What does אָרַב (ʾārab) mean in the Bible?
אָרַב (ʾārab): To lie in concealment with hostile intent, often describing predatory ambush or deceptive entrapment
Hebrew · H693
אָרַב
To lurk
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אָרַבH693
Pronunciationʾārab
What does אָרַב (ʾārab) mean in the Bible?
אָרַב (ʾārab): To lie in concealment with hostile intent, often describing predatory ambush or deceptive entrapment
Full entry for אָרַב (H693) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H693?
The BSB source-word alignment has 41 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include an ambush (5), and lay in wait (4), lie in wait (4), the men in ambush (4), the ambush (2).
Where does אָרַב (ʾārab) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 19:11. Its strongest book concentrations include Judges (14), Joshua (7), Proverbs (6), 1 Samuel (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 Itan ambush5×Joshua 8:2, Joshua 8:12, Joshua 8:14, Judges 9:25
and lay in wait4×Judges 9:34, Judges 9:43, Judges 16:2, 1 Samuel 15:5
lie in wait4×Proverbs 1:18, Proverbs 12:6, Proverbs 24:15, Micah 7:2
the men in ambush4×Joshua 8:19, Joshua 8:21, Judges 20:37, Judges 20:38
the ambush2×Judges 20:36, Jeremiah 51:12
to lie in wait2×1 Samuel 22:8, 1 Samuel 22:13
ambushes1×2 Chronicles 20:22
and ambushed1×Lamentations 4:19
and bandits1×Ezra 8:31
and lie in wait1×Judges 9:32
and lies in wait1×Deuteronomy 19:11
are to lie in ambush1×Joshua 8:4
But while the men1×Judges 16:12
from the ambush1×Joshua 8:7
He lies in wait1×Psalms 10:9
he lurks1×Psalms 10:9
hide1×Judges 21:20
how they lie in wait1×Psalms 59:3
in ambush1×Judges 20:33
let us lie in wait1×Proverbs 1:11
lies in wait1×Proverbs 23:28
lying in wait1×Lamentations 3:10
or I have lurked1×Job 31:9
she lurks1×Proverbs 7:12
they1×Judges 20:37
While the men1×Judges 16:9
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 19:11וְאָ֤רַבtoand lies in waitConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularJoshua 8:2אֹרֵ֛בtoan ambushVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJoshua 8:4אֹרְבִ֤יםtoare to lie in ambushVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralJoshua 8:7מֵהָ֣אוֹרֵ֔בtofrom the ambushPreposition-m, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJoshua 8:12אֹרֵ֗בtoan ambushVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJoshua 8:14אֹרֵ֥בtoan ambushVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJoshua 8:19וְהָאוֹרֵ֡בtothe men in ambushConjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJoshua 8:21הָֽאֹרֵב֙tothe men in ambushArticle | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJudges 9:25מְאָרְבִ֗יםtoan ambushVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralJudges 9:32וֶאֱרֹ֖בtoand lie in waitConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 19:11
Aligned rows41
Books represented12
Deuteronomy1Joshua7Judges141 Samuel32 Chronicles1Ezra1Job1Psalms3Proverbs6Jeremiah1Lamentations2Micah1
Source forms
אֹרֵ֥ב2x’ō·rêḇJoshua 8:14, Lamentations 3:10
לְאֹרֵ֖ב2xlə·’ō·rêḇ1 Samuel 22:8, 1 Samuel 22:13
אֹרֵ֛ב1x’ō·rêḇJoshua 8:2
אֹרֵ֗ב1x’ō·rêḇJoshua 8:12
אֱרָב־1x’ĕ·rāḇ-Proverbs 12:6
אָֽרְב֡וּ1x’ā·rə·ḇūPsalms 59:3
אָ֥רְבוּ1x’ā·rə·ḇūLamentations 4:19
אֹרְבִ֤ים1x’ō·rə·ḇîmJoshua 8:4
Parsing patterns
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular4xJoshua 8:21, Judges 20:36, Judges 20:37, Judges 20:38
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular4xJoshua 8:19, Judges 16:9, Judges 16:12, Judges 20:37
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular4xJoshua 8:2, Joshua 8:12, Joshua 8:14, Lamentations 3:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural2xJudges 9:34, Judges 16:2
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular2x1 Samuel 22:8, 1 Samuel 22:13
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural2xJudges 9:25, 2 Chronicles 20:22
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular2xProverbs 7:12, Proverbs 23:28
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xProverbs 1:18, Micah 7:2
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To lie in concealment with hostile intent, often describing predatory ambush or deceptive entrapment
Strong'sH693
Lexical occurrences41 versesWord forms2 forms20 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 12:6Source Gloss
to lurk
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To lie in concealment with hostile intent, often describing predatory ambush or deceptive entrapment
to lurk BDB: lie in wait Usage: (lie in) ambush(-ment), lay (lie in) wait.
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 groups2Aligned forms20
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense18×
Participle activeJosh 8:2 · Josh 8:4 · Josh 8:12 · Josh 8:14 · Judg 20:29 · Lam 3:106×
ImperfectMic 7:2 · Prov 1:18 · Prov 7:12 · Prov 23:28 · Ps 10:96×
PerfectLam 4:19 · Ps 59:4 · Job 31:93×
CohortativeProv 1:111×
Infinitive constructProv 12:61×
JussiveProv 24:151×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
Participle active2Chr 20:22 · Judg 9:252×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
The words of the wicked lurk to harm, contrasted with righteous speech
Wicked person lying in ambush against the righteous dwelling, depicted as futile
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 41 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אָרַב is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.