עֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah)
a.ra.vah
(Brook of) Willows
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun arabah refers to a type of tree, specifically identified as a poplar or willow. In the Hebrew Bible, it is distinguished by its characteristic dark wood, setting it apart from other timber sources used in ancient Israel. This lexical entry appears in five verses, linking the word closely with specific geographical and ritual contexts.
Most notably, the term frequently combines with nachal, meaning "brook," to describe a "willow brook" or "poplar stream." This compound phrase appears in Leviticus 23:40 during the instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles, where branches from this tree are gathered. It also surfaces in Psalms 104:12, depicting birds nesting among its boughs near running water.
Translators typically render arabah as "willow" or "poplar," reflecting the visual image of trees thriving near water sources. The word’s usage highlights the natural environment surrounding Israel’s sacred sites and royal gardens, grounding spiritual practices in the tangible landscape of the ancient Near East.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word arabah points to trees that thrive near running water, such as willows or poplars. In ancient Israel, these trees were not just scenery; they were part of the landscape where life flourished. Psalm 137:2 remembers a time of deep sorrow, when exiles hung their harps on these very branches. The image is striking: instruments of joy resting in silence beside a stream in a foreign land.
This word also appears in Leviticus 23:40 during the Feast of Tabernacles. Here, the willows of the brook are gathered with other plants to celebrate before God. It reminds us that worship is not abstract. It involves the physical world around us—the trees, the water, and the earth. God cares about the tangible details of our lives.
When you feel distant or in a place of mourning, remember that even in exile, these trees stood by the water. They offer a picture of resilience. God’s presence is not limited to temples; it is found in the natural world too. You can find comfort in knowing that beauty and sorrow often share the same landscape.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ poplars1×
- poplars1×
- like/ poplars1×
- and/ poplars of1×
- [the] poplars of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַרְבֵי\־1×
- עֲרָבִ֥ים1×
- כַּ/עֲרָבִ֖ים1×
- וְ/עַרְבֵי\־1×
- הָ/עֲרָבִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 23:40
You shall take on the first day the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God seven days.
This verse commands the gathering of willows for a festival, showing how the tree was used in communal worship to express joy before God.
-
Psalms 137:2
On the willows in that land, we hung up our harps.
The harps hanging on these willows symbolise a temporary suspension of praise during exile, highlighting the tree's role as a witness to human grief.
-
Job 40:22
The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
Here the willows surround the mighty Behemoth, illustrating their dense growth near water and their place in the wild, untamed creation.