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אֹרֶב

𐤀𐤓𐤁

ʼôreb

H696 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ארב to lie in wait, ambush, lurk

Definition

A place or instance of lying in wait; an ambush, ambuscade, or the act of lurking with hostile intent. Refers generally to a concealed position or group waiting to attack or intercept, usually in a military or adversarial context. The term can also refer to the event or act of ambushing.

Semantic Range

ambush, ambuscade, place of lying in wait, act of ambushing, group in hiding for attack

Root / Etymology

From the root אָרַב (ארב), meaning 'to lie in wait, ambush, lurk.' The noun form אֹרֶב (ʼôreb) denotes either the act (ambushing) or the location used for ambush.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, אֹרֶב appears most often in military narratives describing tactical ambushes or surprise attacks. It occurs primarily in contexts relating to Israelite warfare—especially in the books of Joshua and Judges (e.g., Joshua 8, Judges 20)—where either Israelite or enemy forces arrange an ambush. The term is distinct from other, broader words for hiding or waiting. The noun emphasizes the deliberateness and concealed hostility of the act. In most instances, English translation as 'ambush' or 'lying in wait' is accurate, but the English may miss the close connection to deliberate, tactical military planning that the Hebrew term carries. In later periods, the word's use is limited and largely tied to recounting historical narratives, with little evidence of meaning shift. The root ארב is the source of several forms (e.g., the verb אָרַב 'to ambush' and related nouns and participles).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as אֶרֶב; {ambuscade}; wait.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ארב (ʾ-r-b) — lie in wait, ambush, lurk

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3993 מַאֲרָב in ambush of
H693 אָרַב I lay in wait
H694 אֲרָב Arav
H698 אׇרֳבָה ambush-sites of
H699 אֲרֻבָּה apertures

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H696-01 אָרְבּֽ/וֹ arebo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his ambush his ambush 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H696-01 Jeremiah 9:7 אָרְבּֽ/וֹ arebo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his ambush his ambush
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