Word Study for H6150 (עָרַב) | Strong's Concordance

ʻârab /aw-rab'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root (rather identical with עָרַב through the idea of covering with a texture)

Meaningto grow dusky at sundown

KJV usagebe darkened, (toward) evening.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻârab — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻârab, represented by H6150, means to grow dusky at sundown, to be darkened, or to be toward evening. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning is tied to the concept of the end of the day, both in the literal sense of fading light and in the figurative sense of diminishing joy or hope.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H6150 marks both a literal time of day and a metaphorical state. It is used to describe the daily schedule of the Philistine who "drew near morning and evening" to present his challenge 1 Samuel 17:16. It also sets the scene for hospitality and rest, as when a father-in-law urges his guest to stay because "the day draweth toward evening" Judges 19:9. Figuratively, it is used to describe a state of profound judgment and sorrow, where "all joy is darkened" and the mirth of the land is gone Isaiah 24:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illustrate the context in which H6150 is used:

H6682 tsᵉvâchâh (a screech (of anguish); cry(-ing)): This term for anguish sets the scene for the figurative darkness described in Isaiah 24:11. In a time of national mourning, "the cry of Jerusalem is gone up" Jeremiah 14:2.
H4885 mâsôws (delight... joy, mirth, rejoice): This word represents the mirth that is explicitly gone when joy is darkened Isaiah 24:11. It is also used when God declares he will "cause all her mirth to cease" as a judgment Hosea 2:11.
H3885 lûwn (to stop (usually over night)... abide... lodge... tarry all night): This word for lodging is a direct response to the day growing toward evening in Judges 19:9. It signifies finding shelter, as when Ruth pledges to lodge where Naomi lodges Ruth 1:16.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H6150 is seen in its application to both natural and spiritual realities.

Marking Daily Rhythm: In its literal sense, H6150 establishes the rhythm of daily life, marking the end of the day and the time for a change in activity, whether ceasing travel Judges 19:9 or issuing a daily challenge 1 Samuel 17:16.
Symbol of Judgment and Loss: Metaphorically, the word signifies a profound loss of gladness. When joy is darkened, it represents a state of divine judgment where all mirth and celebration are extinguished from the land Isaiah 24:11.
A Time of Confrontation: The evening is depicted as a specific time for presentation or approach. The Philistine makes his challenge in the morning and evening, establishing a recurring appointment for confrontation 1 Samuel 17:16.

Summary

In summary, H6150 carries meaning beyond the simple setting of the sun. It functions both as a literal marker of time, indicating when the day is toward evening Judges 19:9, and as a powerful metaphor for the loss of hope and gladness. Whether describing the daily taunts of a Philistine or a nation where joy itself is darkened Isaiah 24:11, the word connects the physical dimming of light to pivotal moments of decision, confrontation, and profound spiritual change.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

הַעֲרֵב
עֲרֹב
עָרְבָה

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Judges, 1 Samuel, and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

Judges

1 Samuel

Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.