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עֶרֶשׂ

𐤏𐤓𐤔

ʻeres

H6210 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A bed or couch, typically understood as an elevated or constructed sleeping place; in most contexts, the term refers to a physical bed or resting place, sometimes with an implication of distinction or status (e.g., canopied or stately beds). The word may refer to beds used by individuals in domestic settings, by royalty, or in poetic/metaphorical contexts to indicate rest or sleep.

Semantic Range

bed, couch, canopied bed, bed of honor, bed of luxury, resting place, bier (in poetic contexts)

Root / Etymology

Likely derived from an unused root ע-ר-ש (etymology uncertain; no directly attested root in Biblical Hebrew). The form and comparative evidence suggest a root associated with lying down or reclining, but this is not confirmed by extant Semitic cognates. Related in function to other Hebrew words for bed, but not clearly connected etymologically to them.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עֶרֶשׂ (ʻeres) appears in poetic or elevated prose contexts, often designating a bed of distinction—sometimes associated with royalty (e.g., Ezek 23:41), luxury (Amos 6:4), or death (Ps 6:7), rather than an ordinary mat or pallet. In parallel poetic use, it may function alongside or in contrast with terms like מִשְׁכָּב (miškāv, general bed or place of lying) or יְצוּעַ (yetzu‘a, couch, bed), occasionally conveying different nuances (luxury, rest, or even the setting of danger). In later periods, Aramaic and post-biblical Hebrew continue to use related forms, generally for an ornate or significant bed. English translations often render the term simply as “bed” or “couch,” which can obscure underlying associations with status or luxury suggested in several biblical contexts. Post-biblical tradition sometimes associates the word with the beds of the wealthy or powerful, possibly influenced by ancient Near Eastern furniture and room arrangements.

Translation Consistency

primary "bed" 6 occurrences

Most natural and frequent English equivalent in the SILEX data and biblical usage. ‘Bed’ covers the typical physical sense (couch, canopied or stately bed, sleeping place), extends naturally to plural and poetic uses (e.g., bed as a resting place or bier), and will read naturally and consistently across all forms.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"resting-bed" (4x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning perhaps to arch; a couch (properly, with a canopy); bed(-stead), couch.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

ערש (ʻeres) — to lie down, to arrange for rest (uncertain)

Root ערש to lie down, to arrange for rest (uncertain)

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6210-03 עַרְשִׂ֑/י aresi HNcfsc/Sp1cs my couch my resting-bed my resting-bed 3
H6210-06 עֶ֣רֶשׂ eres HNcfsc bed resting-bed of bed of 3
H6210-01 עָֽרֶשׂ ares HNcfsa couch resting-bed resting-bed 1
H6210-02 עַרְשֵׂ֖/נוּ aresenu HNcfsc/Sp1cp our bed our resting-bed our bed 1
H6210-04 עַרְשׂ/וֹ֙ areso HNcfsc/Sp3ms his bed his resting-bed his bed 1
H6210-05 עַרְשׂוֹתָ֑/ם aresotam HNcfpc/Sp3mp their couches their beds their beds 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6210-04 Deuteronomy 3:11 עַרְשׂ/וֹ֙ areso HNcfsc/Sp3ms his bed his resting-bed his bed
H6210-06 Deuteronomy 3:11 עֶ֣רֶשׂ eres HNcfsc bed resting-bed of bed of
H6210-01 Amos 3:12 עָֽרֶשׂ ares HNcfsa couch resting-bed resting-bed
H6210-05 Amos 6:4 עַרְשׂוֹתָ֑/ם aresotam HNcfpc/Sp3mp their couches their beds their beds
H6210-03 Psalms 6:7 עַרְשִׂ֥/י aresi HNcfsc/Sp1cs my couch my resting-bed my resting-bed
H6210-06 Psalms 41:4 עֶ֣רֶשׂ eres HNcfsc bed resting-bed of bed of
H6210-06 Psalms 132:3 עֶ֥רֶשׂ eres HNcfsc the couch resting-bed of bed of
H6210-03 Proverbs 7:16 עַרְשִׂ֑/י aresi HNcfsc/Sp1cs my couch my resting-bed my resting-bed
H6210-03 Job 7:13 עַרְשִׂ֑/י aresi HNcfsc/Sp1cs my bed my resting-bed my resting-bed
H6210-02 Song of Songs 1:16 עַרְשֵׂ֖/נוּ aresenu HNcfsc/Sp1cp our bed our resting-bed our bed
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