### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **maʼărâb**, represented by `{{H3993}}`, primarily refers to an **ambuscade** or **lurking place**. It appears 5 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning is rooted in the concept of strategic concealment for a hostile purpose, encompassing a place, a group of people in hiding, or the act of lying in wait itself.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H3993}}` is used in contexts of both military strategy and predatory wickedness. In a military setting, Joshua sends men "to lie in **ambush**" to secure a tactical advantage against Ai [[Joshua 8:9]]. Similarly, Jeroboam uses an "**ambushment**" in his battle against Judah [[2 Chronicles 13:13]]. The term also describes the actions of Abimelech, who rose up with his people from "**lying in wait**" [[Judges 9:35]]. In a non-military context, it depicts the wicked who sit in the "**lurking places**" of villages to murder the innocent [[Psalms 10:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words found alongside `{{H3993}}` help clarify its meaning of hidden, hostile intent:
* `{{H3427}}` **yâshab** (to sit down, dwell, lurk): This word describes the action taken within the ambush. In [[Psalms 10:8]], the wicked "sitteth" in the "**lurking places**," indicating a patient, settled waiting.
* `{{H4565}}` **miçtâr** (a concealer, a covert, secret place): Used in parallel with `{{H3993}}` in [[Psalms 10:8]], it emphasizes the theme of concealment, as the wicked acts in "**secret places**."
* `{{H2026}}` **hârag** (to smite with deadly intent, kill, murder): This reveals the violent purpose of the ambush. The one in the lurking place does so in order to "**murder** the innocent" [[Psalms 10:8]].
* `{{H6845}}` **tsâphan** (to hide, lurk, keep secret): This verb is used to describe how the eyes of the wicked are "privily **set**" against the poor, highlighting the secretive and watchful nature of one lying in wait [[Psalms 10:8]].
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{H3993}}` underscores key biblical concepts of conflict and deceit.
* **Military Deception:** The word is central to accounts of warfare where victory is achieved not by sheer force, but by strategic surprise and concealment. It is presented as a legitimate, if dangerous, tactic of war ([[Joshua 8:9]], [[2 Chronicles 13:13]]).
* **Predatory Wickedness:** In the Psalms, the concept is transferred from the battlefield to the realm of morality. The "lurking place" becomes a metaphor for the treacherous methods of the ungodly who prey on the vulnerable and innocent [[Psalms 10:8]].
* **Concealed Hostility:** At its core, `{{H3993}}` represents danger that is hidden from view. It illustrates the principle that threats often arise from unexpected or unseen quarters, whether from an enemy army or a malicious individual.
### Summary
In summary, **maʼărâb** `{{H3993}}` is a specific and evocative term for an ambush. While its literal application is seen in military maneuvers, its conceptual weight is found in its depiction of concealed and deadly intent. It serves as a powerful illustration of the dangers, both physical and moral, that hide in secret places, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
TRV