Lexical Summary ereb: Evening Original Word: עֶרֶב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance day, evening, tide, night From arab; dusk -- + day, even(-ing, tide), night. see HEBREW arab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition evening NASB Translation evening (114), evening* (1), evenings (2), every evening (1), night (2), sunset (1), twilight (11). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֶ֫רֶב131 noun [masculine] 1 Samuel 20:5 strike out הַשְּׁלִישִׁית see We Dr and others] (sun)set, evening; — absolute ׳ע 2 Kings 2:16 +, עָ֑רֶב Exodus 12:18 +; construct עֶרֶב Proverbs 7:9; dual עַרְבַּיִם Exodus 30:8 4t., בָּ֑יִם- Exodus 12:16 5t. (all P); — 1. a. evening, originally sunset, and hence perhaps ׳לְעֵת ע at the time of sunset Genesis 8:11 (J), Genesis 24:11 (J; "" לְעֵת צֵאת הַשֹּׁאֲבֹת), 2 Samuel 11:2; Isaiah 17:14 and (of the day of ׳י) Zechariah 14:7, ׳עֵת הָע Joshua 8:29 (JE) ; usually ׳ע alone = time of sunset, evening: ׳בָּע in the evening Genesis 19:1 (J), Genesis 29:23 (E), Exodus 12:18 (P), Deuteronomy 16:6 (+ שֶׁמֶשׁ כְּבוֺא), 1 Kings 22:35 (compare "" 2 Chronicles 18:34 where + לְעֵת בּוֺא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ) + 20 t. + ׳בָּע(ֿ)בָּע2Chronicles 13:11 (twice in verse) = every evening; ׳לָע at evening only late: 1 Chronicles 16:40; 1 Chronicles 23:30; 2Chron 2:3; Ezra 3:3; Psalm 59:7; Psalm 59:15; Psalm 90:6; Ecclesiastes 11:6 ; ׳לִפְנוֺת ע at the turn of evening Genesis 24:63 (J), Deuteronomy 23:12; ׳ע as adverb accusative Exodus 16:6 (P), Psalm 55:18; as marking duration of impurity, in phrase ׳עַדהָֿע Leviticus 11:24 30t. P + Leviticus 22:6 (H); of Day of Atonement ׳מֵע ׳עַדעֿ Leviticus 23:32 (P). b. dual in phrase (only P) בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם between the two evenings, i.e. probably between sunset and dark (see Thes [various views fully given]; otherwise DiExodus 12:6; on form as possibly only expanded plural see Ges§ 88c), Exodus 12:6; Exodus 16:12; Exodus 29:39,41; Exodus 30:8; Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 9:3,5,11; Numbers 28:4,8 . c. other phrases are: ׳צִלְלֵי ע Jeremiah 6:4 (distinguished from צָהֳרָ֑יִם and לָ֑יְלָה Jeremiah 6:5), ׳מִנְחַה (הָ)ע 2 Kings 16:15; Ezra 9:4,5; Psalm 141:2; Daniel 9:21 ; ׳זְאֵבֵי ע see I. זְאֵב; for all combinations with בֹּקֶר morning, see ׳ב 1d, e. 2. (late poetry) = night, עָ֑רֶב Job 7:4; compare בְּנֶשֶׁף בְּעֶרֶב יוֺם Proverbs 7:9 ("" בְּאִישׁוֺן לַיְלָה וִאֲפֵלָה). Topical Lexicon Overview of the Theme עֶרֶב (ereb) designates the time of day beginning with the setting of the sun and extending into early night. With roughly 134 Old Testament occurrences, it functions both as a literal marker in Israel’s daily rhythm and as a theological signal of completion, transition, and anticipated renewal. Foundational Place in the Creation Pattern Genesis opens with the refrain “And there was evening, and there was morning” (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31). By placing evening first, Scripture establishes the biblical day as beginning at sundown. This ordering becomes the framework for Sabbath observance (Leviticus 23:32) and every subsequent festival reckoning. Domestic and Agricultural Life 1. Routine labors closed at evening (Deuteronomy 24:15); wages were to be paid “before the sun sets,” preventing exploitation. Evening and Israel’s Daily Worship The continual burnt offering framed Israel’s day: “Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight” (Exodus 29:39). The second lamb, given in ereb, testified that the nation’s consecration endured until the close of every day. Psalm 141:2 calls prayer “the evening offering,” showing that devotion, not merely ritual, fulfills the sacrifice’s intent. Festal and Redemptive Significance 1. Passover: “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD’s Passover” (Leviticus 23:5). The timing underscores that redemption begins when the day appears to be ending—foreshadowing the Messiah’s atoning death as “the Lamb of God.” Narrative Moments Marked by Evening • Covenant scenes: Abraham’s servant meets