Question on Exodus 8 the 4th plague

[LittleLambofJesus]

Shalom all. I am working on the 10 plagues of "Egypt" and have a question about the Hebrew word 06137 'arob used in the 4th plague.

This is very important to me and what I would like to ask is if it could be similar to a type of Scorpion, as it appears similar to the Hebrew word 06137 `aqrab
Thanks for any help on this. Shalom.
Steve.

http://www.scripture4all.org/ (http://www.scripture4all.org/)

Exodus 8:21 That if is no you sending away the people of Me, behold Me! sending in you and they servants and in thy people and in thy houses, the swarm/6157 `arob.
And houses of 04714 Mitsrayim are full of the swarm/6157 `arob, and even the ground which they are on her.
22` And I distinquish in day, the-that, the land of Goshen which My people standing on her so as not to become there, swarm, so that you shall know that I, YHWH, within the Land.

6157 `arob aw-robe' from 6148 (http://www.eliyah.com/cgi-bin/strongs.cgi?file=hebrewlexicon&isindex=6148); a mosquito (from its swarming):--divers sorts of flies, swarm.

06137 `aqrab {ak-rawb'} of uncertain derivation; TWOT - 1683; n m
AV - scorpion 6; 6
1) scorpion

[debi b]

There are numerous ideas on the meaning of this word. When there are so many ideas I tend to just transliterate it.

And Hashem did so; and there came arov heavy into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt; the land was devastated from the presence of the arov.

There are those who also understand this to be "wild beasts".

[Lulav]

I've never heard of scorpions being referred to as a swarm. I should think that something that 'can' swarm would mean it has wings.

A large number of insects or other small organisms, especially when in motion.Although I guess it can be of th mammalian order.

An aggregation of persons or animals, especially when in turmoil or moving in mass: A swarm of friends congratulated him.Although I am not sure how archaic that definition is.

It may not be definitive of the species but rather of the amount as in:
To move or gather in large numbersIt is best to let the word used elsewhere help to define it.

Here in Judges it does refer to flying insects:

14:8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.In Psalms it seems it defines what kind of swarm

105:31He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts. Flies and lice are specified here, whereas they were assumed in the Exodus verse. AFAIK, lice don't fly, so it may best be defined as a large moving gathering of pests or pestilence.

Have you done a comparison from the Septuagint with the NT writings, which I assume you are making a comparison with?

[theguitardood]

It's my understanding that the ten plagues were in direct relation to ten of the Egyptian gods, and number 4 was an attack on Khepri, the god of the beetle (Dung beetle, actually).

ערב Arov is interesting because it looks like it could be related to various words (Evening, pleasant, Arabia, etc.) but take away the ayin at the beginning, and you're left with רב rav, or rov which means many, much, abundance, vast, etc. explaining the whole swarm idea.

[ChavaK]

All the texts I use refer to it as "wild animals". There does not
seem to be a clear cut answer; it appears rabbis have been
arguing forever about whether it means "wild animals" or
"insects". Most currently accept the "wild animals" translation
however.
This probably is not answering your questions at all, but
here's an interesting article discussing the issue:

www.bib-arch.org/bswb_BR/bswbbr1902f2.html

[LittleLambofJesus]

http://www.scripture4all.org/ (http://www.scripture4all.org/)

Exodus 8:21 That if is no you sending away the people of Me, behold Me! sending in you and they servants and in thy people and in thy houses, the swarm/6157 `arob. (http://www.scripture4all.org/)
There are numerous ideas on the meaning of this word. When there are so many ideas I tend to just transliterate it.

There are those who also understand this to be "wild beasts".Thanks for all your replies and there is a reason I am asking about this. The first 3 plagues seems to have hit both the egyptians and israelites while the 4th is the one YHWH brings on just the egyptian people.

Ezekiel 2:6 is an interesting passage as YHWH also refers to scorpions. Any idea who this is being symbolized as? Thanks and shalom.

Ezekiel 2:6 And thou, son of adam, must not be thou shall fear from them, and from words of them must not be thou are fearing.
That nettles and palm-thorns among thee and to scorpions/06137 `aqrab thou are dwelling, from words of them must not thou be fearing, and from faces of them must not be thou are being dismayed, that a house of rebellion they.

6157 `arob aw-robe' from 6148 (http://www.eliyah.com/cgi-bin/strongs.cgi?file=hebrewlexicon&isindex=6148); a mosquito (from its swarming):--divers sorts of flies, swarm.

06137 `aqrab {ak-rawb'} of uncertain derivation; TWOT - 1683; n m
AV - scorpion 6; 6
1) scorpion

[ContentInHim]

I just read today that the swarms were mixed - snakes with mosquitos, lions with fleas, etc. That's why they were so horrible and horrifying. :eek:

[Lulav]

I just read today that the swarms were mixed - snakes with mosquitos, lions with fleas, etc. That's why they were so horrible and horrifying. :eek:
Where did you read that? :)

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by ContentInHim http://www3.christianforums.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://christianforums.com/showthread.php?p=41625383#post41625383) I just read today that the swarms were mixed - snakes with mosquitos, lions with fleas, etc. That's why they were so horrible and horrifying. :eek:
All the texts I use refer to it as "wild animals". There does not
seem to be a clear cut answer; it appears rabbis have been
arguing forever about whether it means "wild animals" or
"insects". Most currently accept the "wild animals" translation
however.
This probably is not answering your questions at all, but
here's an interesting article discussing the issue:

www.bib-arch.org/bswb_BR/bswbbr1902f2.html (http://www.bib-arch.org/bswb_BR/bswbbr1902f2.html)Shalom ChavaK. Sounds a lot like our Christian "rabbis" trying to explain these nasty little critters shown in the Book of Revelation.
Sounds like the makings of a good Sci-Fi movie. :D

Luke 10:19 Behold. I give unto you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions/skorpiwn <4651>, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means injure you.

Reve 9:3 And out of the smoke came-out locusts into the land, and was given to them authority, as are having authority the scorpions of the land,
5 And was given to them that not they should be killing them, but that they should be being tormented months, five. And the torment of them as torment of a scorpion/skorpiou <4651>, whenever it should be striking a man;
10 and they are having tails like unto scorpions, andstingers/kentra <2759>, and in the tails of themthe authority of them to injure the men five months.
19 for the Authority of the horses/M is in the Mouth of them, and in the Tails of them, for the tails/F of them/M like to serpents/M, having heads/F, and in them/F they are injuring;