English · KJV
H6174

עָרוֹם

ʻârôwm /aw-rome'/ Ask about this word
Rootor עָרֹם · from עָרַם (in its original sense)
Meaningnude, either partially or totally
KJV usagenaked.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻârôwm — 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 ʻârôwm, represented by H6174, describes a state of being nude, either partially or totally; naked. It appears 16 times across 15 unique verses in the Bible. The term signifies a fundamental state of exposure, ranging from pre-fall innocence to profound vulnerability and judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its earliest usage, H6174 describes the original state of humanity, where the man H120 and his wife H802 were both naked and felt no shame Genesis 2:25. The word also represents ultimate human vulnerability and dependence on God H3068, as declared by Job who came naked from his mother's H517 womb H990 and will return naked Job 1:21. In a prophetic context, it becomes a powerful sign of judgment. The LORD H3068 commanded Isaiah H3470 to walk naked and barefoot as a sign of the coming captivity of Egypt H4714 and Ethiopia H3568 Isaiah 20:2-3. This imagery of being stripped naked is also used to depict judgment against unfaithfulness Hosea 2:3 and the desperation of a defeated warrior Amos 2:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the concept of being naked:

  • H6172 ʻervâh (nakedness, shame, unclean(-ness)): This word is often used to describe the disgrace or shame associated with nakedness. For example, the captives of Egypt H4714 would be led away with their buttocks uncovered to the shame of Egypt Isaiah 20:4.
  • H3182 yâchêph (barefoot, being unshod): This term is frequently used alongside H6174 to emphasize a complete state of destitution and humiliation, as when Isaiah H3470 walked naked and barefoot Isaiah 20:2.
  • H954 bûwsh (to be ashamed): This word is key to understanding the state of innocence. The man H120 and his wife H802 were naked but were not ashamed Genesis 2:25, highlighting a condition before the knowledge of evil.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6174 is significant and multifaceted.

  • Original Innocence: Before sin, being naked was a state of purity and transparency, without the presence of shame Genesis 2:25.
  • Symbol of Judgment: God uses the state of being naked as a prophetic sign to demonstrate the impending humiliation, defeat, and captivity of nations like Egypt H4714 and Ethiopia H3568 Isaiah 20:4. It is also a metaphor for divine punishment Hosea 2:3.
  • Human Frailty: The state of being naked serves as a reminder of humanity's humble origins and end. Job's statement, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither," encapsulates a life stripped of all earthly possessions before God Job 1:21.
  • Call to Righteous Action: The plight of the naked is a test of character. The righteous are commanded to cover the naked Isaiah 58:7, while the wicked are condemned for stripping them Job 22:6 and leaving them without covering H3682 in the cold H7135 Job 24:7.

Summary

In summary, ʻârôwm H6174 conveys much more than a lack of clothing. It serves as a powerful symbol across Scripture, representing the spectrum of human experience. It encompasses the innocence of creation Genesis 2:25, the raw vulnerability of human existence Job 1:21, the stark shame of divine judgment Isaiah 20:4, and the moral imperative to show compassion to the needy Isaiah 58:7.

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 an adjective across 16 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • עָרוֹם
  • עֲרוּמִּים
  • עֲרֻמָּה

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.

H120 אָדָם from אָדַם; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.); [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, H802 אִשָּׁה feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess H3068 יְהֹוָה from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹו H517 אֵם a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); H990 בֶּטֶן from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything; b H3470 יְשַׁעְיָה or יְשַׁעְיָהוּ; from יָשַׁע and יָהּ; Jah has saved; Jeshajah, the name of seven Israelites; Isaiah, Jesaiah, Jeshaiah.

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 15 verses across 8 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (5 verses); never once in the other 31.

1
Genesis
1
1 Samuel
5
Job
1
Ecclesiastes
4
Isaiah
1
Hosea
1
Amos
1
Micah

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.