The meaning of the word translated as “flies”
The “flies” in Exodus derives from the root ערב (arav). Essentially, it conveys the idea of a swarm or a mixture of something, but does not specify the exact nature of the swarm. The noun עֵרֶב (erev), also from the root, in Exod 12:38 simply describes a mixed group of people. Additionally, Lev 13:49 recalls the notion of a mixture, where עֵרֶב reflects the combining of threads to make cloth.
עָרֹב (arov) in English Translations
From this same root, we have the word עָרֹב (arov) in the exodus plagues’ narrative. Various translations render it differently: “swarms of flies”, (ESV); “swarms of insects”, (NASB); “swarms of wild beasts”, (ancient Aramaic). The KJV translates “swarms of flies” with the “flies” in italics, signifying its absence from the original Hebrew. Ultimately, the specific translation “flies” stems from ancient Greek translations, which use a word that means dog-fly.
Study Biblical Hebrew in Live courses
At various points in Bible translation, the translators are faced with real challenges when deciding on a suitable English rendering of a Hebrew word. By learning Biblical Hebrew with the Israel Institute of Biblical Studies, you can get to the source of some of these problems and in doing so you can appreciate the work and the difficult decisions that were made in creating your English translations of the Bible.
