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Isaiah 17:2 — Word Study

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WLCעֲזֻב֖וֹת עָרֵ֣י עֲרֹעֵ֑ר לַעֲדָרִ֣ים תִּֽהְיֶ֔ינָה וְרָבְצ֖וּ וְאֵ֥ין מַחֲרִֽיד׃

BSAThe citiesʻîyr [towns, settlements] of AroerʻĂrôwʻêr [a place of ruins] are forsakenʻâzab [abandoned, left to decay] they will be lefthâyâh [given over, entrusted] to the flocksʻêder [herds, groups of animals] which will lie downrâbats [rest, stretch out] with no oneʼayin [nothing, none] to fearchârad [make them afraid, terrorize them]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 17
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 2 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ma.cha.Rid) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 17:2quick helps
In a sentenceIsaiah describes the desolation of Aroer, where its cities are abandoned and left for flocks to rest.
Who is speakingThe prophet Isaiah, delivering a message from the LORD.
Where we areThis verse is part of a prophecy against Damascus, highlighting the fate of Aroer.
The hard wordעֲזֻב֖וֹת
Take awayThe cities are forsaken, leaving only flocks to roam.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectחָרַד verbעָזַב The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 — Isaiah 17:2

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 Burden Against Damascusgenerated

1This is the burden against Damascus: “Behold, Damascus is no longer a city; it has become a heap of ruins.
2The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear.
3The fortress will disappear from Ephraim, and the sovereignty from Damascus. The remnant of Aram will be like the splendor of the Israelites,” declares the LORD of Hosts.
4“In that day the splendor of Jacob will fade, and the fat of his body will waste away,

Isaiah 17:2 describes the abandonment of Aroer, a city that will become desolate. The prophecy illustrates a broader judgment against Damascus and its surrounding regions, indicating a time of desolation and fearlessness for the flocks that will inhabit the forsaken cities. This imagery evokes a sense of loss and transformation, as the once-bustling cities are left to decay, now serving as pastures for animals.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Numbers 32:34And the Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
2Deuteronomy 2:36From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the valley, even as far as Gilead, not one city had walls too high for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them.
3Deuteronomy 3:12So at that time we took possession of this land. To the Reubenites and Gadites I gave the land beyond Aroer along the Arnon Valley, and half the hill country of Gilead, along with its cities.
4Joshua 13:16The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, to the whole plateau beyond Medeba,
5Jeremiah 48:19Stand by the road and watch, O dweller of Aroer! Ask the man fleeing or the woman escaping, ‘What has happened?’

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word עֲזֻב֖וֹת, a.zu.Votgenerated

The word עֲזֻב֖וֹת (azuvot) is a passive participle form of the verb עָזַב (azab), meaning to abandon or forsake. It conveys the sense of being left behind or neglected, emphasizing the state of desolation.

This term captures the emotional weight of abandonment, suggesting not only physical desolation but also a spiritual or communal loss. In this context, the cities of Aroer are depicted as forsaken places, highlighting the consequences of judgment.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses forsaken for עֲזֻב֖וֹת.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the sentence is תִּֽהְיֶ֔ינָה (they will be), which governs the structure of the verse. It connects the subject, עָרֵ֣י (the cities), to the predicate describing their state.

The sentence is structured with a noun phrase as the subject, followed by a series of clauses that detail the condition of the cities and the flocks. This arrangement emphasizes the abandonment and the resulting tranquility for the animals.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עֲזֻב֖וֹת as καταλελειμμένη, meaning left behind or abandoned. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the sense of desolation.

The LXX captures the essence of the Hebrew text, reinforcing the theme of forsakenness and the resulting peace for the flocks.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 17:2 tells us that the cities of Aroer are abandoned, left to the flocks that will lie down without fear. This verse illustrates a time of desolation for the cities, now a place of rest for animals.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the cities of Aroer are forsaken?

It indicates that the cities are abandoned and left to decay, highlighting a significant loss and desolation.

Why are the flocks mentioned in this verse?

The flocks symbolize a new form of life in the desolate cities, representing peace and tranquility in a place once bustling with human activity.

What is the significance of Aroer in this prophecy?

Aroer serves as a representation of judgment against cities that have fallen into ruin, emphasizing the consequences of divine judgment.

How does this verse connect to the broader themes in Isaiah?

