Lexical Summary erabon: Pledge, Security, Guarantee Original Word: עֲרָבוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pledge From arab (in the sense of exchange); a pawn (given as security) -- pledge. see HEBREW arab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom arab Definition a pledge NASB Translation pledge (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֵרָבוֺן noun [masculine] pledge; — ׳נָתַן ע give a pledge Genesis 38:17,18, ׳לָקַח ע Genesis 38:20 (all J), receive (back) a pledge (when condition is fulfilled). — Job 17:3 read perhaps עֶרְבֹנִי (for ᵑ0 עָרְבֵנִי), as object of שֹׂימָה set my pledge (a surety for me), so Beer Bu and others Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture עֲרָבוֹן appears three times, all within the narrative of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38:17; Genesis 38:18; Genesis 38:20). In each instance it denotes a tangible pledge left as collateral to secure fulfillment of an agreed-upon obligation. Cultural and Legal Background In the Ancient Near East commerce relied heavily on pledges. Portable items of recognized value—signet rings, staffs, cords, garments, or even livestock—were temporarily surrendered as security until a payment or service was completed. The purpose was two-fold: to guarantee performance and to identify the debtor should a dispute arise. Mosaic legislation later regulated pledges to protect the poor (Exodus 22:26; Deuteronomy 24:10-13), reflecting a divine concern for justice already implicit in the patriarchal era. Narrative Significance in Genesis 38 Judah promised Tamar, whom he believed to be a prostitute, “I will send you a young goat from my flock,” yet she wisely demanded a pledge: “I will send you a young goat from my flock,” Judah said. But she replied, “Will you give me a pledge until you send it?” (Genesis 38:17). The chosen pledge—Judah’s seal, cord, and staff—publicly identified its owner and thereby served as irrefutable evidence of Judah’s responsibility when Tamar’s pregnancy became known. The pledge thus exposes hypocrisy, vindicates Tamar’s righteousness, and preserves the lineage through which the Messiah would come (Genesis 38:26; Matthew 1:3). Theological Implications 1. Integrity and Accountability: Judah’s willingness to leave items of personal authority underscores the biblical expectation that one’s word be backed by concrete action (Proverbs 11:15; James 5:12). Intertextual Connections with the New Testament The Greek term arrabōn—etymologically borrowed from the Hebrew word here—appears in 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; and Ephesians 1:13-14. In each case it designates the Holy Spirit as God’s pledge to believers: …you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14). Thus the Spirit’s indwelling presence functions for the church exactly as Judah’s seal, cord, and staff did for Tamar: a present token that authenticates identity and guarantees future fulfillment—yet on an infinitely higher, redemptive plane. Historical Influence of the Term Arrabōn passed from Hebrew into Phoenician trade, then into Hellenistic Greek, Latin (arrha, arrabo), and eventually several European languages, retaining the sense of earnest money or down payment. Classical writers use it for bridal gifts and business deposits, evidence of the Old Testament’s ongoing linguistic impact on the wider Mediterranean world. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Believers may rest in the certainty of God’s promises, for He has provided the Holy Spirit as an irrevocable guarantee. Summary עֲרָבוֹן serves as more than a transaction term; it is a theological motif of guarantee, integrity, and hope. Introduced in a morally complex episode, it blossoms into a vibrant New Testament image of the Spirit’s role in securing the believer’s inheritance, thereby weaving a consistent thread of divine faithfulness through both covenants. Forms and Transliterations הָֽעֵרָבוֹן֮ הָעֵרָב֖וֹן הערבון עֵרָב֖וֹן ערבון ‘ê·rā·ḇō·wn ‘êrāḇōwn eraVon hā‘êrāḇōwn hā·‘ê·rā·ḇō·wn haeraVonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 38:17 HEB: אִם־ תִּתֵּ֥ן עֵרָב֖וֹן עַ֥ד שָׁלְחֶֽךָ׃ NAS: moreover, Will you give a pledge until KJV: Wilt thou give [me] a pledge, till thou send INT: lo give A pledge until send Genesis 38:18 Genesis 38:20 3 Occurrences |
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