אָרַר (a.rar)
a.rar
to curse
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 51 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb arar means to curse, a powerful act of invoking harm or divine judgment against a person or thing. In the Old Testament, it appears in fifty-one verses, with significant occurrences in Genesis, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The word carries weight beyond simple insult; it is a formal declaration that seeks to bring about misfortune or separation from God’s blessing.
Its usage spans several grammatical forms, allowing for nuanced expression. The Qal stem denotes the act of cursing itself, while the Niphal indicates being under a curse. The Piel form can intensify this, meaning to lay someone under a curse or even cause a curse to take effect, as seen in Numbers 5:22 where the "waters that bring the curse" are described. This grammatical flexibility allows Scripture to describe both the active speech of cursing and the passive state of being accursed.
A notable example of its theological depth is found in Genesis 3:14, where God declares the serpent cursed above all livestock. Here, arar signifies a permanent state of disgrace and enmity. Similarly, in Deuteronomy 27, the covenant curses list various sins that result in being cursed, showing how this word functions as a legal and spiritual consequence for breaking divine law. The term thus bridges human speech and divine judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word arar describes a serious declaration of harm or separation from God’s blessing. In ancient Israel, this was not merely an insult but a legal and spiritual statement with real consequences. It highlights the weight of our words and the seriousness of breaking covenant relationships with God and neighbor.
While the Old Testament records many instances of cursing as a consequence for sin or injustice, the biblical narrative points toward a different hope. Rather than remaining under a curse, believers are invited into the blessing promised to Abraham. This shift shows that God’s ultimate desire is restoration, not condemnation, offering peace to those who trust in His promises.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 51 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [is] cursed18×
- [be] cursed9×
- which/ bring a curse6×
- [will be] cursed4×
- [are] cursed4×
- curse/ !2×
- curse2×
- and/ [will be] cursed2×
- you will curse1×
- you curse1×
- the/ accursed [woman]1×
- he is cursed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אָר֣וּר7×
- אָר֕וּר7×
- אָר֥וּר5×
- אָר֗וּר5×
- אָר֤וּר3×
- וְ/אָר֥וּר2×
- הַֽ/מְאָרֲרִ֖ים2×
- אָֽרָ/ה\־2×
- תָּאֹ֖ר1×
- תָאֹר֙1×
- נֵֽאָרִ֔ים1×
- יוּאָֽר\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 3:14
Yahweh God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. You shall go on your belly and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.
This verse establishes the concept of a curse as a state of disgrace and enmity resulting from disobedience, setting the stage for the need for redemption.
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Numbers 22:12
God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
Here God explicitly forbids cursing His people, showing that divine blessing overrides any human attempt to invoke harm against them.
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Deuteronomy 27:15
‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
This verse begins a series of covenant curses, illustrating how breaking specific laws results in being set apart from God's favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word arar mean?
How is arar different from a simple insult?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (51 verses across 11 books)
Genesis 8 verses
Yahweh God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal…
Genesis 3:17To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten from the tree, about which I commanded…
Genesis 4:11Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Genesis 5:29He named him Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground…
Genesis 9:25He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.”
Genesis 12:3I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will…
Genesis 27:29Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother’s sons bow down to you.…
Genesis 49:7Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter…