אָרַח (a.rach)
a.rach
Arah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Araḥ, meaning "traveller," appears in only four verses of the Hebrew Bible, primarily within the genealogical records of Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 Chronicles. It identifies distinct individuals connected to the tribe of Asher, linking pre-exilic lineage with the post-exilic community.
One Araḥ is recorded as a son of Shual in the days of the divided monarchy (1 Chronicles 7:39). Another serves as the prominent head of a family among those who returned from Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:5; Nehemiah 7:10). A third individual, mentioned in Nehemiah 6:18, is noted as the father of Shecaniah and part of the social fabric of Jerusalem’s restoration.
The etymology suggests a life of movement or migration. This meaning resonates with the biblical narrative of Israel, where identity is often shaped by journeying. The recurrence of this name among exiles highlights how personal history and national displacement intersect in the text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Araḥ, meaning “traveller,” appears in only four verses of the Hebrew Bible. It identifies individuals connected to the tribe of Asher, linking pre-exilic lineage with the post-exilic community. One Araḥ is recorded as a son of Shual in 1 Chronicles 7:39. Another serves as the head of a family among those who returned from Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:5; Nehemiah 7:10). A third individual, mentioned in Nehemiah 6:18, is noted as the father of Shecaniah and part of the social fabric of Jerusalem’s restoration.
The etymology suggests a life of movement or migration. This meaning resonates with the biblical narrative of Israel, where identity is often shaped by journeying. The recurrence of this name among exiles highlights how personal history and national displacement intersect in the text. It reminds us that our stories are woven into a larger tapestry of faithfulness across generations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Arah4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אָרַ֔ח2×
- אָרַ֥ח1×
- אָרַ֑ח1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 2:5
The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five.
This verse records the number of descendants from Arah who returned from exile, showing how family identity was preserved after displacement.
-
Nehemiah 7:10
The children of Arah: six hundred fifty-two.
Here the count is slightly different, reflecting careful record-keeping during the restoration of Jerusalem's community.
-
Nehemiah 6:18
For there were many in Judah sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.
This mention connects Araḥ to the social networks and marriages that helped stabilize Judah after the return from Babylon.