Lexical Summary
arab: To pledge, exchange, mix, become surety
Original Word:עָרַב
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:`arab
Pronunciation:ah-RAHV
Phonetic Spelling:(aw-rab')
KJV: engage, (inter-)meddle (with), mingle (self), mortgage, occupy, give pledges, be(-come, put in) surety, undertake
NASB:associate, becomes surety, make a bargain, surety, became surety, become guarantors, become surety
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to braid, i.e. intermix
2. technically, to traffic (as if by barter)
3. also or give to be security (as a kind of exchange)
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
Definitionto take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange
NASB Translationassociate (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. (Late Hebrew
go surety for (rare); Phoenician
surety; Old Aramaic
pledge; , Syriac
,
go surety for; usually identified with I. —
mix, exchange, pledge — but quite uncertain; compare Buhl
Lex Lag
BN 203); —
Perfect3masculine singularGenesis 44:32 4t.; 2 masculine singularProverbs 6:1;Imperfect1singular suffixGenesis 43:9;ImperativePsalm 119:122, suffixIsaiah 38:14, soJob 17:3 (but see below);Infinitive constructEzekiel 27:9;ParticipleProverbs 17:18, etc.; —
with accusative of persontaken on pledge, i.e.go surety for the safety of,Genesis 43:9 (J),Genesis 44:32 (J; + person); for the debts ofProverbs 11:15;Proverbs 20:16;Proverbs 27:13; of GodIsaiah 38:14go surety for me,Psalm 119:122, soJob 17:3 (si vera lectio, see ); accusative of person omitted,Proverbs 6:1go surety to one (in behalf of another, "" ); with accusative of thingProverbs 22:26 ("" ).
give in pledge, with accusative of thingNehemiah 5:3 (i.e. mortagage), figurativeJeremiah 30:21 soProverbs 17:18 ("" ).
exchange (in trade), with accusative of congnate meaning with verbEzekiel 27:9,27.
reciprocal:Imperative2 Kings 18:23exchange pledges (make a bargain)with my lord =Isaiah 36:8.
have fellowship with, person,Perfect3pluralEzra 9:2;Imperfect3masculine pluralPsalm 106:35; 2masculine singular with personProverbs 20:19, with personProverbs 24:21.
share in, of thing, 3 masculine singularProverbs 14:10 in his joy no othershares..
Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Themesעָרַב 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,” echoingPsalm 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.
• Teach financial integrity: generosity coupled with prudence protects families and honors God.
• Guard fellowship purity; relational or doctrinal compromise spreads imperceptibly but decisively.
• Model Christlike surety—standing with the vulnerable, even at cost—because the Savior first stood in our place.
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 yitArav
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