Lexical Summary arits: Terrifying, ruthless, mighty, oppressive Original Word: עָרִיץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mighty, oppressor, in great power, strong, terrible, violent From arats; fearful, i.e. Powerful or tyrannical -- mighty, oppressor, in great power, strong, terrible, violent. see HEBREW arats NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom arats Definition awe-inspiring, terror-striking NASB Translation dread (1), most ruthless (2), ruthless (6), ruthless men (1), ruthless ones (1), tyrant (1), tyrants (4), violent (2), violent men (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs עָרִיץ adjective awe-inspiring, terror-striking; — ׳ע of ׳י, כְּגִבּוֺר עָרִיץ Jeremiah 20:11; plural as substantive עָרִיצִים, in bad sense of formidable adversaries, personal, Jeremiah 15:21 ("" רָעִים), Job 6:23 ("" צָר), and national, Psalm 54:5 ("" זָרִים), = ׳עֲדַת ע Psalm 86:14 ("" זֵדִים), ׳הֲמוֺן ע Isaiah 29:5 ("" זָרָ֑יִח); especially of Chaldeans Isaiah 13:11, construct עָרִצֵי גוֺיִם most terrifying of the nations Ezekiel 28:7 ("" זָרִים) Ezekiel 30:11; Ezekiel 31:12 ("" זָרִים), Ezekiel 32:12; so (probably) singular עָרִיץ Isaiah 49:25 (read ׳ע also for צַדִּיק Isaiah 49:24, so Lo Ew Che Gr and others); without specific reference גּוֺיִם עָרִיצִים Isaiah 25:3 awe-inspiring nations (Du Che take ׳ע as substantive), ׳רִוּחַ ע Isaiah 25:4 (strike out as gloss Di and others), ׳זְמִיר ע Isaiah 25:5 (strike out verse as gloss Du Che); late, of wicked in General, as ruthless ׳רָאִיתִי רָשָׁע ע Psalm 37:35 I have seen a wicked man ruthless; as substantive, Isaiah 29:20 ("" לֵץ), Job 15:20 ("" רשׁע), plural Job 27:13 ("" id.), Proverbs 11:16; read also עָרִיצִ(יםׅ Isaiah 11:4 (for ᵑ0 אֶרֶץ), so Che BrMP Du Gr and others ("" רָשָׁע). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery עָרִיץ (ʾārîts) evokes dread, violence, and arrogant power. Whether used of a single oppressor or a conquering army, it paints a portrait of those who crush the vulnerable and exalt themselves above God and man. Canonical Distribution The term occurs twenty times, spanning Wisdom Literature (Job, Psalms, Proverbs) and the Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel). The wide spread underscores that ruthless tyranny is a perennial human reality, met everywhere by God’s justice. Wisdom Literature: The Fragility of Ruthless Prosperity Job wrestles with the short‐lived success of oppressors. He concedes that “the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty” (Job 27:13) is ultimately ruin. Proverbs 11:16 contrasts the gentle who gain lasting honor with the ruthless who gain only wealth—fleeting and morally empty. Psalms: Prayer and Confidence amid Oppression David often faces “ruthless men” who “seek my life” (Psalm 54:3) and “have no regard for God.” Psalm 37:35 notes a “wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,” yet verse 36 records his sudden disappearance. Psalm 86:14 laments that “a band of ruthless men seeks my life,” but immediately affirms the Lord’s compassionate character. The Psalter thus transforms fear into faith, modeling prayer that names injustice yet clings to divine covenant love. Prophetic Oracles: Tyrants Exposed and Overthrown Isaiah uses the word seven times. Babylon’s fall is promised: “I will end the arrogance of the proud and humble the pride of the ruthless” (Isaiah 13:11). The eschatological banquet of Isaiah 25 is set against the silencing of ruthless nations: “For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall” (Isaiah 25:4) and “the song of the ruthless is silenced” (Isaiah 25:5). Isaiah 29:20 announces that “the ruthless will vanish.” Jeremiah receives personal assurance: “I will redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless” (Jeremiah 15:21). Even when imprisoned, he declares, “The Lord is with me like a dread warrior” (Jeremiah 20:11). Ezekiel broadens the picture, calling invading armies “the most ruthless of nations” (Ezekiel 28:7; 30:11; 31:12; 32:12), showing that God may employ one tyrant to punish another, yet will ultimately judge them all. Divine Justice and Compassion Two intertwined themes dominate: 1. God stands against every form of arrogant oppression, promising to humble the ruthless. Eschatological Horizon The silencing of the ruthless in Isaiah 25 anticipates the day when death itself is swallowed up (Isaiah 25:8). The downfall of temporal tyrannies foreshadows the final reign of righteousness in which no oppressor will stand. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Encouragement for the Persecuted: Believers facing modern tyrannies can pray the vocabulary of the Psalms, assured that ruthless power is temporary. Christological Reflection Jesus Christ embodies the antithesis of the עָרִיץ. Rejecting coercive power, He conquers through the cross, disarming “rulers and authorities” (Colossians 2:15). His promised return, depicted in Revelation 19, completes the Old Testament trajectory: every ruthless dominion will bow to the humble, slain, and risen Lamb. Key References for Study Job 6:23; 15:20; 27:13 Psalm 37:35; 54:3; 86:14 Isaiah 13:11; 25:3-5; 29:5, 20; 49:25 Jeremiah 15:21; 20:11 Ezekiel 28:7; 30:11; 31:12; 32:12 Forms and Transliterations וְ֝עָרִיצִ֗ים וְֽ֭עָרִיצִים ועריצים לֶעָרִֽיץ׃ לעריץ׃ עָ֝רִיצִ֗ים עָ֭רִיצִים עָֽרִיצִ֔ים עָֽרִיצִ֖ים עָרִ֑יץ עָרִ֔יץ עָרִ֖יץ עָרִיצִ֖ים עָרִיצִ֣ים עָרִיצֵ֖י עָרִיצֵ֣י עָרִיצֵ֥י עָרִצִֽים׃ עריץ עריצי עריצים ערצים׃ ‘ā·rî·ṣê ‘ā·ri·ṣîm ‘ā·rî·ṣîm ‘ā·rîṣ ‘ārîṣ ‘ārîṣê ‘āriṣîm ‘ārîṣîm aRitz ariTzei ariTzim le‘ārîṣ le·‘ā·rîṣ leaRitz Vearitzim wə‘ārîṣîm wə·‘ā·rî·ṣîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 6:23 HEB: צָ֑ר וּמִיַּ֖ד עָרִיצִ֣ים תִּפְדּֽוּנִי׃ NAS: me from the hand of the tyrants'? KJV: me from the hand of the mighty? INT: the enemy's the hand mighty deliver Job 15:20 Job 27:13 Psalm 37:35 Psalm 54:3 Psalm 86:14 Proverbs 11:16 Isaiah 13:11 Isaiah 25:3 Isaiah 25:4 Isaiah 25:5 Isaiah 29:5 Isaiah 29:20 Isaiah 49:25 Jeremiah 15:21 Jeremiah 20:11 Ezekiel 28:7 Ezekiel 30:11 Ezekiel 31:12 Ezekiel 32:12 20 Occurrences |
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