Lexical Definition

‎עָב‎ ʻâb (awb) cloud ^H:N-M
(masculine and feminine); from ‎עוּב‎

clay, (thick) cloud, [idiom] thick, thicket. Compare ‎עֲבִי‎.

• properly, an envelope, i.e. darkness (or density, 2 Chronicles 4:17)
• specifically, a (scud) cloud
• also a copse

1) darkness, cloud, thicket
1a) dark cloud
1b) cloud mass
1c) thicket (as refuge)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Also see: עָב | עֲבִי

II. ‎עָב‎₃₃ noun masculine^{Isa 19:1} and (1Kgs 18:44 Kö^{Synt. 103}) feminine dark cloud, cloud-mass, thicket; — ‎׳‎‎ע‎ absolute 1Kgs 18:44 +, construct Isa 18:4; Prov 16:15 plural ‎עָבִים‎ Judg 5:4 +, ‎עָבוֺת‎ 2Sam 23:4 + 2Sam 77:18 construct ‎עָבֵי‎ 2Sam 22:12; Ps 18:12* suffix ‎עָבָיו‎ Ps 18:13* (but probably strike out, see ‎עבר‎ Qal near the end); —

1. dark cloud:
a. rain-cloud Judg 5:4; Isa 5:6; 1Kgs 18:44; 1Kgs 18:45 + 9 t.
b. as high Isa 14:14; Job 20:6, + Ezek 19:11; Ezek 31:3; Ezek 31:10; Ezek 31:14 (reading ‎בְָוֺת‎, see ‎עֲבֹת‎).
c. chariot of ‎׳‎‎י‎ Isa 19:1; Ps 104:3 covering his eyes Job 22:14.
d. casting shadow Isa 25:5, compare 2Sam 23:4.
e. as swift Isa 60:8, and transient Isa 44:22; Job 30:15 (all simile). feminine disposed by God Job 36:29; Job 37:16.
g. ‎טַל‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Isa 18:4 cloud of dew, dew-mist (simile).

2. (cloud-) mass, ‎שְׁחָקִים‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ 2Sam 22:12 masses of clouds (enwrapping ‎׳‎‎י‎) = Ps 18:12* (Ps 13 see above).

3. thicket as refuge Jer 4:29 (perhaps under Aramaic influence). — ‎עַב‎ Exod 19:9 see ‎עֲבִי‎ below ‎עבה‎. I. ‎עָב‎ see above

Brown-Driver-Briggs References