English · KJV
H6155

עָרָב

ʻârâb /aw-rawb'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom עָרַב
Meaninga willow (from the use of osiers as wattles)
KJV usagewillow.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻârâb — 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 ʻârâb, represented by H6155, is the term for willow. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. This word consistently describes willow trees growing near water sources, and it is used to symbolize concepts ranging from vibrant life and divine blessing to deep sorrow and exile.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H6155 is found in several distinct contexts. It is presented as a symbol of vigorous growth, as when God's people are promised to "spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses" Isaiah 44:4. The tree is also an element of worship; the Israelites were commanded to use "willows of the brook" during the Feast of Tabernacles to rejoice before the Lord Leviticus 23:40. Conversely, it marks a place of sorrow and lament for the exiled Israelites who "hanged our harps upon the willows" by the rivers of Babylon Psalms 137:2. It also serves as a landmark in Isaiah 15:7 and as a source of shelter in Job 40:22.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illustrate the environment and significance of the willow:

  • H5158 nachal (brook, flood, river, stream, valley): This word is frequently paired with H6155, establishing the tree's natural habitat as the "willows of the brook" (Leviticus 23:40, Job 40:22, Isaiah 15:7).
  • H4325 mayim (water): The presence of water is essential for the willow's growth, as seen in the promise that God's people will flourish like willows by the water courses Isaiah 44:4.
  • H6086 ʻêts (tree): As a type of tree, the willow is included with other trees like the palm in the instructions for gathering branches for celebration Leviticus 23:40.
  • H6628 tsêʼel (shady tree): This term is used alongside willows in Job to describe the natural cover and refuge the behemoth finds by the brook Job 40:22.

Theological Significance

The thematic significance of H6155 is multifaceted, representing contrasting spiritual states.

  • Symbol of Divine Blessing: The willow's ability to "spring up" by water courses is used as a metaphor for the flourishing and revival of God's people under His blessing Isaiah 44:4.
  • Component of Joyful Worship: Its inclusion in the Feast of Tabernacles highlights its role in celebration and religious ceremony, where its branches were used to rejoice before God Leviticus 23:40.
  • Marker of Grief and Exile: In one of its most poignant uses, the willow becomes a silent witness to the sorrow of the Israelites in Babylon, who hang their harps on its branches, unable to sing in a foreign land Psalms 137:2.
  • Emblem of Shelter and Security: The willows provide cover for the behemoth, symbolizing a place of natural refuge and safety by the water Job 40:22.

Summary

In summary, H6155 is much more than a simple botanical term. It is a powerful and versatile symbol within Scripture. Its unchangeable connection to water sources makes it a fitting image for both the vibrant life that springs from God's provision and the quiet sorrow found by rivers of exile. The willow illustrates how the natural world is used in the Bible to convey deep spiritual truths about blessing, worship, and suffering.

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 noun across 5 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • עֲרָבִים
  • עַרְבֵי

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5158 נַחַל or (feminine) נַחְלָה; (Psalm 124:4), or נַחֲלָה; (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28), from נָחַל in its original sense; a st H4325 מַיִם dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase H6086 עֵץ from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, H6628 צֶאֶל from an unused root meaning to be slender; the lotus tree; shady tree.

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 5 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (2 verses); never once in the other 35.

1
Leviticus
1
Job
1
Psalms
2
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.