Boy Old Testament Rare
Arba
four
אַרְבַּע ar.ba
Arba (Hebrew: אַרְבַּע, ar.ba) means “four”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Judges period. In 1938 it was given to 5 children in the United States. Use is long out of use. Appears in the same passages as Ahiman.
Which Arba?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
-
Arba
father of Anak
-
Arba
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 4 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Judges
Using it today
Based on 1938 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 1938 | 5 | Long out of use |
| All-time total | 63 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 11 in 1916 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Joshua 12:24 |
| Last appears | Joshua 21:11 |
| Cross-references | 60 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Anak co-occurrence Appears with Anak in Joshua 15.
- Jephunneh co-occurrence Appears with Jephunneh in Joshua 15.
- Caleb co-occurrence Appears with Caleb in Joshua 15.
- Eshtemoa co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Eshtemoa.
- Bohan co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Bohan.
- Jobab co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Jobab.
- Kenaz co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Kenaz.
- Sheshai co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Sheshai.
Origin & meaning
A man of the Anakim, living before Israel's Monarchy., first mentioned at Jos.14.15
§ Arba = "fourth"
1) the father of Anak and the greatest of the giants (Anakim)
2) see qir.yat ar.ba (קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע "Kiriath-arba" H7153) if translated "city of Arba"
Arba was the father of Anak and the namesake of Kiriath-arba, which was the former name of Hebron.
The biblical story
Arba is mentioned in the book of Joshua as the father of Anak and the namesake of Kiriath-arba, which was the former name of the city of Hebron. Hebron was a significant city in the hill country of Judah, later assigned to Caleb as part of his inheritance. The text states that Hebron's former name was Kiriath-arba, which means "the city of Arba." Arba is described as the greatest man among the Anakim, a group of people known for their large stature and strength. The Anakim were descendants of Anak and were considered a formidable enemy by the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan. The renaming of the city from Kiriath-arba to Hebron marks a significant shift in the region's history as the Israelites claimed the land promised to them by God. Apart from this mention in Joshua, no further information is provided about Arba himself in the biblical text.
Key verses
Arba appears in 3 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath–arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14:15 -
And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.
Joshua 15:13 -
And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
Joshua 21:11
Show all 3 references
Joshua (3)
- Joshua 14:15
- Joshua 15:13
- Joshua 21:11