English · KJV
H6168

עָרָה

ʻârâh /aw-raw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto be (causatively, make) bare; hence, to empty, pour out, demolish
KJV usageleave destitute, discover, empty, make naked, pour (out), rase, spread self, uncover.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻârâh — 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 ʻârâh, represented by H6168, is a primitive root that signifies the act of making something bare. Appearing 16 times in 14 verses, its meaning extends to concepts like emptying, pouring out, demolishing, or leaving something destitute and uncovered.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H6168 describes a range of actions from the mundane to the profound. It is used for the simple act of emptying a pitcher of water Genesis 24:20 or a chest of money 2 Chronicles 24:11. The term also carries a sense of violent demolition, as when the children of Edom cried to "rase" Jerusalem to its very foundation Psalms 137:7. Prophetically, it depicts the servant who has "poured out" his soul unto death Isaiah 53:12, and in a promise of restoration, the spirit will be "poured" upon the people from on high Isaiah 32:15.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the scope of H6168:

  • H6172 ʻervâh (nakedness): This noun is derived from H6168 and signifies nudity or disgrace. The act of uncovering nakedness is a common theme of shame and judgment Lamentations 4:21.
  • H1540 gâlâh (uncover, reveal): This word often appears in parallel with H6168, especially in contexts of exposing nakedness or shame Leviticus 20:18. It also carries the positive sense of God revealing his secrets or glory (Amos 3:7, Isaiah 40:5).
  • H3247 yᵉçôwd (foundation): This word is the object of destruction when H6168 is used to mean "rase" or "discover," highlighting the totality of the demolition (Psalms 137:7, Habakkuk 3:13).
  • H5315 nephesh (soul): The concept of the soul is directly linked to H6168 in the act of sacrificial self-emptying, as in "poured out his soul" Isaiah 53:12, and in a plea for preservation, "leave not my soul destitute" Psalms 141:8.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6168 is demonstrated in several key areas:

  • Total Judgment: The word is used to describe divine judgment that results in complete desolation, such as uncovering a building's cedar work Zephaniah 2:14 or rasing a city down to its foundation Psalms 137:7.
  • Sacrificial Self-Giving: The most significant use is in Isaiah 53:12, where the suffering servant "poured out his soul unto death." This portrays a voluntary and complete offering of one's life for the sins H2399 of others.
  • Divine Outpouring: In contrast to judgment, H6168 is also used for the gracious act of God pouring out His spirit H7307 from on high H4791, which brings about renewal and life to a desolate land Isaiah 32:15.
  • Exposure and Shame: The act of being "made naked" or "uncovered" is a recurring metaphor for disgrace and the consequences of sin (Lamentations 4:21, Isaiah 3:17).

Summary

In summary, H6168 is a dynamic word that encompasses a spectrum of meanings related to being made bare. From the physical act of emptying a container to the spiritual realities of divine judgment, ultimate sacrifice, and restorative blessing, ʻârâh illustrates how a single root can convey profound theological truths about destruction, redemption, and renewal.

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 and a noun across 16 occurrences, inflected in 12 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.

  • הֶעֱרָה
  • עָרוּ
  • עֵרָה
  • תִתְעָרִי
  • מִתְעָרֶה
  • יֵעָרֶה
  • יעָרוּ
  • תְּעַר
  • תְּעַר
  • יְעָרֶה
  • עָרוֹת
  • עֶרְיָה

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.

H6172 עֶרְוָה from עָרָה; nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish); nakedness, shame, unclean(-n H1540 גָּלָה a primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripp H3247 יְסוֹד from יָסַד; a foundation (literally or figuratively); bottom, foundation, repairing H5315 נֶפֶשׁ from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accomm H2399 חֵטְא from חָטָא; a crime or its penalty; fault, [idiom] grievously, offence, (punishment of) sin. H7307 רוּחַ from רוּחַ; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubs

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 14 verses across 8 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (4 verses); never once in the other 31.

1
Genesis
2
Leviticus
1
2 Chronicles
3
Psalms
4
Isaiah
1
Lamentations
1
Habakkuk
1
Zephaniah

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.