אֵב (ev)
ev
greenery
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ev refers to freshness, specifically in the form of fresh green growth or greenery. It captures the vitality of new life emerging, whether as tender shoots or lush vegetation. This word appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times within poetic texts that celebrate nature’s beauty and transience.
In Job 8:12, ev describes reeds by a water source that are still green and supple, highlighting their temporary state before they wither. Similarly, Song of Solomon 6:11 uses the plural form to depict the flourishing shoots along a stream, paralleling images of blooming vines and pomegranates. These instances emphasize the vividness and fragility of early growth.
The term carries a sense of immediacy and potential, evoking scenes of renewal but also impermanence. Its rarity in Scripture underscores how carefully its imagery is deployed, often to reflect on life’s fleeting yet vibrant moments. Translators typically render it as "greenery" or "fresh shoots," preserving the visual richness of the original context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ev paints a picture of fresh, vibrant growth. It appears only twice in Scripture, often reminding us that beauty can be fleeting. In Job, it describes reeds that are green but easily wither, showing how quickly life can change. This imagery invites us to appreciate the present moment while acknowledging our own fragility.
In Song of Solomon, ev depicts lush shoots along a stream, celebrating God’s creation in its fullness. These verses encourage us to find joy in the simple, natural wonders around us. They remind us that even transient beauty reflects the Creator’s care and attention to detail.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- on/ [the] green shoots of1×
- [is] in/ greenness/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/אִבֵּ֣י1×
- בְ֭/אִבּ/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Job 8:12
While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
This verse uses ev to highlight the temporary nature of reeds, emphasizing how quickly greenery can wither even when it appears strong.
-
Song of Solomon 6:11
I went down into the nut tree grove, to see the green plants of the valley, to see whether the vine budded, and the pomegranates were in flower.
Here, ev describes flourishing shoots in a valley, illustrating the vitality and beauty of God’s creation in its prime.