BIBLE HEBREW WORD STUDY
Erev (עֶרֶב) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Erev (עֶרֶב, H6153) is a Hebrew noun meaning dusk or evening, marking the close of each day in the Genesis creation account.
Meaning of the word
Erev (עֶרֶב) is a Hebrew noun that denotes dusk or evening — the time when daylight fades into night. The supplied lexicon entry defines the term simply as 'dusk.'
The form עֶ֥רֶב with the accent mark shown in the Genesis verses is the same word appearing in context as the gloss 'evening.' It refers to a specific point in the daily cycle: the transition from day to night.
In Hebrew, erev pairs naturally with boqer (בֹּקֶר, 'morning') to frame a complete day. The two terms together form the standard Hebrew idiom for a 24-hour period, beginning with evening and ending with morning.
Usage in Scripture
All six example verses come from the creation narrative in Genesis 1. After each day's work is described, the text states 'there was evening (עֶרֶב) and there was morning,' closing out day one (1:5), day two (1:8), day three (1:13), day four (1:19), day five (1:23), and day six (1:31).
In every instance erev functions the same way: it marks the end of one day and the beginning of the next in the Hebrew reckoning of time, framing each day as evening-then-morning rather than midnight-to-midnight.
The word in detail
- H6153 Lexicon gloss: 'dusk.' Occurs 6 times in the supplied data, all in Genesis 1, where it is paired with 'morning' (boqer) to mark the close of each of the first six days of creation.
Example verses
- Genesis 1:5 First use of erev: closes day one of creation with 'evening and morning.'
- Genesis 1:13 Closes the third day; shows the fixed formula repeated across the creation week.
- Genesis 1:19 Closes the fourth day, after the sun, moon, and stars are set in the firmament.
- Genesis 1:31 Closes the sixth day, after God sees all that He has made and calls it 'very good.'
Common questions
What does erev (H6153) literally mean?
According to the supplied lexicon, erev means 'dusk.' In context it is rendered as 'evening,' the period when daylight fades into night.
Why is erev always paired with 'morning' in Genesis 1?
Together with boqer ('morning'), erev forms the standard Hebrew way of marking a single day. Each of the first six days closes with 'evening and morning,' giving the creation week a structured rhythm.
Does erev refer to a duration or a point in time?
In Genesis 1 it marks the end of each day — the transition point when evening arrives — and then the new day proceeds until morning. The term highlights a boundary moment rather than a long period.