Proverbs 7:12 — Word Study
WLCפַּ֤עַם׀ בַּח֗וּץ פַּ֥עַם בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת וְאֵ֖צֶל כָּל־ פִּנָּ֣ה תֶאֱרֹֽב׃
BSANowpaʻam [at one moment, in an out-place] in the streetchûwts [broad places, public areas] nowpaʻam [at another time] in the squaresrᵉchôb [plazas, markets] she lurksʼârab▸ [lieth in wait, waiting to trap] atʼêtsel [beside, near] everykôl cornerpinnâh [turning of the road, pinnacle]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| פַּ֤עַם׀ | a time | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| בַּח֗וּץ | in the street | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| פַּ֥עַם | a time | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת | in the open places | Preposition, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| וְאֵ֖צֶל | and beside | Conjunction, noun common both singular construct |
| כָּל־ | every | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| פִּנָּ֣ה | corner | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| תֶאֱרֹֽב׃ | she lies in wait | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person feminine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. |
| KJV | Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) |
| ASV | Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.) |
| YLT | Now in an out-place, now in broad places, And near every corner she lieth in wait) — |
| WEB | Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner. |
| BBE | Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road. |
The translations agree on the meaning of the key word, emphasizing the woman's lurking behavior.
The sentence is structured around a main verb with multiple prepositional phrases indicating her locations, highlighting her pervasive presence.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָרַב
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 7:12
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Dangers of Temptationgenerated
Proverbs 7:12 warns of a seductive woman who is always present in public spaces, seeking to trap the unwary. This passage serves as a cautionary tale about the allure of temptation and the need for vigilance against it. The surrounding verses detail her brazen behavior and the consequences of falling into her trap, emphasizing the importance of wisdom and discernment in the face of such dangers.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 9:14 | She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city, |
| 2 | Proverbs 23:28 | Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 2:20–33 | “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 3:2 | “Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been violated? You sat beside the highways waiting for your lovers, like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 16:24–25 | you built yourself a mound and made yourself a lofty shrine in every public square. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תֶאֱרֹב, te.'e.Rogenerated
The verb אָרַב (arab) means to lie in wait or ambush. It captures the essence of being stealthy and ready to pounce, often with malicious intent. The parsing indicates it is in the imperfect tense, suggesting an ongoing action, as she continuously lurks.
This word is often used in contexts where someone is plotting or preparing to ensnare another, highlighting the predatory nature of the figure described in this verse.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the rendering of the key word תֶאֱרֹב as 'she lurks' or 'she lies in wait'.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb תֶאֱרֹב governs the whole clause, indicating the action of lurking. The structure includes several prepositional phrases that describe her locations: 'in the street', 'in the squares', and 'at every corner'.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the locations where she lurks, creating a vivid image of her presence in various public spaces.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תֶאֱרֹב with the Greek word ἐνεδρεύει, which also conveys the idea of ambushing or lying in wait. This choice reinforces the predatory nature of the figure described.
The translation maintains the sense of stealth and danger present in the Hebrew text, highlighting the woman's intent to ensnare.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 7:12 describes a woman who is always found in public places, like streets and squares, waiting to trap those who pass by. This verse serves as a warning about the dangers of temptation and the need to be cautious in our interactions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates that the woman is always present in public spaces, ready to entice and trap unsuspecting individuals.
It emphasizes the predatory nature of temptation, suggesting that it is often hidden and waiting for the right moment to strike.
We can remain vigilant against temptations that may appear in our daily lives, especially in environments where we are most vulnerable.
Modern temptations can include unhealthy relationships, substance abuse, or any behavior that leads us away from wisdom and righteousness.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some situations in which I have felt tempted to stray from wisdom?
- How can I be more aware of the temptations that surround me in everyday life?
- What practical steps can I take to guard against such temptations?
- In what ways can I support others who may be struggling with similar temptations?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse highlights the dangers of temptation and the seductive nature of sin, as discussed by Bede.