It reflects the themes of judgment and restoration, showing how desolation can lead to a new state of existence, as seen through the flocks that will inhabit the forsaken cities.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the abandonment of Aroer teach us about the consequences of turning away from God?
  2. How can we find peace in places or situations that feel desolate or abandoned?
  3. In what ways can we see God's hand at work in times of judgment and restoration?
  4. What lessons can we learn from the imagery of flocks resting in forsaken cities?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 17:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The cities of Aroer are forsaken,.... The inhabitants of them being slain, or carried captive, or obliged to flee.

Read John Gill on Isaiah 17 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. The cities of Aroer - i:e., the cities round about Aroer, and under its jurisdiction (Gesenius).

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 17 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The cities of Aroer; of that part of Syria called Aroer, from a great city of that name; of which see 3:12. These cities were possessed by the Reubenites and Gadites, whom Tiglath-pileser carried into captivity, . These he mentions here, as he doth Ephraim in the next verse, because they were confederate with Syria against Judah. None shall make them afraid, because the land shall be desolate, and destitute of men who might disturb them.

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 17 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 17:2 The cities of Aroer [are] forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.Ver. 2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken,] i.e., The country beyond Jordan is desolated and depopulated - the Gadites and the Reubenites being also, together with the Syrians, carried captive by Tiglathpileser.

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 17 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 2. The cities of Aroer are forsaken - "The cities are deserted for ever"] What has Aroer on the river Arnon to do with Damascus? and if there be another Aroer on the northern border of the tribe of Gad, as Reland seems to think there might be, this is not much more to the purpose. Besides, the cities of Aroer, if Aroer itself is a city, makes no good sense. The Septuagint, for ערער aroer, read עדי עד adey ad, ειςτοναιωνα, for ever, or for a long duration. The Chaldee takes the word for a verb from ערה arah, translating it חרבו cherebu, devastabuntur, "they shall be wasted." The Syriac read עדועיר adoeir. So that the reading is very doubtful. I follow the Septuagint as making the…

Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 17 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. The cities of Aroer] Hardly, “the (two) cities Aroer” (gen. of appos.), as a name for the trans-Jordanic territory. If Aroer be really a proper name, the phrase must be explained by the analogy of Jos 13:17 “the daughter cities of A.” But where was Aroer? The best-known town of the name, that on the Arnon (Numbers 32:34; Deuteronomy 2:36, &c.), is much too far south and belonged to Moab. There seems to have been another in Ammon (Joshua 13:25), but it too is outside the territory of Damascus and can scarcely have been important enough to give its name to a district. We must either assume an unknown Aroer in Syria, or take the word in an appellative sense (“the ruined cities are…

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 17 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The cities of Aroer - By “Aroer” here seems to be meant a tract or region of country pertaining to Damascus, in which were situated several cities.

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 17 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

2. Cities of Aroer — Cities round about “Aroer,” and under its jurisdiction. (Gesenius.) Aroer was a small territory not far south from Damascus.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 17 →

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The cities of Aroer are forsaken. They will be for flocks, which shall lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The cities of Aroer are abandoned. They will be used for herds, which will lie down there in peace.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The cities of Aroer shall be forsaken: they shall be for the flockes: for they shall lye there, and none shall make them afraide.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks; and they shall lie down and there shall be none to make them afraid.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Forsaken are the cities of Aroer, For droves they are, and they have lain down, And there is none troubling.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The cities of Aroer are forsaken, || They are for droves, and they have lain down, || And there is none troubling.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Forsaken are the cities of 'Aro'er: they shall be [given up] to flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The cities of Aroer will be abandoned. They will be places for flocks to lie down, and no one will frighten them.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The cities of Aroer shall be left for flocks, and they shall rest there, and there shall be none to make them afraid.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The towns of Aroer will be abandoned. Flocks will live in the streets and rest there, because there won't be anyone to chase them away.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Her towns are unpeopled for ever; there the flocks take their rest in peace, without fear.

