עֶרֶב
dusk
Definition
The Hebrew word עֶרֶב (ʻereb) primarily means 'evening' or 'dusk,' referring to the period of twilight as day transitions into night. In the creation account (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, etc.), it specifically denotes the evening portion of the day, establishing the pattern 'evening and morning' for a full day. It can also signify the entire night period, as when the dove returns at 'eventide' in Genesis 8:11, or refer more broadly to the time of sunset. In some contexts, it simply indicates the later part of a day, as seen in Genesis 19:1 where the angels arrive at Sodom in the evening.
Biblical Usage
עֶרֶב is used 127 times throughout the Old Testament, most frequently in the Pentateuch, especially in Genesis and Exodus, often in narrative and legal contexts. Its primary use is to mark time, defining the start of a day (as in the creation week) or the time for specific rituals, like the evening sacrifice (Exodus 29:39). It appears in historical books to set the scene for events (e.g., Genesis 24:63) and in poetic books like Psalms (e.g., Psalm 55:17) to denote a time for prayer. A key pattern is its pairing with 'morning' (בֹּקֶר, boqer) to frame a complete 24-hour day.
Etymology
The noun עֶרֶב derives from the root עָרַב (ʻārab, H6150), which carries the basic meaning of 'to become evening' or 'to grow dark.' This root is also related to the idea of 'mixing' or 'weaving,' possibly alluding to the intermingling of light and dark at twilight. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'erebu' ('to enter,' 'sunset'), reinforce the connection between evening and the sun's descent.
Semantic Range
עֶרֶב is theologically significant as it establishes God's ordained rhythm of time from the very beginning of creation. The repeated phrase 'and there was evening, and there was morning' (Genesis 1) defines a biblical day as starting at sunset, a pattern that shaped Israel's liturgical calendar, including Sabbath observance (beginning on Friday evening). This evening-to-morning sequence underscores themes of God bringing order from chaos and light from darkness. Understanding this Hebrew perspective enriches reading of Passover (Exodus 12:18), which begins at twilight, and the symbolism of Jesus' crucifixion occurring at the 'ninth hour,' leading into the evening.
In ancient Israelite culture, 'evening' (עֶרֶב) was a practical and significant time marker. As an agrarian society, it signaled the end of the workday and the time to return home. It was also a vulnerable time, as diminishing light could bring danger. Religiously, it marked the time for key daily sacrifices (Exodus 29:39) and the beginning of holy days. This differs from the modern Gregorian calendar where a day begins at midnight; the biblical day begins at sunset, reflecting a different conception of time's cycle.
לַיִל (layil, H3915) — Specifically 'night,' the period of full darkness following עֶרֶב. נֶשֶׁף (nesheph, H5399) — 'Twilight' or 'dusk,' often synonymous with עֶרֶב but can also mean 'dawn.' בֹּקֶר (boqer, H1242) — 'Morning,' the direct opposite and paired complement to עֶרֶב in the daily cycle.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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