Ervah עֶרְוָה

Ervah (Hebrew עֶרְוָה, Strong's H6172) is a Hebrew feminine noun meaning “nakedness”. It occurs 54 times in 40 verses of the Old Testament.

Definition

From the STEPBible Brief Lexicon of Hebrew (based on the abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs), STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.

Translated as

Verses

Every verse with Ervah, with the English words that translate it highlighted (KJV or BSB; other translations show the KJV here).

Genesis

• Genesis 9:22
  And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.
• Genesis 9:23
  And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.
• Genesis 42:9
  And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said, “You are spies! You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”
• Genesis 42:12
  And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.“No,” he told them. “You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”

Exodus

• Exodus 20:26
  Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.And you must not go up to My altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.’
• Exodus 28:42
  And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:Make linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh, extending from waist to thigh.

Leviticus

• Leviticus 18:6
  None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord.None of you are to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.
• Leviticus 18:7
  The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.You must not expose the nakedness of your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.
• Leviticus 18:8
  The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.
• Leviticus 18:9
  The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.You must not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.
• Leviticus 18:10
  The nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or of thy daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.You must not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for that would shame your family.
• Leviticus 18:11
  The nakedness of thy father’s wife’s daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.You must not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.
• Leviticus 18:12
  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: she is thy father’s near kinswoman.You must not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative.
• Leviticus 18:13
  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister: for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman.You must not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s close relative.
• Leviticus 18:14
  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.You must not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations with her; she is your aunt.
• Leviticus 18:15
  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; you are not to have sexual relations with her.
• Leviticus 18:16
  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.
• Leviticus 18:17
  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.You must not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. You are not to marry her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives; it is depraved.
• Leviticus 18:18
  Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.You must not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is still alive.
• Leviticus 18:19
  Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.You must not approach a woman to have sexual relations with her during her menstrual period.
• Leviticus 20:11
  And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
• Leviticus 20:17
  And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.If a man marries his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister; he shall bear his iniquity.
• Leviticus 20:18
  And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.If a man lies with a menstruating woman and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood. Both of them must be cut off from among their people.
• Leviticus 20:19
  And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.You must not have sexual relations with the sister of your mother or your father, for it is exposing one’s own kin; both shall bear their iniquity.
• Leviticus 20:20
  And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife, he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered the nakedness of his uncle. They will bear their sin; they shall die childless.
• Leviticus 20:21
  And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.

Deuteronomy

• Deuteronomy 23:14
  For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you.
• Deuteronomy 24:1
  When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house.

1 Samuel

• 1 Samuel 20:30
  Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the disgrace of the mother who bore you?

Isaiah

• Isaiah 20:4
  So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame.
• Isaiah 47:3
  Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.Your nakedness will be uncovered and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.”

Lamentations

• Lamentations 1:8
  Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.Jerusalem has sinned greatly; therefore she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away.

Ezekiel

• Ezekiel 16:8
  Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine.Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD.
• Ezekiel 16:36
  Thus saith the Lord God; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;This is what the Lord GOD says: Because you poured out your wealth and exposed your nakedness in your promiscuity with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your children which you gave to them,
• Ezekiel 16:37
  Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.therefore I will surely gather all the lovers with whom you found pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose you before them, and they will see you completely naked.
• Ezekiel 22:10
  In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.In you they have uncovered the nakedness of their fathers; in you they violate women during their menstrual impurity.
• Ezekiel 23:10
  These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women; for they had executed judgment upon her.They exposed her nakedness, seized her sons and daughters, and put her to the sword. Thus she became a byword among women, and they executed judgment against her.
• Ezekiel 23:18
  So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.When Oholibah openly prostituted herself and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.
• Ezekiel 23:29
  And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.They will treat you with hatred, take all for which you have worked, and leave you naked and bare, so that the shame of your prostitution will be exposed. Your indecency and promiscuity

Hosea

• Hosea 2:9
  Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.Therefore I will take back My grain in its time and My new wine in its season; I will take away My wool and linen, which were given to cover her nakedness.

Notes

1. Definition and verse list from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament (TAHOT) and Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Brief Lexicons, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.
2. English renderings from the public-domain KJV with Strong's numbers (eBible.org) and the Berean Standard Bible interlinear (public domain).