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.

clauseverbעֲזֻב֖וֹת[will.be].abandonednoun phrase · subjectעָרֵ֣יthe.citiesעֲרֹעֵ֑רof.Aroerclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַforעֲדָרִ֣יםflocksverbתִּֽהְיֶ֔ינָהthey.will.beוְandclauseverbרָבְצ֖וּthey.will.lie.downוְandclausepredicateאֵ֥יןthere.[will].not.[be]subjectמַחֲרִֽיד[one.who].terrifies

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Qisaa agree in wording, affirming the state of abandonment of Aroer. The Septuagint, however, presents a different word order and lacks a complete match with the Hebrew.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

עֲזֻב֖וֹת עָרֵ֣י עֲרֹעֵ֑ר לַעֲדָרִ֣ים תִּֽהְיֶ֔ינָה וְרָבְצ֖וּ וְאֵ֥ין מַחֲרִֽיד׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
עֲזֻב֖וֹתκαταλελειμμένηלַעֲדָרִ֣יםεἰςוְאֵ֥יןοὐκ

3 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Qisaaa copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

עזובות ערי עורערו לעדרים תהינה ורבצו ואין מחריד

8 words on the leather.

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.

Isaiah 17:2עָזַב[will be] a[will be] abandעָזַבעִיר[the] citie[the] cities ofעִירעֲרֹעֵרAroerAroerעֲרֹעֵרעֵ֫דֶרfor flocksfor flocksעֵ֫דֶרהָיָהthey will bthey will beהָיָהרָבַץand they wiand they will lרָבַץאַ֫יִןand there nand there notאַ֫יִןחָרַד[will be on[will be one whחָרַדעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּרעָדַרto helpto helpעָדַרעֲרוֹעֵרjuniperjuniperעֲרוֹעֵרהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאאַ֫יִןwhere?where?אַ֫יִןרָבַץto stretchto stretchרָבַץנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַדחֶשְׁבּוֹןHeshbonHeshbonחֶשְׁבּוֹןשָׂפָהlipslipsשָׂפָהנָוֶהpasturepastureנָוֶהעֵ֫דֶרflockflockעֵ֫דֶרכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹשָׁאַןto restto restשָׁאַן
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 17:2

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.

[will be] abandoned [the] cities of Aroer for flocks they will be and they will lie down and there not [will be one who] terrifies
עֲזֻב֖וֹתa.zu.Vot [will be] abandoned H5800 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine plural
215× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Forsaken means to loosen or relinquish something, often implying abandonment. In the Bible, the word appears in Psalm 22:1, where David cries out to God, saying my God, why have you forsaken me. The term signifies a sense of desperation and isolation.
Amplified meaning
abandoned, left to decay
Tyndale gloss
Forsaken
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָזַב (azab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to leave, forsake, or let loose. It encompasses a range of actions from abandoning or neglecting to setting free. The entries suggest it can also imply restoration or repair, though this aspect is less emphasized. Notably, the term can describe both active and passive states, such as being forsaken or deserted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָזַב 213 vb. leave, forsake, loose

Qal

leave, c. acc.

leave, abandon, forsake

let loose, set free, let go

Niph.

be left to

be forsaken, of house of God

Pu. (or Qal pass.) be deserted, of city

base

[עָזַב] vb. restore, repair (?);—Qal Ne 3:8

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5800a עָזַב leave, forsake, loose .. leave, c. acc.

. leave, abandon, forsake

. let loose, set free, let go

. . be left to

. be forsaken, of house of God

. (or Qal pass.) be deserted, of city

H5800b עָזַב restore, repair(?)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5800 `azab aw-zab'

a primitive root; to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit,

etc.:--commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave

(destitute, off), refuse, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: forsake.

1) to leave, loose, forsake

1a) (Qal) to leave

1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone

1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise

1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be left to

1b2) to be forsaken

1c) (Pual) to be deserted

עָזַב (a.zav) — to restore.

1) to restore, repair

1a) (Qal) to repair

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: release.

1) to leave, loose, forsake

1a) (Qal) to leave

1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone

1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise

1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be left to

1b2) to be forsaken

1c) (Pual) to be deserted

עָזַב (a.zav) — Forsaken.

