What does עָרַב (arab) mean in the Bible?
עָרַב (arab): Core image of interweaving underlies pledging, trading, and becoming entangled in another's obligation or debt.
Hebrew · H6148
עָרַב
To braid , i.e. intermix ; technically, to traffic (as if by barter); also or give to be security (as a kind of exchange)
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עָרַב H6148
Pronunciation arab
What does עָרַב (arab) mean in the Bible?
עָרַב (arab): Core image of interweaving underlies pledging, trading, and becoming entangled in another's obligation or debt.
Full entry for עָרַב (H6148) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6148?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include make a bargain (2), and puts up security (1), are mortgaging (1), associate (1), avoid (1).
Where does עָרַב (arab) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 43:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (9), Ezekiel (2), Genesis (2), Isaiah (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It make a bargain 2× 2 Kings 18:23, Isaiah 36:8
and puts up security 1× Proverbs 17:18
are mortgaging 1× Nehemiah 5:3
associate 1× Proverbs 24:21
avoid 1× Proverbs 20:19
be my security 1× Isaiah 38:14
but they mingled 1× Psalms 106:35
Ensure 1× Psalms 119:122
guaranteed 1× Genesis 44:32
has been mixed 1× Ezra 9:2
He who puts up security 1× Proverbs 11:15
posts security 1× Proverbs 27:13
shares 1× Proverbs 14:10
the pledge 1× Job 17:3
to barter for 1× Ezekiel 27:9
who posts security 1× Proverbs 20:16
who puts up security 1× Proverbs 22:26
will guarantee his safety 1× Genesis 43:9
would dare 1× Jeremiah 30:21
you have put up security 1× Proverbs 6:1
your merchants 1× Ezekiel 27:27
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 43:9 אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ to will guarantee his safety Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular Genesis 44:32 עָרַ֣ב to guaranteed Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 2 Kings 18:23 הִתְעָ֣רֶב to make a bargain Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singular Ezra 9:2 וְהִתְעָֽרְבוּ֙ to has been mixed Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Nehemiah 5:3 עֹרְבִ֑ים to are mortgaging Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Job 17:3 עָרְבֵ֣נִי to the pledge Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular Psalms 106:35 וַיִּתְעָרְב֥וּ to but they mingled Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Psalms 119:122 עֲרֹ֣ב to Ensure Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Proverbs 6:1 עָרַ֣בְתָּ to you have put up security Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Proverbs 11:15 עָ֣רַב to He who puts up security Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 43:9
Aligned rows 22
Books represented 10
Genesis 2 2 Kings 1 Ezra 1 Nehemiah 1 Job 1 Psalms 2 Proverbs 9 Isaiah 2 Jeremiah 1 Ezekiel 2
Source forms
עָ֣רַב 3x ‘ā·raḇ Proverbs 11:15, Proverbs 20:16, Proverbs 27:13
הִתְעָ֣רֶב 2x hiṯ·‘ā·reḇ 2 Kings 18:23, Isaiah 36:8
אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ 1x ’e·‘er·ḇen·nū Genesis 43:9
בַּ֝עֹרְבִ֗ים 1x ba·‘ō·rə·ḇîm Proverbs 22:26
וְהִתְעָֽרְבוּ֙ 1x wə·hiṯ·‘ā·rə·ḇū Ezra 9:2
וַיִּתְעָרְב֥וּ 1x way·yiṯ·‘ā·rə·ḇū Psalms 106:35
וְֽעֹרְבֵ֣י 1x wə·‘ō·rə·ḇê Ezekiel 27:27
יִתְעָ֥רַב 1x yiṯ·‘ā·raḇ Proverbs 14:10
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 5x Genesis 44:32, Proverbs 11:15, Proverbs 20:16, Proverbs 27:13
Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singular 2x 2 Kings 18:23, Isaiah 36:8
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 2x Proverbs 20:19, Proverbs 24:21
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular 2x Job 17:3, Isaiah 38:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural 1x Ezra 9:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Psalms 106:35
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct 1x Ezekiel 27:27
Preposition-b, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural 1x Proverbs 22:26
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Core image of interweaving underlies pledging, trading, and becoming entangled in another's obligation or debt.
Strong's H6148
Lexical occurrences 23 verses Word forms 2 forms 15 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Proverbs 11:15 Source Gloss
to braid , i.e. intermix ; technically, to traffic (as if by barter); also or give to be security (as a kind of exchange)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Core image of interweaving underlies pledging, trading, and becoming entangled in another's obligation or debt.
to braid, i.e. intermix; technically, to traffic (as if by barter); also or give to be security (as a kind of exchange) BDB: take on pledge Usage: engage, (inter-) meddle (with), mingle (self), mortgage, occupy, give pledges, be(-come, put in) surety, undertake.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 15
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 10×
Perfect Gen 44:32 · Jer 30:21 · Prov 11:15 · Prov 20:16 · Prov 27:13 · Prov 6:1 6×
Participle active Neh 5:3 · Prov 17:18 2×
Imperfect Hos 9:4 1×
Sequential imperfect Ps 119:122 1×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 5×
Sequential imperfect 2Kgs 18:23 · Isa 36:8 2×
Imperfect Prov 14:10 · Prov 20:19 2×
Jussive Prov 24:21 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to pledge or guarantee another person's obligation
to pledge or guarantee another person's obligation
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 23 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
עָרַב is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The term refers to assuming legal responsibility for another person's debt. Proverbs 11:15
The passage warns against becoming financially responsible for another person's debt. Proverbs 6:1-5
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain