Lexical Summary arab: To pledge, exchange, mix, become surety Original Word: עָרַב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance engage, intermeddle with, mingle self, mortgage, occupy, give pledges,A primitive root; to braid, i.e. Intermix; technically, to traffic (as if by barter); also or give to be security (as a kind of exchange) -- engage, (inter-)meddle (with), mingle (self), mortgage, occupy, give pledges, be(-come, put in) surety, undertake. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange NASB Translation associate (2), became surety (1), become guarantors (1), become surety (1), becomes (1), becomes surety (2), dare to risk (1), deal (1), dealers (1), guarantor (1), intermingled (1), make a bargain (2), mingled (1), mortgaging (1), security (1), share (1), surety (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. עָרַב verb take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange (Late Hebrew go surety for (rare); Phoenician ערב surety; Old Aramaic ערבא pledge; ᵑ7 עֲרַב, Syriac  , go surety for; usually identified with I. ערב — mix, exchange, pledge — but quite uncertain; compare BuhlLex LagBN 203); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳ע Genesis 44:32 4t.; 2 masculine singular עָרַבְתָּ Proverbs 6:1; Imperfect1singular suffix אֶעֶרְבֶנּוּ Genesis 43:9; Imperative עֲרֹב Psalm 119:122, suffix עָרְבֵנִי Isaiah 38:14, so Job 17:3 (but see below); Infinitive construct לַעֲרֹב Ezekiel 27:9; Participle עֹרֵב Proverbs 17:18, etc.; — 1 with accusative of person taken on pledge, i.e. go surety for the safety of, Genesis 43:9 (J), Genesis 44:32 (J; + מֵעִם person); for the debts of Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 20:16; Proverbs 27:13; of God Isaiah 38:14 go surety for me, Psalm 119:122, so Job 17:3 (si vera lectio, see עֵרָבוֺן); accusative of person omitted, לְ ׳ע Proverbs 6:1 go surety to one (in behalf of another, "" תָּקַע לַזָּר כַּמֶּ֑יךָ); with accusative of thing Proverbs 22:26 ("" תֹּקְעֵיכָֿ֑ף). 2 give in pledge, with accusative of thing Nehemiah 5:3 (i.e. mortagage), figurative אֶתלִֿבּוֺ ׳ע Jeremiah 30:21 so עֲרֻבָּה לִפְנֵי רֵעֵהוּ ׳ע Proverbs 17:18 ("" תֹּקֵעַ כָּ֑ף). 3 exchange (in trade), with accusative of congnate meaning with verb מָעֲרָבֵךְ Ezekiel 27:9,27. Hithpa`el 1. reciprocal: Imperative הִתְעָ֫רֶב נָא אֶתאֲֿדֹנִי 2 Kings 18:23 exchange pledges (make a bargain) with my lord = Isaiah 36:8. 2. a. have fellowship with, בְּ person, Perfect3plural הִתְעָֽרְבוּ Ezra 9:2; Imperfect3masculine plural וַיִּתְעָֽרְבוּ Psalm 106:35; 2masculine singular תִּתְעָרָ֑ב with לְ person Proverbs 20:19, with עִם person Proverbs 24:21. b. share in, בְּ of thing, 3 masculine singular יִתְעָרַב Proverbs 14:10 in his joy no other shares.. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Themes עָרַב moves along two main currents in Scripture: 1) the act of becoming answerable for another—pledging, guaranteeing, bargaining, mortgaging; and 2) the idea of mixing—social, spiritual, or verbal intermingling. Both currents converge in the notion of entanglement: one may be bound economically, relationally, politically, or spiritually for good or ill. Personal Surety and Covenant Responsibility The earliest usage (Genesis 43:9; 44:32) presents Judah voluntarily taking Benjamin’s liability upon himself, a living picture of substitutionary responsibility that secures the family’s future. Job appeals to God, “Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand” (Job 17:3), while the psalmist pleads, “Ensure Your servant’s well-being” (Psalm 119:122). Human surety is shown to be frail; ultimate safety rests in divine guaranty. Economic Ethics and Social Justice Nehemiah 5:3 exposes systemic distress: “We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.” The Proverbial corpus repeatedly cautions against rash cosigning (Proverbs 6:1; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26; 27:13). Wisdom urges compassion without imprudence, defending neighborly aid while guarding families from needless ruin. Biblical stewardship balances generosity with discernment, honoring both mercy and responsibility. International Bargains and