from עָרַב; dusk; [phrase] day, even(-ing, tide), night.
Transliteration:ʻereb
Pronunciation:eh'-reb
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word H6153 (עֶרֶב, ʻereb) primarily signifies "evening" or "dusk." Its etymological root is `{{H6148}}` (עָרַב, ʻarav), which carries the core meaning of "to mix, mingle, or interweave." This etymological connection beautifully illustrates the semantic range of ʻereb as the time when day and night, light and darkness, begin to intermingle and blend. It denotes the period from sunset until nightfall, encompassing twilight. While its most common translation is "evening," it can also be rendered as "dusk," "even," or "eventide," capturing the transitional nature of this part of the day. In the biblical context, ʻereb holds a distinct temporal significance, often marking the beginning of a new day, in contrast to the modern Western understanding.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word ʻereb appears extensively throughout the Hebrew Bible, often with profound contextual implications:
* **Creation Account:** Its most foundational usage is in the Genesis creation narrative: "And there was evening and there was morning, the first day" ([[Genesis 1:5]], repeated for each creative day: [[Genesis 1:8]], [[Genesis 1:13]], [[Genesis 1:19]], [[Genesis 1:23]], [[Genesis 1:31]]). This recurring phrase establishes the biblical reckoning of a day beginning with evening, moving from darkness to light.
* **Passover Sacrifice:** In the instructions for the Passover, the lamb was to be slaughtered "at twilight" or "between the two evenings" ([[Exodus 12:6]]). This specific idiom, *ben haʻarbayim*, likely refers to the period between the sun's decline and actual nightfall, emphasizing a precise timing for this crucial ritual.
* **Daily Sacrifices:** ʻereb marks the timing for the evening sacrifice, a regular feature of Israelite worship ([[Exodus 29:39]]; [[Numbers 28:4]]). This highlights the consistent rhythm of worship and atonement throughout the day.
* **Ritual Purity:** Many Mosaic laws stipulate that a person or object rendered ritually unclean would remain so "until evening" ([[Leviticus 11:24-25]], [[Leviticus 15:5]], [[Leviticus 22:7]]). At evening, after specific purificatory actions (like washing), the individual or object would be considered clean again, allowing participation in community life and worship. This underscores ʻereb as a temporal boundary for ritual status.
* **Work and Rest:** The evening often signals the end of the workday and the approach of rest ([[Deuteronomy 23:11]]).
* **Poetic and Figurative Use:** In poetic literature, ʻereb can symbolize a period of sorrow or trial that precedes joy, as seen in [[Psalm 30:5]]: "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." [[Psalm 55:17]] speaks of consistent prayer: "Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint."
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of ʻereb is enriched by examining its relationship to other key biblical terms and concepts:
* **Root Word:** `{{H6148}}` (עָרַב, ʻarav), meaning "to mix, mingle, or guarantee." This root provides the foundational understanding of ʻereb as a time of intermingling.
* **Counterpart:** `{{H1242}}` (בֹּקֶר, boqer), meaning "morning." ʻereb and boqer often appear together, especially in the Genesis creation account, forming the complete cycle of a biblical day.
* **Subsequent Period:** `{{H3915}}` (לַיְלָה, laylah), meaning "night." ʻereb is the transition into laylah.
* **Sun:** `{{H7977}}` (שֶׁמֶשׁ, shemesh), the setting of which marks the beginning of ʻereb.
* **Concepts:**
* **Transition/Liminality:** ʻereb is a time of shift, moving from the activity of day to the quiet of night, from one day to the next.
* **Rest:** Often associated with the cessation of labor and preparation for sleep.
* **Ritual Time:** Crucial for marking the completion of purity rituals and the timing of sacrifices.
* **Divine Order:** Fundamental to the temporal structure established in creation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ʻereb is multifaceted and deeply embedded in the biblical worldview:
* **God's Ordered Creation:** The consistent refrain "and there was evening and there was morning" in Genesis 1 emphasizes God's deliberate and orderly creation. By beginning the day with ʻereb (darkness) and moving towards boqer (light), the narrative may subtly convey a theological truth: God brings order out of chaos, light out of darkness, and new beginnings often emerge from what appears to be an end.
* **Sanctification and Purity:** The repeated command concerning ritual impurity lasting "until evening" highlights the divine emphasis on holiness and the temporal markers God established for returning to a state of ritual cleanness. ʻereb becomes a moment of purification and renewal, signifying the completion of a period of separation and the restoration of full communion.
* **Rhythm of Worship and Atonement:** The prescribed evening sacrifices underscore a consistent, daily rhythm of worship, prayer, and atonement that marked the close of the active day. This points to God's desire for continuous communion with His people and the ongoing need for propitiation.
* **Hope in Adversity:** In poetic and prophetic contexts, ʻereb can symbolize a time of trial, sorrow, or darkness. Yet, the promise that "joy comes with the morning" ([[Psalm 30:5]]) imbues ʻereb with a theological message of hope and the transient nature of suffering, always anticipating God's faithfulness and deliverance.
* **Divine Presence:** While not explicitly using ʻereb, the concept of the "cool of the day" ([[Genesis 3:8]]) when God walked with Adam and Eve, evokes the evening as a time of intimate fellowship with the Divine.
### Summary
H6153 (עֶרֶב, ʻereb) denotes "evening" or "dusk," stemming from the root `{{H6148}}` meaning "to mingle," aptly describing the blending of light and darkness. Biblically, ʻereb is profoundly significant as the starting point of each day in the creation narrative ([[Genesis 1:5]]), establishing a unique temporal reckoning. Its usage extends to crucial ritual timings, such as the Passover sacrifice ([[Exodus 12:6]]) and daily offerings ([[Exodus 29:39]]), and it marks the completion of periods of ritual impurity ([[Leviticus 15:5]]). Theologically, ʻereb speaks to God's ordered and purposeful creation, the divine economy of purity and sanctification, and the consistent rhythm of worship. In poetic contexts, it often symbolizes a period of sorrow that gives way to the hope and joy of morning, reflecting God's enduring faithfulness and promise of deliverance. ʻereb is thus more than a mere time of day; it is a divinely ordained marker of transition, rest, purification, and the anticipation of new beginnings.
TRV