ערב רב

Hebrew

Etymology

From עֵרֶב (érev, “crowd, rabble”) +‎ רַב (rav, “many”). Sense 2 is due to the notion that the erev rav were a major factor in the creation of the Golden Calf.

Pronunciation

(Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈe.ʁev ʁav/
(Tiberian Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈʕeːʀ̟ɛv ʀav/

Noun

עֵרֶב רַב • (érev rav) m

(biblical) a group of Egyptians and others who joined the Israelites during the Exodus.
(derogatory) a traitor to the Jewish people.