserves both literal and metaphorical senses without introducing alternate connotations like 'unclean' or 'foreign.'

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"uncircumcised-of" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָרֵל; properly, exposed, i.e. projecting loose (as to the prepuce); used only technically,; uncircumcised (i.e. still having the prepuce uncurtailed); uncircumcised (person).

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

ערל (ʻârêl) — to remain uncircumcised, to possess foreskin

Root ערל to be uncircumcised, to have foreskin
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6188 עָרֵל and you treated as uncircumcised
H6190 עׇרְלָה foreskin

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6189-05 עֲרֵלִ֛ים arelim HAampa uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised males 13
H6189-07 הָ/עֲרֵלִ֤ים haarelim HTd/Aampa the uncircumcised the uncircumcised ones the uncircumcised ones 7
H6189-08 הֶֽ/עָרֵל֙ hearel HTd/Aamsa uncircumcised uncircumcised male uncircumcised 3
H6189-01 עֲרַ֥ל aral HAamsc uncircumcised of uncircumcised-of uncircumcised-of 2
H6189-02 עָרֵ֖ל arel HAamsa uncircumcised uncircumcised one uncircumcised one 2
H6189-04 עַרְלֵי areley HAampc uncircumcised uncircumcised ones of uncircumcised ones of 2
H6189-03 עֲרֵלָ֣ה arelah HAafsa uncircumcised foreskinned state uncircumcised 1
H6189-06 עֶ֤רֶל erel HAamsc uncircumcised uncircumcised male uncircumcised 1
H6189-09 מֵ/עֲרֵלִ֑ים mearelim HR/Aampa of the uncircumcised from uncircumcised males from uncircumcised males 1
H6189-10 וְ/עָרֵ֣ל vearel HC/Aamsa and uncircumcised uncircumcised male uncircumcised male 1

Occurrences in Scripture

35 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6189-10 Genesis 17:14 וְ/עָרֵ֣ל vearel HC/Aamsa and uncircumcised uncircumcised male uncircumcised male
H6189-01 Exodus 6:12 עֲרַ֥ל aral HAamsc uncircumcised of uncircumcised-of uncircumcised-of
H6189-01 Exodus 6:30 עֲרַ֣ל aral HAamsc uncircumcised of uncircumcised-of uncircumcised-of
H6189-02 Exodus 12:48 עָרֵ֖ל arel HAamsa uncircumcised person uncircumcised one uncircumcised one
H6189-05 Leviticus 19:23 עֲרֵלִ֖ים arelim HAampa uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised
H6189-08 Leviticus 26:41 הֶֽ/עָרֵ֔ל hearel HTd/Aamsa uncircumcised uncircumcised male uncircumcised
H6189-05 Joshua 5:7 עֲרֵלִ֣ים arelim HAampa uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised males
H6189-07 Judges 14:3 הָ/עֲרֵלִ֑ים haarelim HTd/Aampa the uncircumcised the uncircumcised ones the uncircumcised ones
H6189-07 Judges 15:18 הָ/עֲרֵלִֽים haarelim HTd/Aampa the uncircumcised the uncircumcised ones the uncircumcised ones
H6189-07 1 Samuel 14:6 הָ/עֲרֵלִ֣ים haarelim HTd/Aampa of these uncircumcised the uncircumcised ones the uncircumcised ones
H6189-08 1 Samuel 17:26 הֶֽ/עָרֵל֙ hearel HTd/Aamsa uncircumcised uncircumcised male uncircumcised
H6189-08 1 Samuel 17:36 הֶ/עָרֵ֤ל hearel HTd/Aamsa uncircumcised uncircumcised male uncircumcised
H6189-07 1 Samuel 31:4 הָ/עֲרֵלִ֨ים haarelim HTd/Aampa the uncircumcised the uncircumcised ones the uncircumcised ones
H6189-07 2 Samuel 1:20 הָ/עֲרֵלִֽים haarelim HTd/Aampa the uncircumcised the uncircumcised ones the uncircumcised ones
H6189-02 Isaiah 52:1 עָרֵ֥ל arel HAamsa uncircumcised uncircumcised one uncircumcised one
H6189-03 Jeremiah 6:10 עֲרֵלָ֣ה arelah HAafsa uncircumcised foreskinned state uncircumcised
H6189-05 Jeremiah 9:25 עֲרֵלִ֔ים arelim HAampa uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised males
H6189-04 Jeremiah 9:25 עַרְלֵי areley HAampc uncircumcised uncircumcised ones of uncircumcised ones of
H6189-05 Ezekiel 28:10 עֲרֵלִ֛ים arelim HAampa the uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised males
H6189-05 Ezekiel 31:18 עֲרֵלִ֤ים arelim HAampa the uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised males
H6189-05 Ezekiel 32:19 עֲרֵלִֽים arelim HAampa the uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised males
H6189-07 Ezekiel 32:21 הָ/עֲרֵלִ֖ים haarelim HTd/Aampa the uncircumcised the uncircumcised ones the uncircumcised ones
H6189-05 Ezekiel 32:24 עֲרֵלִ֣ים arelim HAampa uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised males
H6189-05 Ezekiel 32:25 עֲרֵלִ֣ים arelim HAampa uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised
H6189-05 Ezekiel 32:26 עֲרֵלִים֙ arelim HAampa uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised
H6189-09 Ezekiel 32:27 מֵ/עֲרֵלִ֑ים mearelim HR/Aampa of the uncircumcised from uncircumcised males from uncircumcised males
H6189-05 Ezekiel 32:28 עֲרֵלִ֛ים arelim HAampa uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised males
H6189-05 Ezekiel 32:29 עֲרֵלִ֥ים arelim HAampa the uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised males
H6189-05 Ezekiel 32:30 עֲרֵלִים֙ arelim HAampa uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised
H6189-05 Ezekiel 32:32 עֲרֵלִ֜ים arelim HAampa of the uncircumcised uncircumcised males uncircumcised males
H6189-04 Ezekiel 44:7 עַרְלֵי areley HAampc uncircumcised uncircumcised ones of uncircumcised ones of
H6189-11 Ezekiel 44:7 וְ/עַרְלֵ֣י veareley HC/Aampc and uncircumcised uncircumcised males of and uncircumcised males of
H6189-06 Ezekiel 44:9 עֶ֤רֶל erel HAamsc uncircumcised uncircumcised male uncircumcised
H6189-12 Ezekiel 44:9 וְ/עֶ֣רֶל veerel HC/Aamsc and uncircumcised and uncircumcised one and uncircumcised
H6189-07 1 Chronicles 10:4 הָ/עֲרֵלִ֤ים haarelim HTd/Aampa the uncircumcised the uncircumcised ones the uncircumcised ones
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