Strong's Lexicon

H7462

H7462 — רָעָה

Hebrew / Aramaic entry for Bible study and original-language reference.

Hebrewra`ahverbOccurrences: 164TWOT: 2185

Definition / Gloss

Strong's Number:H7462
Word:רָעָה
Part of Speech:verb
Etymology:a primitive root
Language:Hebrew
Occurrences:164
Transliteration:ra`ah
Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation:raw-aw'
Meaning:1. to tend a flock i.e. pasture it 2. (intransitively, literally or figuratively) to graze 3. (generally) to rule 4. (by extension) to associate with (as a friend)
KJV Renderings:X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep)(-er), pastor, + shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste.

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Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced

BDB7994

I. רָעָה167 verb pasture, tend, graze (Assyrian rê°û , verb pasture, noun ruler, Tel Amarna ru—i (as Canaanism) WklNo. 181, 11; Arabic [untranscribed source text 5110], Ethiopic [untranscribed source text 5111] Aramaic רְעָא, [untranscribed source text 5112], all = Biblical Hebrew); —

Qal Perfect 3 masculine singular consecutive וְרָעָה Mic 5:3 +, 1 singular suffix consecutive זּרְעִיתִים Ezek 34:13, 3 plural suffix consecutive וְרָעוּם Jer 23:4, etc.; Imperfect 3 masculine singular יִרְעֶה Isa 27:20 +, jussive יֵ֫רַע Job 20:26, suffix יִרְעֶנָּה Ps 80:14, וַיִרְעֵם Ps 78:72 ( ׳ וַיַּר Hiph`il van d. H.), etc.; Imperative masculine singular רְעֵה Mic 7:14 +, suffix רְעֵם Ps 28:9 feminine singular רְעִי Song 1:8 masculine plural רְעוּ Gen 29:7 Infinitive construct לִרְעוֺת Gen 37:12 +, etc.; Participle רֹעֶה Gen 30:36 +, suffix רֹעִי Ps 23:1 +; feminine singular רֹעָה Gen 29:9; Prov 25:19 , etc.; —
1. transitive
a. pasture, tend (pascere), literal, with accusative צאֹן Gen 30:31 ; Gen 30:36; Gen 37:12 (all J ), Exod 3:1 ( E ), 1Sam 17:15; 1Sam 25:16; Isa 61:5, accusative of asses Gen 36:24 ( P ), kids Song 1:8 accusative (צאֹן) omitted Gen 29:7; Gen 37:13 (ב location) Gen 37:16 (all J ), Song 1:7 (|| הִרְבִּיץ), Job 24:2 ( ᵐ5 Me Siegf Bu וְרֹעוֺ); — metaphor גֹּרֶן וָיֶקֶב לֹא יִרְעֵם Hos 9:2, but read יֵדָעֵם ᵐ5 We Now GASm; מָוֶת יִרְעֵם Ps 49:15 .
b. figurative of ׳ י , accusative of person, Gen 48:15 ( E ) God, who shepherded me; with accusative of people, as flock Hos 4:16 ; Isa 40:11; Mic 7:14 (בְּשִׁבְטֶ֑ךָ), Ezek 34:13 (pregnantly, with אֶל location), Ezek 34:14 Ezek 34:15 (+ הִרְבִּיץ ), Ezek 34:16; Ps 28:9.
c. figurative of ruler, and teacher, accusative of people, as flock , 2Sam 5:2 = 1Chr 11:2; 2Sam 7:1 = 1Chr 17:6; Ps 78:72 ; Jer 3:15; Jer 23:2; Jer 23:4; Ezek 34:2; Ezek 34:3; Ezek 34:8; Ezek 34:10; Ezek 34:23 (twice in verse); Zech 11:4; Zech 11:7 (twice in verse); Zech 11:9 of teaching, יִרְעוּ רַבִּים שִׂפְתֵי צַדִּיק Prov 10:21 with ב of people Ps 78:71 absolute Mic 5:3 with accusative of person reflexive pastured (fed, enriched) themselves Ezek 34:2 ; Ezek 34:8; Ezek 34:10.
