a primitive root (rather identical with עָרַב through the idea of covering with a texture); to grow dusky at sundown; be darkened, (toward) evening.
Transliteration:ʻârab
Pronunciation:aw-rab'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H6150}}`, עָרַב (ʻârab), is primarily defined as "to grow dusky at sundown," "to be darkened," or "to become evening." It describes the natural transition from daylight to night, the period of twilight or dusk. This root is understood to be a primitive root, suggesting a fundamental and perhaps onomatopoeic origin for the concept of evening's onset.
Intriguingly, the definition provided links `{{H6150}}` as "rather identical with `{{H6148}}` (עָרַב), through the idea of covering with a texture." This connection is highly significant. `{{H6148}}` means "to interweave," "to become surety," or "to mix." The shared conceptual ground lies in the notion of "covering" or "intermingling." Just as a texture covers or interweaves, so too does the encroaching darkness of evening "cover" or "intermingle" with the fading light, gradually obscuring the landscape. Thus, the semantic range of `{{H6150}}` encapsulates this gradual, enveloping process of light yielding to shadow, marking the close of the day.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
While `{{H6150}}` is defined as a verb ("to grow dusky"), its most common manifestation in the Hebrew Bible is through its derived noun form, `{{H6153}}` (עֶרֶב, ʻerev), meaning "evening." The verbal root itself is rare in direct verbal conjugations, with its meaning primarily conveyed by this noun. However, the conceptual force of the root underpins every instance where "evening" is mentioned.
The time of evening, derived from `{{H6150}}`, holds significant contextual weight in biblical narratives and legal stipulations:
* **Ritual Timing:** A prominent use is in setting the time for the Passover sacrifice. [[Exodus 12:6]] commands, "And ye shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening." Similarly, [[Deuteronomy 16:6]] specifies, "But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun." Here, "evening" is a divinely appointed time for sacred action, often understood as "between the two evenings" (בין הערבים), signifying the period of transition from afternoon to full darkness.
* **Legal Deadlines:** Evening often marks a crucial deadline for various legal and social practices. For instance, the body of one hanged on a tree was to be taken down "until even" ([[Joshua 8:29]], [[Deuteronomy 21:23]]), to avoid defiling the land overnight. Similarly, a hired servant's wages were to be paid "before the sun go down" ([[Deuteronomy 24:15]]), emphasizing the completion of obligations before the day's end.
* **General Time Marker:** In many instances, "evening" simply serves as a common temporal marker for the close of the day's activities, such as an old man returning from his work "at even" ([[Judges 19:16]]).
* **Poetic and Prophetic Imagery:** The concept of evening, though often expressed by `{{H6153}}`, can carry metaphorical weight. In [[Jeremiah 6:4]], the prophet laments, "Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out." Here, the lengthening shadows of evening (H6150 related to H6153) evoke a sense of impending doom and the fading of hope, a poignant image of judgment drawing near.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary and most direct lexical relation to `{{H6150}}` is its nominal derivative:
* `{{H6153}}` (עֶרֶב, ʻerev): This noun, meaning "evening" or "dusk," is the most frequent expression of the concept inherent in the root `{{H6150}}`. Its widespread use in the Bible underscores the importance of this time of day in ancient Israelite life and ritual.
The explicit connection noted in the definition points to:
* `{{H6148}}` (עָרַב, ʻârab): This root carries meanings such as "to interweave," "to become surety," "to mix," or "to pledge." The semantic bridge, as noted, is the idea of "covering with a texture." This suggests that the "growing dusky" of `{{H6150}}` is perceived as a gradual "weaving" or "spreading" of darkness over the light, a gentle yet inevitable covering.
Other related concepts include:
* **Time Markers:** Other divisions of the day, such as `{{H1242}}` (בֹּקֶר, bōqer, "morning") and `{{H6672}}` (צָהֳרַיִם, tsāhorayim, "noon"), provide a complete temporal framework within which `{{H6150}}` operates.
* **Light and Darkness:** The transition described by `{{H6150}}` is fundamentally about the interplay between light (`{{H216}}`, אוֹר, ’ôr) and darkness (`{{H2822}}`, חֹשֶׁךְ, ḥōšeḵ). Evening marks the crucial boundary where light recedes and darkness prevails.
### Theological Significance
The concept of "evening" derived from `{{H6150}}` carries profound theological significance:
* **Divine Ordering of Time:** The creation account in [[Genesis 1:5]] establishes the foundational rhythm of "And there was evening and there was morning, the first day." This sequence (evening preceding morning) is crucial to the biblical understanding of a day, beginning not with dawn but with dusk. It signifies God's ordering of time, where even darkness is not chaotic but part of a structured, divine design. This also implies that the day begins with a period of rest or quiet before the active work of the "morning."
* **Liminality and Transition:** Evening is a liminal time, a threshold between the known activities of day and the mysteries of night. It often marks a period of cessation from labor and a shift in focus, whether to ritual observance (Passover) or to rest. This transition underscores the transient nature of human experience and the constant movement of God's created order.
* **Sacred Time and Covenant:** The repeated instruction for critical rituals, like the Passover sacrifice, to occur "in the evening" elevates this time beyond mere temporal marker to a moment imbued with covenantal significance. It is a set time for remembrance, atonement, and the renewal of God's promises.
* **Anticipation and Judgment:** While often a time of rest, the onset of evening can also symbolize the approach of judgment or distress, as seen in prophetic warnings. The "shadows of evening" can metaphorically represent the encroaching darkness of divine wrath or societal decay, a period where light and hope diminish.
* **Preparation for the New Day:** The biblical day begins with evening. The time of `{{H6150}}` is therefore not merely an end but also a beginning, a period of quiet and reflection that precedes the dawn of a new cycle of life and activity. This cyclical pattern reflects God's enduring faithfulness and the constant renewal of His mercies.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H6150}}`, עָרַב (ʻârab), fundamentally describes the process of "growing dusky" or "becoming evening." Its semantic depth is enriched by its conceptual link to `{{H6148}}` (to interweave/cover), suggesting the gradual, enveloping spread of darkness over light. While the verbal root `{{H6150}}` is rarely used in direct verbal forms, its meaning is powerfully conveyed through its ubiquitous nominal derivative, `{{H6153}}` ("evening").
Biblically, "evening" is a crucial marker of time, particularly for sacred rituals like the Passover, legal deadlines, and the general rhythm of daily life. Theologically, the concept derived from `{{H6150}}` highlights God's orderly creation, establishing the evening as the beginning of a new day. It signifies liminality, sacred covenantal time, and can metaphorically represent the approach of judgment or the quiet anticipation of renewal. Thus, `{{H6150}}` encapsulates a profound biblical understanding of time's sacred progression, from the fading light of day to the quiet genesis of a new dawn.
TRV