עָר (ar)
ar
enemy
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 ar denotes an enemy or adversary, appearing in only two verses within the Hebrew Bible. Its extreme rarity makes it a distinctive lexical item, with occurrences concentrated in specific historical and poetic contexts such as 1 Samuel and the Psalms.
While its meaning overlaps significantly with more common terms like oyev, ar carries a specific nuance of personal opposition or legal adversary. The sources note a close relationship to the Aramaic equivalent, suggesting a shared Semitic root for hostility that crosses linguistic boundaries in the ancient Near East.
This word serves as a reminder of the varied vocabulary used to describe conflict in Scripture. Its limited usage highlights how biblical authors selected precise terms for different types of enmity, whether political, personal, or spiritual, rather than relying on a single generic label for foes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ar is a rare Hebrew term for enemy, appearing only twice in the entire Old Testament. Its scarcity makes it stand out, marking moments of intense personal conflict or spiritual opposition. In these few verses, the language captures the sharp sting of being opposed by those who speak against God and take His name in vain.
For your faith, this rarity reminds us that not all hostility is the same. Sometimes opposition feels like a legal adversary challenging your standing; other times it is the loud, wicked speech of those who reject divine authority. Recognizing these distinct flavors of enmity helps you understand the specific nature of the struggles you face.
When you encounter such opposition, remember that God sees the difference between general conflict and targeted spiritual attack. The biblical authors chose precise words to describe these moments because they matter. You are not alone in facing those who speak against the truth; even the psalmist felt this weight deeply.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- enemy/ your1×
- enemies/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָרֶֽי/ךָ\׃1×
- עָרֶֽ/ךָ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 28:16
Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since Yahweh has departed from you and has become your adversary?
This verse uses the term to describe God Himself becoming an adversary to Saul, highlighting a severe shift in divine relationship due to disobedience.
-
Psalms 139:20
For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
Here the word identifies those who speak wickedly against God, linking the concept of enemy directly to blasphemy and taking His name in vain.