Now in the streets, now in the squares, etc. Outside, it seizes the pagans; in the streets, the voluptuous; by the corners, other heretics.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 7 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 7:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleNow [is she] without,.... The word for whore is sometimes rendered in the Targum (i) one that goes abroad, or without her house; sitting or standing at the door of it, in an idle posture, and in
Read John Gill on Proverbs 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: (Parenthetical description of the whorish woman's characteristics.) (She (is) loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 7 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWithout; standing or waiting without or nigh the door of her house. In the streets; in places of resort. At every corner; at the corners of the streets, where she might either conceal or discover herself, as she saw fit.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 7:12 Now [is she] without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)Ver. 12. Now she is without.] Further observe, that the former faults - loudness of language, stubbornness against a husband’ s lawful commands and restraints, and this of gadding up and down to see and to be seen - albeit they be not certain signs, yet they are strong presumptions of a whorish disposition.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 7 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 12. Now is she without] She is continually exposing herself, and showing by her gait and gestures what she is, and what she wants. These two verses are a parenthesis, intended to show the character of the woman.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 7 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12. without … streets] Rather, in the streets, in the open spaces, or squares. corner] Where two or more ways meet, and there is therefore more likelihood of passers-by. Comp. Matthew 6:5.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 7 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible11, 12. Loud… stubborn — Or, reckless, turbulent, and refractory; in Hosea 4:16, rendered backsliding.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 7 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.
Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas, and by every corner she lies in wait.)
Tyndale line
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.)
Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, and lieth in wait at every corner.
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
Nowe she is without, nowe in the streetes, and lyeth in waite at euery corner)
Strictly literal
now without, now in the broadways, — and she lieth in wait at every corner.
Now in an out-place, now in broad places, And near every corner she lieth in wait) —
Now in an out-place, now in broad places, || And she lies in wait near every corner)—
At one time she is in the street, at another in the open places, and near every corner doth she lurk,)
Now in the streets, then in the market place, and at every corner she waited in ambush.
From the Latin
Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.
Simplified
One moment she'd be walking the streets, the next she'd be there in the town squares, loitering at every corner.)
Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of this verse, with all eight words matched. This consistency suggests a strong preservation of the original message across these texts.
פַּ֤עַם׀ בַּח֗וּץ פַּ֥עַם בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת וְאֵ֖צֶל כָּל־ פִּנָּ֣ה תֶאֱרֹֽב׃
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 7:12
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
פַּ֫עַם (pa'am) refers to a beat or stroke, and encompasses meanings such as foot, anvil, and occurrence. It can denote a footstep or time, indicating repetitions like once, twice, or thrice. The word is built from a root that suggests various applications related to rhythm and timing.
פַּ֫עַם 118 n.f. beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
base
H6471 פַּ֫עַם beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
6471 pa`am pah'-am
or (feminine) pa;amah {pah-am-aw'}; from 6470; a stroke,
literally or figuratively (in various applications, as
follow):--anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-)fold,
X now, (this) + once, order, rank, step, + thrice, ((often-)),
second, this, two) time(-s), twice, wheel.
see HEBREW for 06470
פַּ֫עַם (pa.am) — beat.
1) stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence
1a) foot, hoof-beat, footfall, footstep
1b) anvil
1c) occurrence, time, stroke, beat
1c1) one time, once, twice, thrice, as time on time, at this repetition, this once, now at length, now...now, at one time...at another
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
tim: The basis of the Hebrew measurement of time was the day and the lunar month, as with the Semites generally. The division of the day into hours was late, probably not common until after the exile, although the sun-dial of Ahaz (2Ki 20:9; Isa 38:8) would scent to indicate some division of the day into periods of some sort, as we know the night was divided, The word used for "hour" is Aramaic she`a' (sha`ta'), and does not occur in the Old Testament until the Book of Daniel (4:33; 5:5), and even there it stands for an indefinite period for which "time" would answer as well.
1. The Day:
The term "day" (yom) was in use from the earliest times, as is indicated in the story of the Creation (Ge 1). It there doubtless denotes an indefinite period, but is marked off by "evening and…
Besides the ordinary uses of this word, the Bible sometimes employs it to denote a year, as in Da 4:16; or a prophetic year, consisting of three hundred and sixty natural year, a day being taken for a year. Thus in Da 7:25 12:7, the phrase "a time, times, and the dividing of a time" is supposed to mean three and a half prophetic years, or 1,260 natural years. This period is elsewhere paralleled by the expression, "forty-two months," each month including thirty years, Re 11:2-3 12:6,14 13:5.
חוּץ (chuwts) refers to the concept of being outside or outward, often associated with streets or highways. It is derived from a root meaning to sever, indicating separation by a wall. The term covers various contexts, including outdoors and fields.
חוּץ n.[m.] the outside, sts., esp. in pl., spec. a street
base
H2351 חוּץ
2351 chuwts khoots
or (shortened) chuts {khoots}; (both forms feminine in the
plural) from an unused root meaning to sever; properly,
separate by a wall, i.e. outside, outdoors:--abroad, field,
forth, highway, more, out(-side, -ward), street, without.
חוּץ (chuts) — outside.
outside, outward, street, the outside
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
stret.
See CITY.
