### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **ʼÂrach**, represented by `{{H733}}`, is a proper name meaning **Arah**. It is used to identify three distinct Israelites in the biblical record. The name appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses**, primarily within genealogical lists and historical accounts of the post-exilic community.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H733}}` functions exclusively as a personal name to establish lineage. One Arah is listed as a son of Ulla in the genealogies recorded in 1 Chronicles [[1 Chronicles 7:39]]. The name is also used to identify the ancestor of a family clan that returned from the Babylonian exile. In the book of Ezra, the "children of Arah" are numbered at seven hundred and seventy-five [[Ezra 2:5]]. A parallel account in Nehemiah lists the "children of Arah" as six hundred and fifty-two [[Nehemiah 7:10]]. Lastly, an Arah is mentioned as the father of Shechaniah, whose family was influential in Judah during the time of Nehemiah [[Nehemiah 6:18]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several names and terms are directly associated with `{{H733}}` in scripture, defining familial and tribal relationships:
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (son): This word is essential to understanding the role of Arah, appearing in all four verses to denote him as a "son" of Ulla and as the progenitor of the "children" of Arah ([[Ezra 2:5]], [[Nehemiah 7:10]], [[1 Chronicles 7:39]]).
* `{{H2592}}` **Channîyʼêl** (Hanniel): Listed as a brother of Arah and a son of Ulla, his name means "favor of God" [[1 Chronicles 7:39]].
* `{{H7525}}` **Ritsyâʼ** (Rezia): Another brother of Arah mentioned in the same genealogy, his name means "delight" [[1 Chronicles 7:39]].
* `{{H7935}}` **Shᵉkanyâh** (Shechaniah): Identified as the "son of Arah," he was a prominent figure whose family formed marriage alliances in post-exilic Judah [[Nehemiah 6:18]].
### Theological Significance
While not a theological term itself, the name `{{H733}}` is associated with key themes of Israel's history and identity.
* **Genealogical Continuity:** The name Arah plays a role in preserving the lineage of Israel, particularly in the records found in 1 Chronicles. This highlights the importance of tribal and family identity.
* **Restoration of Israel:** As the head of a family that returned from exile, Arah represents the theme of restoration. The documentation of his descendants in both Ezra and Nehemiah underscores the significance of those who returned to rebuild the nation ([[Ezra 2:5]], [[Nehemiah 7:10]]).
* **Community Formation:** The reference in Nehemiah shows that the family of Arah continued to be a notable part of the covenant community, integrated into the social and political fabric of Jerusalem after the return [[Nehemiah 6:18]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H733}}` serves as a specific historical marker within the Old Testament. Though a simple proper name, Arah is significant for its connection to Israel's genealogical records and, most notably, to the historical return from Babylonian exile. The name is consistently linked to the themes of ancestry, family identity, and the reconstitution of the nation of Israel in its land.
TRV