er.vah denotes bodily exposure, especially in prohibitions about uncovering a relative and in scenes of shame or public exposure.

The term most often occurs in prohibitions against uncovering the bodily exposure of specified relatives. Other verses depict exposure that is covered, seen, or uncovered in contexts of shame and judgment; two verses apply the expression to “the land,” while Deuteronomy 24:1 associates it with a matter prompting divorce.

1. Exposure prohibited among close kin · dominant

   In Leviticus 18:7, the construct forms occur in the repeated command not to uncover the exposure of father and mother. Leviticus 18:15 applies the same clause to a daughter-in-law, and Leviticus 20:11 describes a man who lies with his father's wife as having uncovered his father's exposure.

   Leviticus 18:7Leviticus 18:15Leviticus 18:19Leviticus 20:11Leviticus 20:17Leviticus 20:21
2. Bodily exposure seen, covered, or disclosed · common

   In Genesis 9:23, the construct form names what Shem and Japheth cover and deliberately do not see; the APB renders the clause “covered the nakedness of their father.” In Ezekiel 16:8, covering it accompanies a garment, whereas Ezekiel 16:37 describes it being uncovered before gathered lovers.

   Genesis 9:22Genesis 9:23Exodus 20:26Exodus 28:42Ezekiel 16:8Ezekiel 16:37
3. The exposed aspect of the land · rare

   In Genesis 42:9 and Genesis 42:12, the construct form is joined to “the land” in Joseph's accusation that the brothers came to see it. The APB renders the repeated phrase “the nakedness of the land,” but the precise contribution of the term beyond this expression is not isolated by the translation.

   Genesis 42:9Genesis 42:12
4. A matter described in divorce proceedings · rare

   In Deuteronomy 24:1, the construct form appears in the reason a husband gives for writing a certificate of divorce and sending his wife away. The APB renders this reason as finding “some indecency in her”; The exact nuance of the term in that clause remains limited to the verse's stated context.

   Deuteronomy 24:1

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly uses “nakedness” in clauses about covering, seeing, or uncovering, including the family prohibitions. It also renders the land expression as “the nakedness of the land” and Deuteronomy 24:1 as “some indecency,”.