d. especially participle רֹעֶה, etc., as substantive = shepherd, herdsman : (I) literal, צאֹן רֹעֵה Gen 4:2; Gen 46:32 ; Gen 46:34; Gen 47:3 (all J ), ׳ רֹעֶה בַּצּ Gen 37:2 ( E ), 1Sam 16:11; 1Sam 17:34 רֹעֵי מִקְנֶה Gen 13:7 (twice in verse) ( J ); ׳ (ה)ר alone, singular Amos 3:12 + 7 t. (all in simile); רֹעָה shepherdess, Gen 29:9 ( J ); כְּלִי רֹעֶה אֱוִילִי Zech 11:15 (see כְּלִי 2.c.), as symbol; plural (הָ)רֹעִים Amos 1:2; Exod 2:17; Exod 2:19 ( J ) 1Sam 21:8 (׳ אַבִּיר הָר; Gr Dr Bu Kit Löhr חָרָצִים ׳ א; ᵐ5 LagBN 45 HPS אֹבִיל הָעְַיָרִים, but compare We) + 8 t. + Isa 31:4 ( simile), Isa 38:12 (read רֹעִים for רֹעִי Perles29 Du CheHpt compare Di ), compare (suffix) Gen 13:8 (twice in verse) ( J ); כְּלִי הָרֹעִים 1Sam 17:40 (see כְּלִי 3); — בֵּידעֵֿקֶד הָרִעִיס. (2) figurative of ruler (as often Assyrian; compare Greek (Homer) ποιμένα λαῶν), absolute singular Jer 17:16
figurative of prophet (but Aq Symm ᵑ6 Gie Du Co מֵרָעָה ); Zech 10:2 ; Zech 11:16; Zech 13:7b + 8 t. Jeremiah, Ezekiel; suffix of ׳ י, רֹעִי Isa 44:28 (of Cyrus), Zech 13:7a.; Zech 13:17 (read רֹעִי הָאֱוִילִי We Now GASm); absolute plural Isa 56:11; Jer 2:8; Jer 3:15; Mic 5:4; Zech 10:3; Zech 11:5; Zech 11:8 + 18 t. Jeremiah Ezek 34, + (of Assyrian leaders) Nah 3:18 ׳ רֹעֵי יִשׂ Ezek 34:2 צאֹנוֺ רֹעֵי Isa 63:11 (but read רֹעֵה [of Moses] ᵐ5 Targam Di Du and others). (3) epithet of ׳ רֹעִי ׃ י ׳ י Ps 23:1, ׳ רֹעֵה יִשׂ Ps 80:2, ׳ רֹעֶה אֶבֶן יִשׂ Gen 49:24 (poem in J ; read construct רֹעֵה. compare Commentaries); מֵרֹעֶה אֶחָד Eccl 12:11 De Wild, < president of assembly of sages Siegf SS.
2. intransitive
feed, graze:
a. literally of cows, sheep, etc.: with ב location Gen 41:2; Gen 41:18 ( E ), 1Chr 27:29 with accusative of pasture Isa 30:23 with עַל location Zeph 2:7 (עֲלֵי הַיָּם for ᵑ0 עֲלֵיהֶם, see Now); אֶלמֿוּל location Exod 34:3 ( J ); absolute Isa 5:17; Isa 11:7 (|| רבץ; but see רעה below) Isa 27:10 (|| id.), Isa 65:25; Jonah 3:7; Job 1:14.
b. figurative of idolater , Isa 44:20 he feedeth on ashes (accusative); compare Hos 12:2 Ephraimitic source feedeth on wind (acc); אִוֶּלֶת ׳ פִּי כְסִילִים יִר Prov 15:14 (so Vrss Qr ; Kt פני for פי) the mouth of fools feeds on folly (Toy; Buhl √ II. רעה, Gerber162 below III. רעה); in Canticles, with ב location, figurative of lover Song 2:16; Song 6:2; Song 6:3 of breasts (like gazelles) Song 4:5.
c. figurative, of Israel as flock Isa 14:30 (|| רבץ), read (יַ֯ ) בְּכָרֹי in my pasture(s), for ᵑ0 בְּכוֺרֵי, Koppe Ew Di Du (otherwise CheHpt , compare Marti); Zeph 3:13 (|| id..); with עַלדְּֿרָכִים Isa 49:9 with accusative of pasture-land Jer 50:19; Mic 7:14; Ezek 34:14b ( + אֶל location), Ezek 34:18 Ezek 34:19 hence crop, strip, i.e. devastate, of conqueror, with accusative of land Mic 5:6 , cf; אֶתיָֿדוֺ Jer 6:3 so יִרְעוּךְ קָדְקֹד; Jer 2:16 accusative of Israel under figure of vine (subject foes, as beasts) Ps 80:14.
d. subject wind, with accusative of person Jer 22:22, i. e. drive them away; subject fire, with accusative of thing, יֵרַע Job 20:26 , but read perhaps יֵרָע, Niph`al (Ol Di Hoffm Siegf Bu; otherwise Du). רֹעֶה עֲקָרָה֯ Job 24:21 is difficult; Bu חֵרַע for ׳ ר; more radical conjectures in Du.
Niph`al possibly Job 20:26, see 2.d. above
Hiph`il Ps 78:72 van d. H., see 1.c. above


