Original Word: עָרֹב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `arob
Pronunciation: ah-ROV
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-robe')
KJV: divers sorts of flies, swarm
NASB: swarms, swarm of flies, swarms of flies
Word Origin: [from H6148 (עָרַב - associate)]

1. a mosquito (from its swarming)

divers sorts of flies, swarm

From arab; a mosquito (from its swarming) -- divers sorts of flies, swarm.

see HEBREW arab

Word Origin
from the same as ereb
Definition
probably a swarm
NASB Translation
swarm of flies (1), swarms (7), swarms of flies (1).

עָרֹב₉ noun masculine^{Ex 8:20} probably swarm (mixture, from incessant, involved motion; Lag^{BN 112 doubts}); — of plague of stinging flies, coming in a swarm (see Di^Ex) Exodus 8:17 (twice in verse) + 5 t. 8(J), Psalm 78:45; Psalm 105:31.

Biblical Occurrences

עָרֹב appears nine times, all clustered in three passages: the narrative of the fourth Egyptian plague (Exodus 8:21–31) and the retrospective Psalms that celebrate the Exodus (Psalm 78:45; Psalm 105:31). Every use is bound to divine judgment and deliverance.

Context of the Fourth Plague (Exodus 8)

Pharaoh had hardened his heart through three prior plagues. The LORD now threatened, “If you do not let My people go, I will send swarms of flies upon you and your officials, your people, and your houses” (Exodus 8:21). The onslaught was severe—“throughout Egypt the land was ruined by swarms of flies” (Exodus 8:24)—but Goshen was spared (8:22). This deliberate distinction underscored both the covenant favor resting on Israel and the impotence of Egypt’s deities to protect their devotees.

Intertextual Echoes in the Psalms

Generations later, Israel’s worship still recalled the same event:
• “He sent swarms of flies that devoured them” (Psalm 78:45).
• “He spoke, and a swarm of flies came” (Psalm 105:31).

The Psalms transpose the historical plague into liturgical memory, reinforcing confidence that the God who once intervened will do so again.

Historical Background

Egyptian religion venerated insect-headed gods such as Khepri. By unleashing a mass of insects that brought ruin rather than protection, the LORD publicly shamed these idols. The plague also crippled daily life, disrupted sacrificial purity, and threatened Nile-based commerce, intensifying political pressure on Pharaoh.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty—Yahweh alone controls creation; what serves as a minor creature in normal times can become His instrument of judgment.
2. Covenant Distinction—Goshen’s exemption reveals the principle of substitutionary protection that climaxes in Passover and finds ultimate fulfillment at Calvary.
3. Progressive Judgment—Each plague escalates, giving Pharaoh repeated opportunities to repent, highlighting both God’s patience and His justice.
4. Reliability of Scripture—The coherence between Exodus and the Psalms testifies to unified biblical witness across centuries.

Spiritual Lessons for Ministry

• Judgment and Mercy Walk Together. Moses interceded, and “the LORD did as Moses requested, and the swarms of flies departed… not one fly remained” (Exodus 8:31). Intercession remains a vital pastoral task.
• Distinction of Holiness. Just as Israel was physically set apart, the church is called to moral separation without isolation.
• Warning Against Hardness. Pharaoh’s resolve crumbled temporarily, yet he reneged. Repeated compromises endanger the soul; leaders must instruct believers in prompt, wholehearted obedience.

Prophetic and Eschatological Resonances

The trumpet and bowl judgments in Revelation depict ecological upheavals reminiscent of the Exodus plagues. The historical עָרֹב foreshadows the end-time pattern: targeted judgments distinguishing the redeemed from the rebellious.

Christological Foreshadowing

While the fourth plague is not directly messianic, it participates in the broader Exodus motif that prefigures redemption in Jesus Christ. The separation between Egypt and Goshen anticipates the Passover lamb whose blood shields from wrath, a type fulfilled in the cross.

Application for the Church Today

• Proclaim Deliverance: Preaching should remind believers that the God who mastered the insects of Egypt still delivers from spiritual bondage.
• Foster Remembrance: Corporate worship, like the Psalms, must rehearse God’s past acts to strengthen present faith.
• Cultivate Ecclesial Distinctiveness: Just as Goshen was preserved, the church is to shine in purity amid a decaying world, offering hope to those yet outside the covenant.

הֶ֣עָרֹ֔ב הֶעָרֹ֑ב הֶעָרֹ֔ב הֶעָרֹ֗ב הֶעָרֹֽב׃ הערב הערב׃ עָ֭רֹב עָרֹ֑ב עָרֹ֣ב ערב ‘ā·rōḇ ‘ārōḇ aRo he‘ārōḇ he·‘ā·rōḇ heaRoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts