Râʻâh — H7462

Definition

verb

to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)

1. to pasture, tend, graze, feed
1. (Qal)
1. to tend, pasture
1. to shepherd
2. of ruler, teacher (fig)
3. of people as flock (fig)
4. shepherd, herdsman (subst)
2. to feed, graze
1. of cows, sheep etc (literal)
2. of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)
2. (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess
2. to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
1. (Qal) to associate with
2. (Hithpael) to be companions
3. (Piel) to be a special friend

Usually translated as

feed, shepherd, companion, devour, use as a friend, keeper, pastor, wander, break, keep company with, eat up, evil entreat, make friendship with, herdman, keep, shearing house, waste

Origin

a primitive root

Greek equivalents

• poimaínō (G4165)

Occurrences

Râʻâh occurs 171 times in 142 verses of the King James.

Distribution of the word across the Bible: Genesis (20), Exodus (4), Numbers (2), Judges (1), 1 Samuel (7), 2 Samuel (2), 1 Kings (1), 1 Chronicles (3), 2 Chronicles (1), Job (3), Psalms (8), Proverbs (6), Ecclesiastes (1), Song of Songs (6), Isaiah (15), Jeremiah (22), Ezekiel (16), Hosea (3), Amos (2), Jonah (1), Micah (3), Nahum (1), Zephaniah (3), Zechariah (11)

• Genesis 4:2 — And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper (רֹ֣עֵה) of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
• Genesis 13:7 — And there was a strife between the (רֹעֵ֣י) herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
• Genesis 13:7 — And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and (רֹעֵ֣י) the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
• Genesis 13:8 — And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my (רֹעַ֖י) herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
• Genesis 13:8 — And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and (רֹעֶ֑יךָ) thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
• Genesis 26:20 — And (רֹעֵ֣י) the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
• Genesis 26:20 — And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s (רֹעֵ֥י) herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
• Genesis 29:7 — And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed (רְעֽוּ) them.
• Genesis 29:9 — And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept (רֹעָ֖ה) them.
• Genesis 30:31 — And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed (אֶרְעֶ֥ה) and keep thy flock:
• Genesis 30:36 — And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed (רֹעֶ֛ה) the rest of Laban’s flocks.
• Genesis 36:24 — And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed (בִּרְעֹת֥וֹ) the asses of Zibeon his father.
• Genesis 37:2 — These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding (רֹעֶ֤ה) the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
• Genesis 37:12 — And his brethren went to feed (לִרְע֛וֹת) their father’s flock in Shechem.
• Genesis 37:13 — And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed (רֹעִ֣ים) the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
• Genesis 37:16 — And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed (רֹעִֽים) their flocks.
• Genesis 41:2 — And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed (וַתִּרְעֶ֖ינָה) in a meadow.
• Genesis 41:18 — And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed (וַתִּרְעֶ֖ינָה) in a meadow:
• Genesis 46:32 — And the men are shepherds (רֹ֣עֵי), for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.
• Genesis 46:34 — That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd (רֹ֥עֵה) is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
• Genesis 47:3 — And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds (רֹעֵ֥ה), both we, and also our fathers.
• Genesis 48:15 — And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed (הָרֹעֶ֣ה) me all my life long unto this day,
• Genesis 49:24 — But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd (רֹעֶ֖ה), the stone of Israel:)
• Exodus 2:17 — And the shepherds (הָרֹעִ֖ים) came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
• Exodus 2:19 — And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds (הָרֹעִ֑ים), and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
• Exodus 3:1 — Now Moses kept (רֹעֶ֛ה) the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
• Exodus 34:3 — And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed (יִרְע֔וּ) before that mount.
• Numbers 14:33 — And your children shall wander (רֹעִ֤ים) in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.
• Numbers 27:17 — Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd (רֹעֶֽה).
• Judges 14:20 — But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend (רֵעָ֖ה).
• 1 Samuel 16:11 — And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth (רֹעֶ֖ה) the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
• 1 Samuel 17:15 — But David went and returned from Saul to feed (לִרְע֛וֹת) his father’s sheep at Beth-lehem.
• 1 Samuel 17:34 — And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept (רֹעֶ֨ה) his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
• 1 Samuel 17:40 — And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s (הָרֹעִ֧ים) bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
• 1 Samuel 21:7 — Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of (הָרֹעִ֖ים) the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
• 1 Samuel 25:7 — And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds (הָרֹעִ֤ים) which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
• 1 Samuel 25:16 — They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping (רֹעִ֥ים) the sheep.
• 2 Samuel 5:2 — Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed (תִרְעֶ֤ה) my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
• 2 Samuel 7:7 — In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed (לִרְע֛וֹת) my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
• 1 Kings 22:17 — And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd (רֹעֶ֑ה): and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
• 1 Chronicles 11:2 — And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed (תִרְעֶ֤ה) my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.
• 1 Chronicles 17:6 — Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed (לִרְע֥וֹת) my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?
• 1 Chronicles 27:29 — And over the herds that fed (הָרֹעִ֣ים) in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:
• 2 Chronicles 18:16 — Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd (רֹעֶ֑ה): and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
• Job 1:14 — And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding (רֹע֥וֹת) beside them:
• Job 24:2 — Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed (וַיִּרְעֽוּ) thereof.
• Job 24:21 — He evil entreateth (רֹעֶ֣ה) the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
• Psalms 23:1 — The LORD is my shepherd (רֹ֝עִ֗י); I shall not want.
• Psalms 28:9 — Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed (וּֽרְעֵ֥ם) them also, and lift them up for ever.
• Psalms 37:3 — Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (וּרְעֵ֥ה).