BDB7995

רֹעֶה shepherd, רֹעָה shepherdess, see √ 1 d. above


BDB8000

II. [רָעָה] verb probably associate with (compare Schulth69 ff. but also ZMG iiv (1900), 154 f.; Assyrian ru°a, ruttu , neighbour, fellow (masculine and feminine; compare JägerBAS i. 483,486); so Bedouin [untranscribed source text 5113], [untranscribed source text 5114] master, owner, WallinZMG v (1851), 9 JayakarJA xxi. 851; Ethiopic [untranscribed source text 5115] marriage; Arabic [untranscribed source text 5116], Ethiopic [untranscribed source text 5117] yoke; Late Hebrew רֵעוּת friendship is from Biblical Hebrew רֵעַ ); —

Qal Imperative masculine singular וּרְעֵה אֱמוּנָה Ps 37:3 cherish faithfulness (Hup-Now RV Che Du Dr); > feed seocurely (Bae; I.רעה; feed on (his) faithfulness AmRV); Participle כְסִילִים רֹעֶה Prov 13:20 one associating with fools, so ׳ זֹלְלְים ר Prov 28:7, זוֺנוֺת ׳ ר Prov 29:3 ( Thes and others think these figurative from I. רעה, see 2.b.).
Hithpa`el 2 masculine singular אַלתִּֿתְרַע אֶתבַּֿעַל אָ֑ף Prov 22:24 do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man; perhaps also 3 feminine plural תִּתְרָעֶינָה Isa 11:7 (LagOr. i. 21; Deceased Wife's Sister 399 Brd Du Che Hpt) cow and bear shall be each other's companions; + Infinitive construct הִתְרָעֹת Prov 18:24 (Toy, for ᵑ0 הִתְרֹעֵעַ) there are [יֵשׁ, for אִישׁ] friends (merely) to be companions (see II. רעע near the end).


BDB8003

[רָעָה] verb denominative

Pi`el be a special friend; — Perfect 3 masculine singular מֵרֵעֵהוּ אֲשֶׁר רֵעָה לוֺ Judg 14:20 his comrade who had been 'best man' (GFM) to him.


BDB8036

II. [רָעַע] verb break (Aramaic loan-word = Hebrew רָצַץ q. v.); —

Qal Perfect 3 plural רָעוּ Jer 11:16 Imperfect 3 masculine singular יָרֹעַ Jer 15:12; Job 34:24, 2 masculine singular suffix תְּרֹעֵם Ps 2:9 (but see below); Infinitive absolute רֹ֫עָה Isa 24:19 (strike out ה as dittograph and read רֹעַ, see Hithpo`el); Participle feminine רֹעָה (? for רֹעֲעָה ) Prov 25:19 : —
1. transitive הֲיָרֹע בַּרְזֶל ׳ בַּרְזֶל וגו Jer 15:12 can one break iron, iron out of the north? compare יָרֹעַ כַּבִּירִים Job 34:24 תְּרֹעֵם בְּשֵֹׁבֶט בַּרְזֶל Ps 2:9 (but read תִּרְעֵם, see I. רהְ, ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Hup-Now and others).
2. intransitive
break = be broken, of branches Jer 11:16 (in figurative; Gf Or and others; > Hi Gie are in a sad state, √ I. רעע); שֵׁן רֹעָה Prov 25:19 a broken tooth (׳ ר = רֹעֲעָה?; Frankenb Niph`al Participle נְרָעָה, compare Toy, but Niph`al not elsewhere; Vrss רָעָה bad). — רֹ֫עוּ Isa 8:9 read דְּעוּ ( ᵐ5 Lo Che and others, || הַאֲזִינוּ).
Hithpo`el Perfect 3 feminine singular + Qal Infinitive absolute (see above) צרץ[הָ] רֹעַ הִתְרֹעֲעָה Isa 24:19 the earth is broken asunder (|| פּוֺר תִתְפּוֺרְרָה, מוֺט הִתְמוֺטְטָה); also Infinitive construct לְהִתְרוֺעֵעַ Prov 18:24 will be broken in pieces (Ges «GKC:114i»§ 114i), ruined, De and others, but < read לְהִתְרָעוֺת Vrss Toy and others, see רעה Hithpa`el (see, however, DrExpos. Times xi (1899-1900), 230f.).


BDB9904

רעה (√ of following; compare Biblical Hebrew III. רעה ).


Other Resources

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, and Bruce K. Waltke

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