Street
The street called “Straight” at Damascus (Acts 9:11) is “a long broad street, running from east to west, about a mile in length, and forming the principal thoroughfare in the city.” In Oriental towns streets are usually narrow and irregular and filthy (Ps. 18:42; Isa. 10:6). “It is remarkable,” says Porter, “that all the important cities of Palestine and Syria Samaria, Caesarea, Gerasa, Bozrah, Damascus, Palmyra, had their ‘straight streets’ running through the centre of the city, and lined with stately rows of columns. The most perfect now remaining are those of Palmyra and Gerasa, where long ranges of the columns still stand.”, Through Samaria, etc.
The streets of a modern Oriental town present a great contrast to those with which we are familiar, being generally narrow, tortuous and gloomy, even in the best towns. Their character is mainly fixed by the climate and the style of architecture, the narrowness being due to the extreme heat, and the gloominess to the circumstance of the windows looking for the most part into the inner court. The street called "Straight," in Damascus, (Acts 9:11) was an exception to the rule of narrowness: it was a noble thoroughfare, one hundred feet wide. divided in the Roman age by colonnades into three avenues, the central one for foot passengers, the side passages for vehicles and horsemen going in different directions. The shops and warehouses were probably collected together into bazaars in ancient as in modern times. (
פַּ֫עַם (pa'am) refers to a beat or stroke, and encompasses meanings such as foot, anvil, and occurrence. It can denote a footstep or time, indicating repetitions like once, twice, or thrice. The word is built from a root that suggests various applications related to rhythm and timing.
פַּ֫עַם 118 n.f. beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
base
H6471 פַּ֫עַם beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
6471 pa`am pah'-am
or (feminine) pa;amah {pah-am-aw'}; from 6470; a stroke,
literally or figuratively (in various applications, as
follow):--anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-)fold,
X now, (this) + once, order, rank, step, + thrice, ((often-)),
second, this, two) time(-s), twice, wheel.
see HEBREW for 06470
פַּ֫עַם (pa.am) — beat.
1) stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence
1a) foot, hoof-beat, footfall, footstep
1b) anvil
1c) occurrence, time, stroke, beat
1c1) one time, once, twice, thrice, as time on time, at this repetition, this once, now at length, now...now, at one time...at another
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
tim: The basis of the Hebrew measurement of time was the day and the lunar month, as with the Semites generally. The division of the day into hours was late, probably not common until after the exile, although the sun-dial of Ahaz (2Ki 20:9; Isa 38:8) would scent to indicate some division of the day into periods of some sort, as we know the night was divided, The word used for "hour" is Aramaic she`a' (sha`ta'), and does not occur in the Old Testament until the Book of Daniel (4:33; 5:5), and even there it stands for an indefinite period for which "time" would answer as well.
1. The Day:
The term "day" (yom) was in use from the earliest times, as is indicated in the story of the Creation (Ge 1). It there doubtless denotes an indefinite period, but is marked off by "evening and…
Besides the ordinary uses of this word, the Bible sometimes employs it to denote a year, as in Da 4:16; or a prophetic year, consisting of three hundred and sixty natural year, a day being taken for a year. Thus in Da 7:25 12:7, the phrase "a time, times, and the dividing of a time" is supposed to mean three and a half prophetic years, or 1,260 natural years. This period is elsewhere paralleled by the expression, "forty-two months," each month including thirty years, Re 11:2-3 12:6,14 13:5.
רְחוֹב (re.chov) refers to a broad open place or plaza, often translated as street. It is derived from the root meaning width and encompasses areas like avenues or public spaces. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to open areas, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.
רְחוֹב n.f. broad open place, plaza
base
H7339 רְחוֹב broad open place, plaza
7339 rchob rekh-obe'
or rchowb {rekh-obe'}; from 7337; a width, i.e. (concretely)
avenue or area:--broad place (way), street. See also 1050.
see HEBREW for 07337
see HEBREW for 01050
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — street/plaza.
broad or open place or plaza
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absoluteHRd/Ncfpa
אֵ֫צֶל ('etsel) is a conjunction that denotes proximity or nearness. It can mean 'beside,' 'by,' or 'near,' and is derived from a root that implies joining. The entries indicate its use in contexts relating to physical closeness or adjacency, but do not provide specific verse references.
אֵ֫צֶל 81 subst. conjunction, proximity
base
H681 אֵ֫צֶל conjunction, proximity
681 'etsel ay'-tsel
from 680 (in the sense of joining); a side; (as a
preposition) near:--at, (hard) by, (from) (beside), near
(unto), toward, with. See also 1018.
see HEBREW for 0680
see HEBREW for 01018
אֵ֫צֶל (e.tsel) — beside.
