What does עָב (ʿāb) mean in the Bible?
עָב (ʿāb): Cloud as an envelope of divine presence and concealment; darkness signifying God's transcendence and mystery.
Hebrew · H5645
עָב
Properly, an envelope , i.e. darkness (or density , 2 Chronicles 4:17); specifically, a (scud) cloud ; also a copse
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עָבH5645
Pronunciationʿāb
What does עָב (ʿāb) mean in the Bible?
עָב (ʿāb): Cloud as an envelope of divine presence and concealment; darkness signifying God's transcendence and mystery.
Full entry for עָב (H5645) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5645?
The BSB source-word alignment has 31 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the clouds (10), like a cloud (3), with clouds (2), . . . (1), a cloud (1).
Where does עָב (ʿāb) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 19:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (8), Isaiah (7), Psalms (5), Ecclesiastes (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itthe clouds10×Judges 5:4, Job 20:6, Job 37:11, Job 37:16
like a cloud3×Job 30:15, Isaiah 18:4, Isaiah 44:22
with clouds2×1 Kings 18:45, Psalms 147:8
. . .1×2 Samuel 23:4
a cloud1×1 Kings 18:44
and the clouds1×Ecclesiastes 12:2
and thick clouds1×2 Samuel 22:12
cloud1×Isaiah 19:1
clouds1×Psalms 18:11
His clouds1×Psalms 18:12
how the clouds1×Job 36:29
in His clouds1×Job 26:8
is like a rain cloud1×Proverbs 16:15
like clouds1×Isaiah 60:8
of a cloud1×Isaiah 25:5
of the clouds1×Isaiah 14:14
the thickets1×Jeremiah 4:29
Thick clouds1×Job 22:14
you in a dense1×Exodus 19:9
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 19:9בְּעַ֣בtoyou in a densePreposition-b | Noun - common singular constructJudges 5:4עָבִ֖יםtothe cloudsNoun - common plural2 Samuel 22:12עָבֵ֥יtoand thick cloudsNoun - common plural construct2 Samuel 23:4עָב֔וֹתto. . .Noun - common plural1 Kings 18:44עָ֛בtoa cloudNoun - common singular1 Kings 18:45עָבִ֣יםtowith cloudsNoun - common pluralJob 20:6לָעָ֥בtothe cloudsPreposition-l, Article | Noun - common singularJob 22:14עָבִ֣יםtoThick cloudsNoun - common pluralJob 26:8בְּעָבָ֑יוtoin His cloudsPreposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singularJob 30:15וּ֝כְעָ֗בtolike a cloudConjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 19:9
Aligned rows31
Books represented10
Exodus1Judges12 Samuel21 Kings2Job8Psalms5Proverbs1Ecclesiastes3Isaiah7Jeremiah1
Source forms
עָ֑ב4x‘āḇJob 36:29, Job 37:11, Job 37:16, Isaiah 14:14
עָבֵ֥י2x‘ā·ḇê2 Samuel 22:12, Psalms 18:11
עָבִ֣ים2x‘ā·ḇîm1 Kings 18:45, Job 22:14
בְּעַ֣ב1xbə·‘aḇExodus 19:9
בְּעָבָ֑יו1xbə·‘ā·ḇāwJob 26:8
בְּעָבִ֗ים1xbə·‘ā·ḇîmPsalms 147:8
בֶעָבִ֖ים1xḇe·‘ā·ḇîmEcclesiastes 11:4
בֶּעָבִ֔ים1xbe·‘ā·ḇîmJeremiah 4:29
Parsing patterns
Noun - common singular7x1 Kings 18:44, Job 36:29, Job 37:11, Job 37:16
Noun - common plural6xJudges 5:4, 2 Samuel 23:4, 1 Kings 18:45, Job 22:14
Article | Noun - common plural3xEcclesiastes 11:3, Ecclesiastes 12:2, Isaiah 5:6
Noun - common plural construct2x2 Samuel 22:12, Psalms 18:11
Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct2xExodus 19:9, Proverbs 16:15
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common plural2xEcclesiastes 11:4, Jeremiah 4:29
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singular2xIsaiah 44:22, Isaiah 60:8
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular2xJob 20:6, Job 38:34
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Cloud as an envelope of divine presence and concealment; darkness signifying God's transcendence and mystery.
Source Gloss
properly, an envelope , i.e. darkness (or density , 2 Chronicles 4:17); specifically, a (scud) cloud ; also a copse
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Cloud as an envelope of divine presence and concealment; darkness signifying God's transcendence and mystery.
properly, an envelope, i.e. darkness (or density, 2 Chronicles 4:17); specifically, a (scud) cloud; also a copse BDB: dark cloud Usage: clay, (thick) cloud, × thick, thicket. Compare 5672.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Figurative: dark cloud as metaphor for displeasure or disfavor
Showing 1 selected witness from 32 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
עָב is built from this root:
עוּבH5743
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.