English · KJV
H694

אֲרָב

ʼĂrâb /ar-awb'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom אָרַב
Meaningambush; Arab, a place in Palestine
KJV usageArab.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼĂrâb — 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 ʼĂrâb, represented by H694, is defined as a place in Palestine named Arab. The name is derived from a root word meaning ambush. This term is exceptionally specific, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse within the entirety of the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single biblical reference to H694 occurs in the book of Joshua. It is mentioned as one of the cities located in the hill country belonging to the tribal allotment of Judah. The verse lists it alongside several other towns, establishing its identity as a specific geographical location: "Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean" Joshua 15:52. This context firmly places it within the historical and geographical records of ancient Israel's settlement in Canaan.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words appear in the same verse, helping to define its geographical context:

  • H1746 Dûwmâh (Dumah): This name refers to a tribe and region of Arabia. It is listed immediately after Arab in the list of cities given to Judah Joshua 15:52.
  • H824 ʼEshʻân (Eshean): Defined as a place in Palestine, its name comes from a word meaning "support." It is also listed directly alongside Arab and Dumah in the same verse Joshua 15:52.

Theological Significance

The significance of H694 is primarily geographical and historical rather than theological. Its inclusion in scripture serves a distinct purpose:

  • Territorial Marker: The primary role of Arab is to help delineate the specific territory assigned to the tribe of Judah, fulfilling the promises of land allotment.
  • Historical Record: Its mention in Joshua 15:52 provides a concrete detail that contributes to the historical account of the Israelite conquest and settlement of the land.
  • Etymological Hint: The root definition of "ambush" may suggest a historical event or a topographical feature of the location, though the biblical text does not provide further details.

Summary

In summary, H694 ʼĂrâb is a precise geographical term for a town in the ancient territory of Judah. Its singular appearance in scripture is a testament to the detailed nature of the biblical record, particularly in accounts of land inheritance. While it carries no direct theological weight, its presence, along with neighboring cities like Dumah and Eshean, grounds the biblical narrative in a real-world, verifiable geography.

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 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

  • אֲרַב

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.

H1746 דּוּמָה the same as דּוּמָה; Dumah, a tribe and region of Arabia; Dumah. H824 אֶשְׁעָן from שָׁעַן; support; Eshan, a place in Palestine; Eshean.

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

1 verse, all in Joshua — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.