Lexical Summary arar: To curse Original Word: עָרַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance make bare, break, raise up perhaps by clerical error for raze, utterly A primitive root; to bare; figuratively, to demolish -- make bare, break, raise up (perhaps by clerical error for raze), X utterly. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to strip oneself NASB Translation completely razed (1), stripped (1), undress (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [עָרַר] verb strip oneself ("" form of ערה, II. עור); — Qal Imperative עֹ֫רָה Isaiah 32:11 ("" מְּשֹׁ֫טָה; according to Ges§ 110k Hi De and others masculine singular with feminine plural subject; according to Ew§ 226 a Du Di and others feminine plural, shortened from ערנה etc.). Po`. Perfect3plural עוֺרְרוּ אַרְמְנוֺתֶיהָ Isaiah 23:13 they have laid bare (the foundations of) her palaces, i.e. destroyed them; so Pilpel Infinitive absolute + Hithpalpel Imperfect3feminine singular עַרְעֵר תִּתְעַרְעַר Jeremiah 51:58 be laid utterly bare, compare ערה Pi`el 1. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope עָרַר depicts the decisive stripping away of what seems strong, beautiful, or secure until it stands exposed and powerless. Whether applied to fortified cities, luxurious palaces, or complacent hearts, the verb underscores the Lord’s ability to reduce all human pride to barrenness. Key Scriptural Occurrences • Isaiah 23:13 – Assyria “stripped its palaces, and turned it into ruins.” Historical and Cultural Background In the ancient Near East, conquering armies routinely removed the adornments of captured cities—precious metals, stone facings, roof beams—leaving once-impressive structures bare to weather and vandals. Isaiah and Jeremiah draw on this imagery at moments when leading world powers (Tyre, Chaldea, Babylon) appeared invincible. The vocabulary of stripping illustrated how swiftly the Lord would dismantle their pride and expose their emptiness. Theological Significance 1. Divine Judgment: עָרַר is never accidental; it is the result of God’s deliberate intervention against arrogance, idolatry, and false security (Isaiah 23:9, Jeremiah 50:31-32). Prophetic Implications The repeated use in Jeremiah 51:58 over Babylon—the epitome of human empire—anticipates later biblical visions of a final, Babylon-like system laid bare (Revelation 18:7-8). The verb thus serves as a linguistic bridge between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament eschatology. Ministry and Practical Application • Preaching: עָרַר warns congregations against resting in outward success. Anything not founded on obedience may be stripped away (Matthew 7:26-27). Intertextual Connections • Psalm 52:5 – God “will uproot you from the land of the living,” a parallel image of total removal. Related Hebrew Concepts • חָרַב (to dry up, devastate) – result of being stripped. Summary עָרַר stands as a penetrating reminder that the Lord alone grants security. What He strips cannot be rebuilt until repentance aligns with His purposes; what He covers by grace can withstand any siege. Forms and Transliterations וְעֹ֔רָה וערה עַרְעֵ֣ר עֹרְרוּ֙ ערער עררו תִּתְעַרְעָ֔ר תתערער ‘ar‘êr ‘ar·‘êr ‘ō·rə·rū ‘ōrərū arEr oreRu tiṯ‘ar‘ār tiṯ·‘ar·‘ār titarAr veOrah wə‘ōrāh wə·‘ō·rāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 23:13 HEB: (בַחוּנָ֗יו ק) עֹרְרוּ֙ אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ שָׂמָ֖הּ NAS: their siege towers, they stripped its palaces, KJV: the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces INT: up tower stripped palaces made Isaiah 32:11 Jeremiah 51:58 Jeremiah 51:58 4 Occurrences |
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