This name means to restore, repair

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: neglect.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine plural
HVqsfpa
[will be] abandoned [the] cities of Aroer for flocks they will be and they will lie down and there not [will be one who] terrifies
עָרֵ֣י'a.Rei [the] cities of H5892 Noun common · masculine plural construct
1,090× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
towns, settlements
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)

{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a

watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or

post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

[will be] abandoned [the] cities of Aroer for flocks they will be and they will lie down and there not [will be one who] terrifies
עֲרֹעֵ֑ר'a.ro.'Er Aroer H6177 Noun proper
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Aroer is a place name in the Bible, referring to three different locations in or near Palestine. The name means ruins, and it is mentioned in the book of Joshua. This place was significant in biblical times.
Amplified meaning
a place of ruins
Tyndale gloss
Aroer
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֲרֹעֵר (Aroer) refers to a city name meaning "ruins". It denotes three locations: one on the northern bank of the Arnon River, another near Rabbah in Ammon, and a third in southern Judah. The entries suggest a geographical significance in the context of ancient Israelite territory.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֲרֹעֵר 10, עֲרוֹעֵר 5, עַרְעֹר 1 n.pr.loc.

city on N. bank of Arnon, S. limit of E. Jordan Isr.

city near Rabbah in Ammon

city in S. Judah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6177 עֲרֹעֵר, עֲרוֹעֵר, עַרְעֹר . city on N. bank of Arnon, S. limit of E. Jordan Isr.

. city near Rabbah in Ammon

. city in S. Judah

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6177 `Arow`er ar-o-ayr'

or `Aro`er {ar-o-ayr'}; or `Ar`owr {ar-ore'}; the same as

6176; nudity of situation; Aroer, the name of three places in

or near Palestine:--Aroer.

see HEBREW for 06176

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֲרֹעֵר (a.ro.er) — Aroer.

Aroer = "ruins"

a city in Ammon near the Jabbok belonging to Gad

Also named: a.ro.e.ri (עֲרֹעֵרִי "Aroerite" H6200)

עֲרֹעֵר (a.ro.er) — Aroer.

§ Aroer = "ruins"

a city on the north bank of the river Arnon, the southern point of the territory of Sihon the king of the Amorites and later of Reuben; modern 'Arair'

עֲרֹעֵר (a.ro.er) — Aroer.

§ Aroer = "ruins"

a town in southern Judah

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-ro'-er (`aro'er; Aroer):

(1) A city of the Amorites which stood on the northern edge of the Arnon (De 2:36, etc.). Taken by Israel, it shared the vicissitudes of the country north of the river, and when last named (Jer 48:19) is again in the hands of Moab. It is one of the cities which Mesha claims to have built, i.e. fortified. It was within the territory allotted to Reuben, yet its building (fortification) is attributed to Gad (Nu 32:34). Thus far came the Syrian, Hazael, in his raid upon Israel (2Ki 10:33). The Roman road across the valley lay about an hour to the West of Khirbet `Ara`ir.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Aroer

Ruins. (1.) A town on the north bank of the Arnon (Deut. 4:48; Judg. 11:26; 2 Kings 10:33), the southern boundary of the kingdom of Sihon (Josh. 12:2). It is now called Arair, 13 miles west of the Dead Sea.

(2.) One of the towns built by the tribe of Gad (Num. 32:34) “before Rabbah” (Josh. 13:25), the Ammonite capital. It was famous in the history of Jephthah (Judg. 11:33) and of David (2 Sam. 24:5). (Comp.

(ruins). A city on the torrent Arnon, the southern point of the territory of Sihon king of the Amorites and afterwards of the tribe of Reuben, (2:36; 3:12; 4:48; Joshua 12:2; 13:9,16; Judges 11:26; 2 Kings 10:33; 1 Chronicles 5:8) but later again in possession of Moab. (Jeremiah 48:19) It is the modern Ara’ir , upon the very edge of the precipitous north bank of the Wady Mojeb . Aroer, "that is ’facing’ Rahbah" (Rabbah of Ammon), a town built by and belonging to Gad. (Numbers 32:34; Joshua 13:25;

1. An ancient city on the north side of the Arnon, in the southern border of the tribe of Reuben, De 2:36 4:48 Jos 13:9. It was in the territory of the Amorites, Jos 12:2, but seems to have fallen at a later day into the hands of Moab, Jer 48:19. See ARNON.

2. A town in the tribe of God, probably east of Rabbath-Ammon, Jos 13:25, and perhaps on the Jabbok, 2Sa 24:5. It is mentioned in Jud 11:33

[will be] abandoned [the] cities of Aroer for flocks they will be and they will lie down and there not [will be one who] terrifies
לַעֲדָרִ֣יםla.'a.da.Rim for flocks H5739 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A flock refers to a group of animals, like sheep or cattle, that are herded together. In the Bible, it can also mean a herd or a drove of animals. This term is used to describe various scenes in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
herds, groups of animals
Tyndale gloss
flock
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵ֫דֶר (eder) refers to a flock or herd of animals. It is derived from a root meaning to arrange or muster, indicating a gathering of livestock. The term encompasses both flocks and herds, highlighting its use in contexts related to groups of animals.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵ֫דֶר n.m. flock, herd

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5739 עֵ֫דֶר flock, herd

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5739 `eder ay'-der

from 5737; an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals):--drove,

flock, herd.

see HEBREW for 05737

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵ֫דֶר (e.der) — flock.