1) beside, by, near, nearness, joining, proximity
subst
2) (BDB)
2a) conjunction, proximity
2b) beside, in proximity, contiguous to, from beside
Conj | Prep — Conjunction · noun common both singular constructHC/Ncbsc
be-sid': Near to, or close to (Ps 23:2). It is often used to refer to the mental state, to the derangement of the mind (existemi, Mr 3:21; Ac 26:24 the King James Version). Or it may refer to the condition of being out of the ordinary course of the life. A life consecrated to God and spent in the interest of humanity is so designated (2Co 5:13). It has the sense also of a state of being out of one's usual mind, but not of mental derangement, occasioned by something that causes amazement or ast onishment (Mr 5:42). Or it may refer to a state in which one is not conscious of present conditions, but is rapt in vision (
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
פִּנָּה (pinnah) means 'corner' and can refer to the corner of square objects or figuratively to a chief or chieftain. It is derived from a related word meaning 'to turn.' The entries indicate its use in contexts like a bulwark or pinnacle, but do not provide specific verse references.
פִּנָּה 28 n.f. corner
base
H6438 פִּנָּה corner
6438 pinnah pin-naw'
feminine of 6434; an angle; by implication, a pinnacle;
figuratively, a chieftain:--bulwark, chief, corner, stay,
tower.
see HEBREW for 06434
פִּנָּה (pin.nah) — Corner (Gate).
This name means corner, to turn, to turn back
פִּנָּה (pin.nah) — corner.
1) corner
1a) corner (of square objects)
1b) corner (of ruler or chief-fig.)
Also means: pen (פֵּן "Corner" H6434)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
kor'-ner (miqtsoa`, pe'ah, pinnah; arche, gonia, akrogoniaios): In Ex 26:24; Eze 41:22; 46:21,22, miqtsoa`, "angle" is translated "corner"; pe'ah, "side," "quarter" and pinnah "corner," "front," "chief," are more frequently so translated, e.g. Ex 25:26; Le 19:9; Jer 9:26; 25:23; and Ex 27:2; 1Ki 7:34; Ps 118:22; Isa 28:16 ("corner-stone"); Jer 51:26.…
Corner
The angle of a house (Job 1:19) or a street (Prov. 7:8). “Corners” in Neh. 9:22 denotes the various districts of the promised land allotted to the Israelites. In Num. 24:17, the “corners of Moab” denotes the whole land of Moab. The “corner of a field” (Lev. 19:9; 23:22) is its extreme part, which was not to be reaped. The Jews were prohibited from cutting the “corners,” i.e., the extremities, of the hair and whiskers running round the ears (Lev. 19:27; 21:5). The “four corners of the earth” in Isa. 11:12 and…
The "corner" of the field was not allowed, (Leviticus 19:9) to be wholly reaped. It formed a right of the poor to carry off what was so left, and this was a part of the maintenance from the soil to which that class were entitled. Under the scribes, minute legislation fixed one-sixtieth as the portion of a field which was to be left for the legal "corner." The proportion being thus fixed, all the grain might be reaped, and enough to satisfy the regulation subsequently separated from the whole crop. This "corner" was, like the gleaning, tithe-free.
אָרַב (arab) is a primitive root meaning to lie in wait or ambush. It covers actions like lurking or setting an ambush, with forms in Qal, Piel, and Hiphil that indicate different nuances of waiting or attacking. The entries consistently emphasize its hostile connotation.
אָרַב vb. lie in wait
Qal lie in wait (with hostile purpose)
Pi. Pt. pl. liers-in-wait
Hiph. Impf. but txt. dub.
base
H693 אָרַב lie in wait
693 'arab aw-rab'
a primitive root; to lurk:--(lie in) ambush(-ment), lay (lie
in) wait.
אָרַב (a.rav) — to ambush.
1) to lie in wait, ambush, lurk
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to lie in wait
1a2) ambush (participle as subst)
1b) (Piel) ambushers, liers-in-wait (pl. participle)
1c) (Hiphil) to lay an ambush
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singularHVqi3fs
wat:
1. The Substantive:
The word is used in the Old Testament both as a substantive add as a verb. In the New Testament it appears as a verb only. 'erebh, ma'arabh, mean a concealed hiding-place for purposes of sudden attack, an ambuscade.
(1) "Lie in wait": "Abimelech rose up .... from lying in wait" (Jud 9:35 the King James Version); "When they .... abide in the covert to lie in wait" (Job 38:40).