Rebekah “toward evening” (Genesis 24:63–65), a time signaling providential guidance. Wisdom Literature and Personal Devotion Proverbs 7:9 warns of the simple youth who ventures “at twilight, in the evening,” indicating that moral danger escalates when light recedes. By contrast, Psalm 55:17 advises covenant communion: “Evening, morning, and noon, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.” The believer’s safest response to nightfall is prayer. Evening as Figure of Salvation History Zechariah 14:7 promises, “At evening there will be light,” pointing to a coming age when normal cycles of gloom give way to perpetual illumination—a hint of Revelation’s “no more night.” Thus ereb becomes a canvas on which God paints eschatological hope. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Family Worship: The biblical precedent encourages households to gather as sunlight fades, recounting God’s works and seeking His protection for the night. Ethical Dimension—Justice at Sundown Commands to restore pledges and pay wages before evening (Exodus 22:26; Deuteronomy 24:13) elevate ereb as a daily deadline safeguarding the vulnerable. Such statutes shaped Israel into a society of timely compassion. Prophetic and Apocalyptic Echoes The phrase “evening and morning” in Daniel ties temporal cycles to cosmic deliverance. Malachi anticipates that “from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great among the nations” (Malachi 1:11), implying global worship that spans every evening across the earth. Christological Fulfillment The Gospel writers note that Jesus’ body was laid in the tomb at evening (Matthew 27:57). Redemption’s work completed, the Lord rested through the night until the dawn of the first day, mirroring Genesis’ pattern and sealing the new creation. Summary עֶרֶב traces a theological arc from Genesis to the Prophets: it is the boundary of each day, the hour of sacrifice, a symbol of both vulnerability and divine faithfulness, and a prophetic token of the coming age when night will yield to unending light. Faithful observance and reflection upon evening deepen the believer’s appreciation of God’s orderly design, covenant mercy, and ultimate victory. Forms and Transliterations בְּעֶ֥רֶב בָּ֭עֶרֶב בָּעֶ֔רֶב בָּעֶ֖רֶב בָּעֶ֗רֶב בָּעֶ֙רֶב֙ בָּעֶ֛רֶב בָּעֶ֜רֶב בָּעֶ֣רֶב בָּעֶ֣רֶב ׀ בָּעֶרֶב֒ בָּעָ֑רֶב בָּעָֽרֶב׃ בָעֶ֔רֶב בָעֶ֗רֶב בָעֶ֙רֶב֙ בערב בערב׃ הָֽעֲרְבַּ֛יִם הָֽעַרְבַּ֙יִם֙ הָֽעַרְבָּ֑יִם הָֽעַרְבָּֽיִם׃ הָעֲרְבַּ֖יִם הָעֶ֔רֶב הָעֶ֖רֶב הָעֶ֗רֶב הָעֶ֜רֶב הָעֶ֥רֶב הָעֶ֧רֶב הָעֶרֶב֒ הָעַרְבַּ֖יִם הָעַרְבָּ֑יִם הָעַרְבָּֽיִם׃ הָעָ֑רֶב הָעָֽרֶב׃ הערב הערב׃ הערבים הערבים׃ וְהָעֶ֔רֶב וְלָעֶ֔רֶב וְלָעֶ֖רֶב וְלָעָ֑רֶב וְלָעָֽרֶב׃ וָעֶ֣רֶב וּבָעֶ֛רֶב וּבָעֶ֜רֶב וּבָעֶ֥רֶב וּבָעֶֽרֶב־ ובערב ובערב־ והערב ולערב ולערב׃ וערב לָ֝עֶ֗רֶב לָ֭עֶרֶב לָעֶ֣רֶב לָעָֽרֶב׃ לערב לערב׃ מֵעֶ֣רֶב מֵעֶ֥רֶב מֵעֶ֧רֶב מערב עֶ֔רֶב עֶ֕רֶב עֶ֖רֶב עֶ֙רֶב֙ עֶ֣רֶב עֶ֤רֶב עֶ֥רֶב עָ֑רֶב עָֽרֶב׃ ערב ערב׃ ‘ā·reḇ ‘āreḇ ‘e·reḇ ‘ereḇ Arev bā‘āreḇ bā‘ereḇ ḇā‘ereḇ bā·‘ā·reḇ bā·‘e·reḇ ḇā·‘e·reḇ baArev baErev bə‘ereḇ bə·‘e·reḇ beErev Erev hā‘arbayim hā‘arbāyim hā‘ărbayim hā‘āreḇ hā‘ereḇ hā·‘ā·reḇ hā·‘ar·ba·yim hā·‘ar·bā·yim hā·‘ăr·ba·yim hā·‘e·reḇ haarBayim haArev haErev lā‘āreḇ lā‘ereḇ lā·‘ā·reḇ lā·‘e·reḇ laArev laErev mê‘ereḇ mê·‘e·reḇ meErev ū·ḇā·‘e·reḇ ū·ḇā·‘e·reḇ- ūḇā‘ereḇ ūḇā‘ereḇ- uvaErev vaErev vehaErev velaArev velaErev wā‘ereḇ wā·‘e·reḇ wə·hā·‘e·reḇ wə·lā·‘ā·reḇ wə·lā·‘e·reḇ wəhā‘ereḇ wəlā‘āreḇ wəlā‘ereḇLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 1:5 HEB: לָ֑יְלָה וַֽיְהִי־ עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־ בֹ֖קֶר NAS: night. And there was evening and there was morning, KJV: Night. And the evening and the morning INT: night and there was evening and there was morning Genesis 1:8 Genesis 1:13 Genesis 1:19 Genesis 1:23 Genesis 1:31 Genesis 8:11 Genesis 19:1 Genesis 24:11 Genesis 24:63 Genesis 29:23 Genesis 30:16 Genesis 49:27 Exodus 12:6 Exodus 12:18 Exodus 12:18 Exodus 16:6 Exodus 16:8 Exodus 16:12 Exodus 16:13 Exodus 18:13 Exodus 18:14 Exodus 27:21 Exodus 29:39 Exodus 29:41 134 Occurrences |
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