What is the current interpretation of "‘arob", or "עָרוֹב"?

Question

Wikipedia says that the meaning of the phrase "‘arob", or "עָרוֹב", is disputed.

I have always been taught it as "flies" - and that's the word used by the NIVUK translation of Exodus 8:21. In the so-called Orthodox Jewish Bible, Shemot 8:21 it simply uses "arov", and in the so-called Complete Jewish Bible, Sh'mot 8:17 it says "swarms of insects".

Has there been any more recent interpretation of the word?

@DoubleAA I was kinda hoping for a more modern look at this - has anything changed in 4 years? — Tim, Apr 02 '18 at 17:22
@Shmuel since the CJB (1998) apparently. See also the OP's comment just above. — msh210, Apr 02 '18 at 18:36
Btw, the "Orthodox Jewish Bible" is not Orthodox at all. It's a Messianic publication guising as something Jewish (again)... — ezra, Apr 02 '18 at 20:53
@Tim I’m pretty sure nothing’s changed about it in over 3300 years. — DonielF, Apr 02 '18 at 20:54

ezra · Answer 1 · 2018-04-02T20:54:28.740

-1

Jastrow, in accordance with the most common interpretation (as brought from the Midrash, for instance), translates the word עָרוֹב as "various kinds of wild beasts".

He does mention the possibilty of the word meaning "gadfly".

edited Apr 02 '18 at 20:54

answered Apr 02 '18 at 17:42

ezra

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The question was "Has there been any more recent interpretation of the word?". I don't see how this answers that. – msh210 Apr 02 '18 at 18:24
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"the traditional Rabbinic interpretation" is there only one traditional Rabbinic interpretation? – Double AA Apr 02 '18 at 18:53
@DoubleAA *most common interpretation ^ See edit – ezra Apr 02 '18 at 20:54
Most common among what? Contemporary Jewish kindergartners? Rishonim? – Double AA Apr 02 '18 at 20:57

What is the current interpretation of "‘arob", or "עָרוֹב"?

1 Answers1