### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻereb**, represented by `{{H6153}}`, is the term for **dusk**. It appears 137 times in 130 unique verses in the Bible. Its primary meaning refers to the time of evening or sunset, marking the transition from day to night.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H6153}}` is fundamental to the structure of time itself, most notably in the creation account where the formula "And the **evening** and the morning were the... day" defines each creative day [[Genesis 1:31]]. It also designates specific times for worship and ritual. The Passover sacrifice was to be killed "in the **evening**" [[Exodus 12:6]], and the lifting of hands in prayer is compared to the **evening** sacrifice [[Psalms 141:2]]. Beyond ritual, it frames daily activities, such as when Isaac went out to meditate in the field at **eventide** [[Genesis 24:63]] or when a period of fasting would end [[2 Samuel 1:12]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the concept of evening within the daily cycle:
* `{{H1242}}` **bôqer** (morning): As the direct counterpart to evening, **bôqer** marks the beginning of the day. The two terms are frequently paired to signify a full 24-hour period, a pattern established in the creation story [[Genesis 1:5]] and used to frame daily prayer [[Psalms 55:17]].
* `{{H2061}}` **zᵉʼêb** (wolf): This word for **wolf** is connected to the evening to describe fierce and rapacious leaders or enemies. The prophets describe corrupt judges as "**evening** wolves" [[Zephaniah 3:3]] and invading armies as being "more fierce than the **evening** wolves" [[Habakkuk 1:8]].
* `{{H3915}}` **layil** (night): This is the term for the period of darkness that follows the **evening**. In the creation account, God separates the light, called Day, from the darkness, called **Night**, with the evening and morning marking the boundaries of each day [[Genesis 1:5]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6153}}` is significant, particularly in the contexts of divine order and ritual law.
* **Framework of Creation:** By repeating the phrase "the **evening** and the morning," the Genesis account establishes a divine rhythm for the world. This structure underscores God's sovereignty over time itself [[Genesis 1:5]].
* **Boundary for Ritual Purity:** The evening often functions as the point of purification. A person who became ritually unclean through contact with a carcase or other means would remain so "until the **even**" [[Leviticus 11:24]]. At dusk, after washing, they could be considered clean again [[Leviticus 17:15]].
* **Appointed Time for Worship:** The evening was a set time for offerings, such as the daily burnt offering [[Exodus 29:39]] and the "evening oblation" [[Daniel 9:21]]. This establishes a consistent, divinely-appointed schedule for approaching God.
* **Symbol of Transition:** The evening can represent a time of trouble or judgment, as seen with "eveningtide trouble" [[Isaiah 17:14]]. However, it can also be a time of miraculous divine intervention, as prophesied by Zechariah, "at **evening** time it shall be light" [[Zechariah 14:7]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6153}}` is a word that fundamentally structures the biblical understanding of time. It is not merely dusk, but a key component of God's created order, a boundary marker in ritual law, and an appointed time for worship. From defining the days of creation to setting the schedule for sacrifices and signaling the end of impurity, **ʻereb** illustrates how the daily cycle is imbued with theological significance.
TRV