6188. aral
Lexical Summary
aral: count, expose your own nakedness

Original Word: עָרֵל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: `arel
Pronunciation: ah-RAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-rale')
KJV: count uncircumcised, foreskin to be uncovered
NASB: count, expose your own nakedness
Word Origin: [a primitive root, properly, to strip; but used as denominative from H6189 (עָרֵל - uncircumcised)]

1. to expose or remove the prepuce, whether literal (to go naked) or figurative (to refrain from using)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
count uncircumcised, foreskin to be uncovered

A primitive root; properly, to strip; but used as denominative from arel; to expose or remove the prepuce, whether literal (to go naked) or figurative (to refrain from using) -- count uncircumcised, foreskin to be uncovered.

see HEBREW arel

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
denominative verb from orlah
Definition
to count as foreskin (as uncircumcised)
NASB Translation
count (1), expose your own nakedness (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[עָרַל] verb denominative count as foreskin, i.e. as uncircumcised; —

Qal Perfect2masculine plural, with accusative of congnate meaning with verb וַעֲרַלְתֶּם עָרְלָתוֺ Leviticus 19:23 ye shall regard its fruit as uncircumcised, and not eat it (for three years) (> SS remove its foreskin (its fruit), as ᵑ9, compare ᵐ5 περικαθαριεῖτε τὴν ἀκαθαπσίαν αὐτοῦ).

Niph`al Imperative הֵעָרֵל Habakkuk 2:16 be counted uncircumcised, i.e. be object of mockery; but dubious, read probably הֵרָעֵל reel (ᵐ5 ᵑ6 We Now BuhlLex).

Topical Lexicon
Concept and Range of Meaning

The term עָרֵל appears twice in the Hebrew canon as a descriptive adjective meaning “uncircumcised” or “still under the foreskin.” In its limited but pointed usage it signals what is withheld from covenant fellowship with God, whether the subject is a fruit tree whose produce is not yet dedicated or a nation whose shameful exposure invites judgment.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Leviticus 19:23 introduces the word within agricultural law: “When you enter the land and plant any kind of tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years it will be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten”. The verb “regard” translates the instruction to treat the fruit as עָרֵל.
2. Habakkuk 2:16 uses the term in an oracle against Babylon: “You will be filled with shame instead of glory. You yourself—drink, and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the Lord’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory”.

Ceremonial Significance in Leviticus

• Separation unto God: Circumcision under the Abrahamic covenant marked the eighth-day male child as belonging to the Lord. Likewise, the first three years of fruit belong symbolically to Him, untasted by Israel until the fourth year when it is presented as praise (Leviticus 19:24).
• Discipline of Patience: The command teaches stewardship and delayed gratification—Israel must wait for God’s appointed time before enjoying the produce of the land He gives.
• Holiness of the Land: The land is not morally neutral; its produce can be either dedicated or profaned. Treating immature fruit as עָרֵל preserves the sanctity of Israel’s agricultural worship rhythms.

Prophetic and Moral Overtones in Habakkuk

• Exposure of Covenant Rejection: Babylon’s figurative “foreskin” reveals a nation outside covenant privilege, ripe for wrath.
• Shame and Reversal: Habakkuk contrasts earlier Babylonian glory with the humiliating exposure that divine justice brings—an undoing of earthly pride.
• Universal Accountability: Even world powers that dominate Israel stand under the same covenant Lord. The imagery of uncircumcision underscores that there is no hiding place from His holiness.

Extension Beyond Physical Circumcision

Although עָרֵל itself is not used of heart, lips, or ears, its thematic background illuminates passages that do employ the broader concept (for example, Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 6:10; Acts 7:51). Physical removal of the foreskin becomes a metaphor for removing rebellion and dullness, calling God’s people to inner consecration.

Historical and Cultural Perspective

In the Ancient Near Eastern context circumcision often marked social identity, yet Scripture anchors it in covenant. By labeling untouchable fruit עָרֵל, Moses emphatically ties horticulture to covenant theology. Centuries later, Habakkuk transforms the image into a taunt song against imperial arrogance, showing prophetic flexibility with earlier Torah language.

Ministry Implications

• Teaching Stewardship: The Levitical usage encourages modern believers to dedicate “first produce” (income, gifts, talents) before personal consumption.
• Confronting Pride: Habakkuk reminds preachers to warn that hidden sin will eventually be exposed; apparent glory without covenant obedience ends in shame.
• Discipleship of the Heart: As leaders emphasize external rites (baptism, communion), they must also call for an “uncircumcised heart” to be cut away, lest ritual mask rebellion.

Christological and New Testament Resonance

Colossians 2:11–13 presents the cross as the believer’s true circumcision, “not performed by human hands.” The isolation of fruit and the shame of Babylon converge at Calvary: what is withheld becomes offered, and what is exposed is covered by grace. Christ fulfills the demand of עָרֵל both by dedicating Himself entirely to the Father and by bearing the disgrace of the uncircumcised so that in Him “there is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, but Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11).

Forms and Transliterations
וְהֵֽעָרֵ֑ל וַעֲרַלְתֶּ֥ם והערל וערלתם vaaralTem veheaRel wa‘ăraltem wa·‘ă·ral·tem wə·hê·‘ā·rêl wəhê‘ārêl
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 19:23
HEB: עֵ֣ץ מַאֲכָ֔ל וַעֲרַלְתֶּ֥ם עָרְלָת֖וֹ אֶת־
NAS: for food, then you shall count their fruit
KJV: the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three
INT: of trees food shall count forbidden their fruit

Habakkuk 2:16
HEB: גַם־ אַ֖תָּה וְהֵֽעָרֵ֑ל תִּסּ֣וֹב עָלֶ֗יךָ
NAS: drink and expose your [own] nakedness. The cup
KJV: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup
INT: Now yourself and expose will come and

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6188
2 Occurrences


wa·‘ă·ral·tem — 1 Occ.
wə·hê·‘ā·rêl — 1 Occ.

6187
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