עֵ֫רֶב (e.rev)
e.rev
Arabia; mixture; racial-mix
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun `erev` primarily denotes a mixture or a group composed of diverse elements. Its most frequent biblical usage describes a "mixed multitude" or heterogeneous company attached to a larger community, rather than a unified ethnic group. This sense appears prominently in narratives where distinct populations interact, such as the diverse group accompanying the Israelites during the Exodus and later in the reforms of Nehemiah.
The word’s imagery likely stems from weaving, where it refers to the woof threads interwoven with the warp to create fabric. This technical meaning explains its metaphorical shift toward describing things that are blended or mixed together. While some sources note a secondary spelling related to "Arabia," the dominant usage in the supplied texts focuses on this concept of combination or mingling.
Translators typically render `erev` as "mixed multitude" or simply "mixed people." This choice highlights the social reality of the text: a population defined not by shared origin, but by its composite nature. The term captures the complexity of ancient Near Eastern demographics, where groups were often formed through migration and intermingling rather than strict isolation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word erev paints a picture of threads woven together to form a single fabric. In its most literal sense, it refers to the woof in weaving, the horizontal strands that cross over the warp to create strength and texture. This imagery helps us understand how diverse elements can come together to form something complex and functional, rather than remaining separate and isolated.
In biblical narratives, this term often describes a mixed multitude—a group of people from various backgrounds joining together. While this blending sometimes created social tension, as seen in the reforms of Nehemiah or the journey out of Egypt, it also reflects the reality of community life. We are not always uniform; we are made up of different histories and perspectives bound together.
For your faith, this word invites you to see diversity not merely as a complication, but as part of the fabric of human experience. Just as the loom requires both warp and woof to hold tension and create cloth, our communities often grow through the interaction of different voices. It reminds us that unity does not require sameness, but rather a shared purpose that holds distinct parts together.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ woof4×
- in the/ woof4×
- <the>/ foreigner2×
- the/ Arab[s]1×
- person of mixed ancestry1×
- in/ woof1×
- a mixed company1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בָ/עֵ֙רֶב֙3×
- הָ/עֶ֔רֶב2×
- עֵ֥רֶב1×
- עֵ֖רֶב1×
- הָ/עֶ֛רֶב1×
- הָ/עֵֽרֶב\׃1×
- הָ/עֵ֜רֶב1×
- הָ/עֵ֗רֶב1×
- הָ/עֵ֔רֶב1×
- בָ/עֵ֑רֶב1×
- בְ/עֵ֔רֶב1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 12:38
A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much livestock.
This verse uses the term to identify the diverse group that accompanied Israel, highlighting how the covenant community expanded beyond its original ethnic boundaries during the Exodus.
-
Leviticus 13:49
if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the leather, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of leather; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest.
Here the word appears in a technical context describing textile construction, showing its root meaning as the woof thread interwoven with the warp to form fabric.
-
Nehemiah 13:3
It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
The separation of this mixed group illustrates the tension between maintaining distinct religious identity and integrating diverse populations within the restored community.