Arab

by Brad Scott

The word arab comes from the Hebrew word 'arav ערב. This is not only a fascinating study, but is loaded with insightful meanings. This root word literally means to "mix a substance", or to "penetrate with foreign matter". This word is used to express mingling or mixing.

Miz^emor (Psalm) 106:35But were mingled among the nations and learned their works.

One of the major cognates of this word is 'erev ערב. This is the word for evening. The evening begins as a mixture of light and darkness. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt in Sh^emot (Exodus) 12:38, they came out with a group of people called the 'erev rav, or the "mixed multitude". The mixed multitude came out along side the children of Israel. The strangers and sojourners who put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts were one with the homeborn, the children of Israel, according to Sh^emot 12:48-51. This pattern is consistent the rest of scripture. YHVH hates a mix, so this is why He always makes two things one. A Gentile, or goy cannot enter the congregation of Israel and remain a goy. This is a mix. One day there will be no more evening, no more mixing.

Z^ekar^eyah (Zechariah) 14:7But it shall be one day which shall be known to YHVH, not day, nor night; but it shall come to pass that at evening time, it shall be light.

Shalom Alecheim! ◊