עֶרְוָה
er.vah
nakedness
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredIn the Hebrew language, the word "er.vah" (Semantic domain: Clothing & Textile) is defined as "nakedness." This definition provides insight into the concept of modesty and exposure that was likely understood by the ancient Israelites. The fact that "er.vah" is used 54 times in the Bible highlights its significance in their cultural and social context. The definition of "nakedness" likely encompasses not only a physical lack of clothing, but also a state of vulnerability and lack of cover. This nuanced understanding is supported by the term's association with the concept of "clothing" and "textile." In various biblical contexts, "er.vah" is often linked to shame or exposure, emphasizing the social and cultural importance of concealment and modesty. The ubiquity of the term in the Bible underscores its relevance to multiple themes, including sin, punishment, and spirituality. Without further context, the extent to which "er.vah" pertains specifically to physical nakedness versus a more abstract sense of exposure is unclear, but its overall presence underscores the primacy of modesty as a value in ancient Israelite society.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
54 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
Isaiah 47:3Your nakedness will be uncovered. Yes, your shame will be seen. I will take vengeance, and will spare no one.”
Lamentations 1:8Jerusalem has grievously sinned. Therefore she has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness. Yes, she sighs, and turns backward.
Ezekiel 16:8“ ‘ “Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord Yahweh, “and you became mine.
Ezekiel 16:36‘The Lord Yahweh says, “Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered through your prostitution with your lovers; and because of all the idols of your abominations, and for the blood of your children, that you gave to them;
Ezekiel 16:37therefore see, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all those who you have loved, with all those who you have hated. I will even gather them against you on every side, and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.
Ezekiel 16:37therefore see, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all those who you have loved, with all those who you have hated. I will even gather them against you on every side, and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.
Ezekiel 22:10In you have they uncovered their fathers’ nakedness. In you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity.
Ezekiel 23:10These uncovered her nakedness. They took her sons and her daughters; and they killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women; for they executed judgments on her.
Ezekiel 23:18So she uncovered her prostitution and uncovered her nakedness. Then my soul was alienated from her, just like my soul was alienated from her sister.
Ezekiel 23:29They will deal with you in hatred, and will take away all your labor, and will leave you naked and bare. The nakedness of your prostitution will be uncovered, both your lewdness and your prostitution.
Hosea 2:9Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my new wine in its season, and will pluck away my wool and my flax which should have covered her nakedness.
Genesis 9:22Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
Genesis 9:23Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness.
Genesis 9:23Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness.
Genesis 42:9Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land.”
Genesis 42:12He said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land!”
Exodus 20:26You shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed to it.’
Exodus 28:42You shall make them linen pants to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the waist even to the thighs.
Leviticus 18:6“ ‘None of you shall approach any close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh.
Leviticus 18:7“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:7“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:7“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:8“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife. It is your father’s nakedness.
Leviticus 18:8“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife. It is your father’s nakedness.
Leviticus 18:9“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or born abroad.
Leviticus 18:9“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or born abroad.
Leviticus 18:10“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter, or of your daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness; for theirs is your own nakedness.
Leviticus 18:10“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter, or of your daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness; for theirs is your own nakedness.
Leviticus 18:10“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter, or of your daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness; for theirs is your own nakedness.
Leviticus 18:11“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister.
Leviticus 18:11“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister.
Leviticus 18:12“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister. She is your father’s near kinswoman.
Leviticus 18:13“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s near kinswoman.
Leviticus 18:14“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt.
Leviticus 18:15“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:15“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:16“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s nakedness.
Leviticus 18:16“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s nakedness.
Leviticus 18:17“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near kinswomen. It is wickedness.
Leviticus 18:17“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near kinswomen. It is wickedness.
Leviticus 18:18“ ‘You shall not take a wife in addition to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is still alive.
Leviticus 18:19“ ‘You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.
Leviticus 20:11“ ‘The man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon themselves.
Leviticus 20:17“ ‘If a man takes his sister—his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter—and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a shameful thing. They shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness. He shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 20:17“ ‘If a man takes his sister—his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter—and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a shameful thing. They shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness. He shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 20:17“ ‘If a man takes his sister—his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter—and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a shameful thing. They shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness. He shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 20:18“ ‘If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness, he has made her fountain naked, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
Leviticus 20:19“ ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, nor of your father’s sister, for he has made his close relative naked. They shall bear their iniquity.
Leviticus 20:20If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness. They shall bear their sin. They shall die childless.