Hebrew word · H6145

עָר

'areikha

enemy

Enemy, adversary. Found in Biblical Hebrew only here and in 1 Sam 28:16 ("has become your enemy"). It is the ordinary word in Aramaic (Dan 4:19 [4:16 in Aramaic numbering]).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

enemy, adversary, foe

Aramaic equivalent: ar (עָר "foe" H6146)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Psalm 139:20

Range of meaning

Enemy, adversary. Found in Biblical Hebrew only here and in 1 Sam 28:16 ("has become your enemy"). It is the ordinary word in Aramaic (Dan 4:19 [4:16 in Aramaic numbering]).

Against the English

English "enemies" is accurate. The rarity of the word is what matters for scholars.

Used elsewhere in the period

1 Sam 28:16; the Aramaic of Dan 4:19. The Septuagint read the same consonants as עָרִים, "cities" ("they will take your cities in vain").

From the study of 1 Samuel 28:16

Range of meaning

Adversary, opponent, enemy. It is very rare in Hebrew: here, and possibly Ps 139:20, whose text is debated. The same word appears in Aramaic (Dan 4:19 [Eng. 4:19, Aram. 4:16], 'your adversaries'). It is usually taken as an Aramaic loanword, parallel to the common Hebrew tsar, 'foe'.

Against the English

'Enemy' (KJV, BSB, NIV, YLT) and 'adversary' (WEB) both fit. 'Adversary' or 'opponent' brings out the battlefield setting, where Yahweh is on the opposing side. 'Enemy' can suggest personal hatred, which the word does not especially stress.

Used elsewhere in the period

Aramaic Dan 4:19 (Theodotion-type Greek and later versions understand 'your enemies'). BDB and HALOT list it as an adversary-word with Aramaic links. The Septuagint did not read it here and instead has 'with your neighbour'.

Where it appears

1 Samuel · 1

  1. 1 Samuel 28:16 עָרֶֽךָ׃ enemy your

    “Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?

    Here: 'Your adversary, your opponent.' This is a rare word, probably borrowed from Aramaic. With the Philistines lined up against Saul (v. 15), the point is that Yahweh now stands among the forces opposed to him. The Greek translation reads 'with your neighbour' here instead (see textual notes).

Psalms · 1

  1. Psalm 139:20 עָרֶֽיךָ׃ enemies your

    who speak of You deceitfully; Your enemies take Your name in vain.

    Here: "Your enemies": a rare word, best known from Aramaic. Putting it last in the line leaves the speakers unnamed until the end, and then reveals them as God's enemies, not only the psalmist's.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.