Political Reliance Assyria’s envoy taunts Jerusalem, “Now therefore, make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria” (2 Kings 18:23; Isaiah 36:8). The call to stake Judah’s security on foreign cavalry exposes the danger of misplaced trust. Scripture consistently contrasts such horizontal alliances with vertical dependence on the Lord. Mingling that Dilutes Holiness Ezra 9:2 grieves that “the holy seed has been mixed with the peoples of the land,” echoing Psalm 106:35, “but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.” Hosea 9:4 adds that impure offerings “will not please Him.” The verb warns that compromise, however subtle, erodes covenant distinctiveness and invites discipline. Verbal and Social Entanglements Proverbs 20:19 counsels, “avoid the one who flatters with his lips,” and 24:21 warns not to “join with the rebellious.” Intermingling with gossips or agitators infects character as surely as financial entanglements endanger assets. Proverbs 14:10 underscores that even legitimate intimacy has limits—certain inner joys and sorrows are not to be “shared” indiscriminately. Supplication for Divine Pledge Isaiah’s death-bed prayer distills human helplessness: “O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security” (Isaiah 38:14). When mortals fail, Yahweh Himself becomes Surety, culminating in the New-Covenant affirmation, “Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22). Prophetic and Redemptive Trajectory Jeremiah 30:21 foretells a ruler who will “approach Me,” bridging God and people at personal cost—language that aligns with the servant-king who later lays down His life as the believer’s guarantor. Thus עָרַב anticipates the Gospel logic: substitutionary responsibility leading to restored fellowship. Maritime Commerce and the Fall of Tyre Ezekiel 27 twice employs the root for ship-repair and trade partners (verses 9, 27), portraying a global network “mixed” into Tyre’s fortunes. When the hub collapses, every intertwined party sinks with it—a sobering illustration that shared ventures without regard for righteousness invite collective judgment. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications • Encourage believers to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) while heeding Scriptural cautions against unwise pledges. Summary עָרַב paints a multifaceted portrait of entanglement. It commends sacrificial responsibility yet warns against entanglements that eclipse reliance on God or erode holiness. By tracing the word from Judah’s pledge to the Messiah’s ultimate guarantee, Scripture summons believers to wise stewardship, pure devotion, and Christ-centered confidence. Forms and Transliterations אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ אערבנו בַּ֝עֹרְבִ֗ים בערבים הִתְעָ֣רֶב התערב וְֽעֹרְבֵ֣י וְהִתְעָֽרְבוּ֙ וַיִּתְעָרְב֥וּ והתערבו ויתערבו וערבי יִתְעָ֥רַב יֶֽעֶרְבוּ־ יערבו־ יתערב לַעֲרֹ֖ב לערב עֲרֹ֣ב עָ֣רַב עָרְבֵ֣נִי עָרְבֵֽנִי׃ עָרַ֣ב עָרַ֣בְתָּ עָרַ֧ב עֹרְבִ֑ים עֹרֵ֥ב ערב ערבים ערבני ערבני׃ ערבת תִּתְעָרָֽב׃ תִתְעָרָֽב׃ תתערב׃ ‘ā·raḇ ‘ā·raḇ·tā ‘ā·rə·ḇê·nî ‘ă·rōḇ ‘āraḇ ‘āraḇtā ‘ārəḇênî ‘ărōḇ ‘ō·rə·ḇîm ‘ō·rêḇ ‘ōrêḇ ‘ōrəḇîm ’e‘erḇennū ’e·‘er·ḇen·nū aRav aRavta areVeni aRo ba‘ōrəḇîm ba·‘ō·rə·ḇîm baoreVim eerVennu hiṯ‘āreḇ hiṯ·‘ā·reḇ hitArev la‘ărōḇ la·‘ă·rōḇ laaRo oRev oreVim tiṯ‘ārāḇ ṯiṯ‘ārāḇ tiṯ·‘ā·rāḇ ṯiṯ·‘ā·rāḇ titaRav vaiyitareVu vehitareVu veoreVei way·yiṯ·‘ā·rə·ḇū wayyiṯ‘ārəḇū wə‘ōrəḇê wə·‘ō·rə·ḇê wə·hiṯ·‘ā·rə·ḇū wəhiṯ‘ārəḇū ye‘erḇū- ye·‘er·ḇū- yeervu yiṯ‘āraḇ yiṯ·‘ā·raḇ yitAravLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 43:9 HEB: אָֽנֹכִי֙ אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ מִיָּדִ֖י תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נּוּ NAS: I myself will be surety for him; you may hold KJV: I will be surety for him; of my hand INT: myself will be surety of my hand require Genesis 44:32 2 Kings 18:23 Ezra 9:2 Nehemiah 5:3 Job 17:3 Psalm 106:35 Psalm 119:122 Proverbs 6:1 Proverbs 11:15 Proverbs 14:10 Proverbs 17:18 Proverbs 20:16 Proverbs 20:19 Proverbs 22:26 Proverbs 24:21 Proverbs 27:13 Isaiah 36:8 Isaiah 38:14 Jeremiah 30:21 Ezekiel 27:9 Ezekiel 27:27 Hosea 9:4 23 Occurrences |
    |