1) flock, herd

1a) flock

1b) herds, flocks and herds

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HR/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See SHEEP.

[will be] abandoned [the] cities of Aroer for flocks they will be and they will lie down and there not [will be one who] terrifies
תִּֽהְיֶ֔ינָהtih.Yei.nah they will be H1961 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine plural
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Amplified meaning
given over, entrusted
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine plural
HVqi3fp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

[will be] abandoned [the] cities of Aroer for flocks they will be and they will lie down and there not [will be one who] terrifies
וְרָבְצ֖וּve.ra.ve.Tzu and they will lie down H7257 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
30× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To stretch or lie down, like an animal, and can imply resting or lurking, as in Exodus 23:5.
Amplified meaning
rest, stretch out
Tyndale gloss
to stretch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָבַץ (rabats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out or lie down. It encompasses actions like reclining, brooding, or lurking, and can imply causing something to lie down as well. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal and Hiphil, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָבַץ vb. stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out

Qal lie down, lie

Hiph. cause to lie down, or lie

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7257 רָבַץ stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7257 rabats raw-bats'

a primitive root; to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a

recumbent animal); be implication, to recline, repose, brood,

lurk, imbed:--crouch (down), fall down, make a fold, lay,

(cause to, make to) lie (down), make to rest, sit.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָבַץ (ra.vats) — to stretch.

1) to stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out

1a) (Qal) to lie down, lie

1b)(Hiphil) to cause to lie down

1b1) laying (stones)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vqq3cp
[will be] abandoned [the] cities of Aroer for flocks they will be and they will lie down and there not [will be one who] terrifies
וְאֵ֥יןve.'Ein and there not H369 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
789× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Amplified meaning
nothing, none
Tyndale gloss
nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought

to nothing, as nothing

cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

in circumst. clauses

with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

with prefixes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing

. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

. in circumst. clauses

. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

. with prefixes

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

369 'ayin ah'-yin

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not

exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative

particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,

in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,

thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),

well-nigh, without. Compare 370.

see HEBREW for 0370

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.

1) nothing, not, nought n

1a) nothing, nought neg

1b) not

1c) to have not (of possession) adv

1d) without w/prep

1e) for lack of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
[will be] abandoned [the] cities of Aroer for flocks they will be and they will lie down and there not [will be one who] terrifies
מַחֲרִֽיד׃ma.cha.Rid [will be one who] terrifies H2729 Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
39× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to tremble with fear or anxiety, like when the Israelites trembled at Mount Sinai. It can also mean to hasten or be careful. In the Bible, it appears in Exodus and other books.
Amplified meaning
make them afraid, terrorize them
Tyndale gloss
to tremble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָרַד (charad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tremble or be terrified. It encompasses a range of meanings, including trembling of both people and mountains, being anxiously careful, and causing others to tremble, particularly in the context of driving an army in terror. The entries suggest a strong emphasis on fear and anxiety.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָרַד vb. tremble, be terrified

Qal

tremble, quake

tremble, of persons

be anxiously careful

with preps. pregn. = go or come trembling

Hiph. drive in terror, rout as army

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2729 חָרַד tremble, be terrified .. tremble, quake

. tremble, of persons

. be anxiously careful

. with preps. pregn. = go or come trembling

. drive in terror, rout as army

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2729 charad khaw-rad'

a primitive root; to shudder with terror; hence, to fear;

also to hasten (with anxiety):--be (make) afraid, be careful,

discomfit, fray (away), quake, tremble.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרַד (cha.rad) — to tremble.

1) to tremble, quake, move about, be afraid, be startled, be terrified

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tremble, quake (of a mountain)

1a2) to tremble (of people)

1a3) to be anxiously careful

1a4) to go or come trembling (with prep)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to tremble

1b2) to drive in terror, rout (an army)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
HVhrmsa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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