Word Study for H717 (אָרָה) | Strong's Concordance

ʼârâh /aw-raw'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto pluck

KJV usagegather, pluck.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼârâh — 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 ʼârâh, represented by H717, is a primitive root meaning to pluck or gather. A rare term in scripture, it appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses, with each instance providing a distinct and contrasting meaning for the action of gathering.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of H717 illustrate a sharp duality. In Song of Solomon, it describes an act of joyful collection within a place of intimacy and abundance, as the beloved declares, "I have gathered my myrrh with my spice" from his garden Song of Solomon 5:1. Conversely, in Psalms, the word denotes a hostile act of plundering. The psalmist asks God why He has broken down the hedges of His vine, allowing "all they which pass by the way do pluck her" Psalms 80:12. One use signifies rightful enjoyment, while the other signifies vulnerability and loss.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help establish the context for these two different acts of plucking:

H1588 gan (a garden (as fenced)): This word sets the scene for joyful gathering. A garden is a place of beauty and blessing, seen as a symbol of divine provision and delight Isaiah 51:3, and is the setting where the beloved comes to gather spices Song of Solomon 5:1.
H1447 gâdêr (fence, hedge, wall): This term represents protection. The breaking down of a hedge or wall leaves something vulnerable to being trodden down or destroyed Isaiah 5:5, which directly precedes the destructive plucking seen in the Psalms Psalms 80:12.
H4753 môr (myrrh): As one of the precious items gathered in Song of Solomon, myrrh is a fragrant substance associated with perfume and gladness Psalms 45:8. Its gathering highlights the value and delight of the items being collected Song of Solomon 5:1.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H717 derives from its contextual polarity.

Intimate Communion: In its positive sense, "to gather" portrays an image of intimate communion and enjoyment. The action in the garden reflects the delight of a rightful owner taking pleasure in his cherished possessions, a picture of fellowship and blessing Song of Solomon 5:1.
Consequence of Judgment: In its negative sense, "to pluck" represents the tangible result of divine judgment or the removal of protection. When the hedge is broken, the vine is left exposed to be plundered by passersby, illustrating a state of profound vulnerability and distress Psalms 80:12.
The Role of Divine Protection: The contrast between the two verses underscores the critical importance of divine boundaries and protection. Within a secure space like a garden, gathering is a joy. Without that security, the same action becomes an act of violation.

Summary

In summary, H717 is a concise word whose meaning is entirely shaped by its surroundings. It can describe both a loving collection of precious spices from a garden and a destructive plundering of a defenseless vine. The word ʼârâh powerfully demonstrates how the same physical action can carry opposite meanings, depending on the context of security, intimacy, and divine protection.

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 across 2 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.

אָרוּ
אָרִיתִי

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms and Song of Solomon (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Psalms

Song of Solomon

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.