Arba אַרְבַּע
Father of Anak, former name of Hebron
Who is Arba in the Bible?
Arba was the father of Anak and the namesake of Kiriath-arba, the former name of the city of Hebron (Joshua 14:15, 15:13, 21:11). He is described as the greatest man among the Anakim, a people known for their exceptional size and strength who posed a significant threat to the Israelites during the conquest of Canaan. The city that bore his name, Kiriath-arba or "the city of Arba," was eventually renamed Hebron and became an important inheritance city assigned to Caleb. Though Arba himself appears only briefly in Scripture, his legacy marks the transition of the land from the pre-Israelite inhabitants to God's chosen people claiming their promised inheritance.
Biography
Arba is mentioned in the book of Joshua as the father of Anak and the namesake of Kiriath-arba, which was the former name of the city of Hebron. Hebron was a significant city in the hill country of Judah, later assigned to Caleb as part of his inheritance. The text states that Hebron's former name was Kiriath-arba, which means "the city of Arba." Arba is described as the greatest man among the Anakim, a group of people known for their large stature and strength. The Anakim were descendants of Anak and were considered a formidable enemy by the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan. The renaming of the city from Kiriath-arba to Hebron marks a significant shift in the region's history as the Israelites claimed the land promised to them by God. Apart from this mention in Joshua, no further information is provided about Arba himself in the biblical text.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJoshua 3 verses
- Joshua 14:15
"(Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba, after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim.) Then the land had rest from war."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 15:13
"According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah—Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 21:11
"They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pasturelands, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.)"
Study Joshua →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אַרְבַּע |
Arba
f Anok" (Jos 21:11 margin). Thus he seems to have been regarded as the ancestor of the Anakim, and as the most famous hero of that race. He was the reputed founder of the city called after him, on the site of which Hebron was built (Jos 21:11).
See KIRIATH-ARBA.
ar'-bath-it (ha-`arbhathi): Perhaps "a native of the Arabah." Klostermann suggests "a native of Beth-arabah."