אָרְבָּה (o.ro.vah)
o.ro.vah
skill
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun arbah appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Isaiah 25:11. It denotes a crafty or deceptive maneuver, specifically described as the "tricks" or "artifice" of one’s hands. The context involves God bringing down the proud city, implying that its defenses relied on cunning strategy rather than strength.
While the word shares a root with verbs meaning to lie in wait, here it functions as a noun for the resulting deceitful act itself. Translators often render it as "tricks" or "craftiness," highlighting the moral failure of relying on dishonesty. This single usage underscores that human ingenuity, when divorced from integrity, is ultimately futile against divine justice.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Isaiah 25:11, the word arbah describes the 'craft' or cunning tricks of a proud city’s hands. It reminds us that human ingenuity, when divorced from integrity, is ultimately futile against divine justice. God brings down those who rely on deceit rather than truth.
This passage invites us to examine our own lives. Are we trusting in clever strategies to solve our problems, or are we resting in God’s sovereignty? True strength comes not from manipulation, but from humility and faith. When we let go of the need to control outcomes through crafty means, we find peace in God’s perfect timing.
May we learn to value honesty over cleverness, knowing that God sees the heart. His justice is sure, and His grace is sufficient for every challenge we face.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] tricks of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אָרְבּ֥וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 25:11
He will spread out his hands in the middle of it, like one who swims spreads out hands to swim, but his pride will be humbled together with the craft of his hands.
This verse uses arbah to describe the 'craft' of hands, showing how pride relies on deceitful strategies that God ultimately humbles.