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עֲרֻבָּה

𐤏𐤓𐤁𐤄

ʻărubbâh

H6161 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ערב to pledge, guarantee, stand surety, mix

Definition

A pledge or security given as a guarantee for the performance of an obligation, typically in the context of a financial or personal transaction. In biblical usage, עֲרֻבָּה refers both to a material object delivered as collateral or a person who stands as a guarantor for another's obligation. The semantic range includes literal financial pledges and figurative assurances or guarantees in interpersonal relationships.

Semantic Range

pledge, collateral, security for repayment, person giving assurance, bondsman, personal guarantee (for another's conduct or debt)

Root / Etymology

Root: ערב. The root ערב primarily means 'to mix, to exchange, to guarantee.' From this root, words related to surety, mixing, and commingling arise. עֲרֻבָּה is a feminine noun form that denotes the result of guaranteeing or giving security, i.e., a pledge. Its formation as a passive participle points to being an object received or held in pledge.

Historical & Contextual Notes

During the biblical period, עֲרֻבָּה was primarily used to indicate a legal or social arrangement involving security or guarantee—most often in monetary transactions or cases of debt (see Genesis 43:9; Proverbs 17:18). The object or person pledged was typically at risk of forfeiture if the primary obligation failed. While the English terms 'pledge' or 'surety' are often used for translation, the practice in the ancient Near East could involve far-reaching social implications, especially when a person (often a close relative) served as the guarantor. Unlike the noun עֵרָבוֹן (ʿērāvōn, 'pledge' or 'earnest money'), which tends to refer to property or objects, עֲרֻבָּה is more personal and may indicate being oneself or another as a guarantee. English translations narrow the scope, and the metaphorical connotations of risk, protection, and obligation may not be fully conveyed. Over time, the concept underlying עֲרֻבָּה informs later Jewish legal traditions about surety and guarantees.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine passive participle of עֲנַמֶּלֶךְ in the sense of a bargain or exchange; something given as security, i.e. (literally) a token (of safety) or (metaphorically) a bondsman; pledge, surety.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ערב (ʿ-r-b) — to pledge, guarantee, stand surety, mix

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
H6149 עָרֵב you were pleasing

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6161-01 עֲ֝רֻבָּ֗ה arubah HNcfsa surety pledge-security 1
H6161-02 עֲרֻבָּתָ֖/ם arubatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their pledge their pledged security 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6161-02 1 Samuel 17:18 עֲרֻבָּתָ֖/ם arubatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their pledge their pledged security
H6161-01 Proverbs 17:18 עֲ֝רֻבָּ֗ה arubah HNcfsa surety pledge-security
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