Original Word: אוֹב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: owb
Pronunciation: ohb
Phonetic Spelling: (obe)
Definition: Medium, necromancer, spiritist, ghost, familiar spirit
Meaning: a mumble, a water skin, a necromancer

bottle, familiar spirit

From the same as 'ab (apparently through the idea of prattling a father's name); properly, a mumble, i.e. A water skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar) -- bottle, familiar spirit.

see HEBREW 'ab

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a bottle (made from animal skin), a necromancer
NASB Translation
medium (2), medium* (3), mediums (9), spirit (1), wineskins (1).

אוֺב noun masculine^{Job 32:19} skin-bottle, necromancer, etc. — absolute ׳א Leviticus 20:27 8t.; plural אֹבוֺת Leviticus 19:31 7t. —

1 skin-bottle, only plural אֹבוֺת חֲדָשִׁים new (wine-) skins Job 32:19.

2 necromancer, in phrase אוֺב אוֺ יִדְּעֹנִי necromancer or wizard Leviticus 20:27 (H; usually translated 'a man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit or that is a wizard' RV; but better a man or a woman, if there should be among them, a necromancer or wizard; no sufficient reason for exceptional use of phrase here); וְיִדְּעֹנִי ׳א Deuteronomy 18:11; 2Chronicles 33:6 = 2 Kings 21:6 (where וידענים ׳א); הָאֹבוֺת וְהַיִּדְּעֹנִים Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6 (H) 1 Samuel 28:3,9; 2 Kings 23:24; Isaiah 8:19 (where repres. as chirping & muttering, in practice of their art of seeking dead for instruction, probably ventriloquism, & so ᵐ5) Isaiah 19:3.

3 ghost, Isaiah 29:4 וְהָיָה כְּאוֺב מֵאֶרֶץ קוֺלֵח וּמֵעָפָר אִמְרָתֵח תְּצַפְצֵף and thy voice shall be as a ghost from the ground and from the dust thy speech shall chirp (so Ge MV Ew De Che and others, but chirping might be of necromancer, as Isaiah 8:19).

4 necromancy אֵשֶׁת בַּעֲלַתאֿוֺב a woman who was mistress of necromancy 1 Samuel 28:7 (twice in verse); (> RS^{JPh xiv, 127 f makes} אוֺב primarily a subterranean spirit, and significant. 2 only an abbreviation of ׳בעלתא etc.); קסם בּאוֺב divine by necromancy 1 Samuel 28:8, which seems to be interpretation of 1 Chronicles 10:13 ׳שׁאל בא inquire by necromancy. (In these three examples אוֺב is usually interpreted as ghost or familiar spirit conceived as dwelling in necromancer; but this apparently not the ancient conception.)

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to mumble.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Greek entry related to the concept of earth or land, which can metaphorically relate to the idea of the grave or the underworld, is Strong's Greek Number G1093: γῆ (gē). While not a direct translation of אוֹב, it reflects the broader thematic connection to the earth and the afterlife in biblical literature.

Usage: The word אוֹב appears in the Hebrew Bible in contexts related to necromancy and divination. It is often associated with forbidden practices of consulting the dead, as seen in the laws and narratives of the Old Testament.

Context: אוֹב (Ob) is a term used in the Hebrew Bible to describe individuals who act as mediums or necromancers, engaging in the practice of communicating with the dead. This practice is explicitly condemned in the Mosaic Law, as seen in passages such as Leviticus 19:31, "Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God." The term is also used in narratives, such as the account of Saul consulting the medium at Endor in 1 Samuel 28:7-8, where Saul seeks to communicate with the deceased prophet Samuel.

The word אוֹב is also metaphorically linked to a "water skin" or "bottle," possibly due to the sound produced when air is blown through it, resembling the murmuring or mumbling associated with necromantic practices. This dual meaning highlights the cultural and linguistic nuances of the term within the ancient Near Eastern context.

The practice of necromancy was widespread in the ancient world, but it was strictly prohibited for the Israelites, as it was seen as an abomination and a form of idolatry. The use of אוֹב in the Hebrew Bible serves as a reminder of the distinctiveness of Israel's covenant relationship with God, which required exclusive worship and reliance on Him alone for guidance and revelation.

א֔וֹב א֖וֹב א֛וֹב אוֹב֙ אוב בָּא֔וֹב בָּא֖וֹב באוב הָֽאֹבֹת֙ הָאֹב֖וֹת הָאֹב֣וֹת הָאֹב֥וֹת הָאֹבֹת֙ הָאֹבוֹת֙ האבות האבת כְּא֤וֹב כְּאֹב֥וֹת כאבות כאוב ’ō·wḇ ’ōwḇ bā’ōwḇ bā·’ō·wḇ baov hā’ōḇōṯ hā’ōḇōwṯ hā·’ō·ḇō·wṯ hā·’ō·ḇōṯ haOt haoVot kə’ōḇōwṯ kə’ōwḇ kə·’ō·ḇō·wṯ kə·’ō·wḇ keov keoVot ovInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts