רֹאשׁ
𐤓𐤀𐤔
Rosh
H7220 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Rôʼsh is a proper noun used in the Hebrew Bible primarily as a personal name and possibly as a geographical designation. It is found as the name of a descendant of Benjamin and, in Ezekiel, as part of a phrase referencing an entity or people group, possibly a nation, region, or chief/leader associated with Gog. The semantic range includes its function as a personal name, a tribal designation, and a geographically or ethnographically undefined term in prophetic literature.
Semantic Range
personal name, clan name, possible place or people group; (interpreted in context as) chief, leader, principal; possibly a national or ethnic designation; title (as 'chief prince')
Root / Etymology
Root is ר-א-ש (ראש), meaning 'head' or 'chief.' As a proper noun, Rôʼsh likely derives from this root, possibly indicating 'chief' or 'leader,' but in use functions as a personal or territorial name. The connection between the root meaning and the name's referents (a person or foreign entity) is not fully transparent and may reflect an appellative origin, which then developed as a proper noun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Genesis 46:21 Rôʼsh appears as the name of a Benjaminite, one of the sons of Benjamin listed among the clans entering Egypt during the patriarchal period. In Ezekiel 38–39, the term reappears—'Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal'—where the translation has been debated: whether 'Rosh' is a nation or tribe allied with Meshech and Tubal (possible Anatolian or northern groups), or, alternatively, a descriptive title meaning 'chief' (as in 'chief prince of Meshech and Tubal'). Most modern scholarship leans toward Rôʼsh as a proper noun denoting a geographical or group designation, but evidence is limited, and some translations render it as a title. No definitive historically attested nation named Rosh is confirmed from extrabiblical sources in the relevant period. English translations vary, with a history of rendering 'Rosh' variously as a proper name, a title, or omitting it as a modifying term. Usage as an ethnonym in later tradition is not certain. The KJV translates it as 'chief,' but this may narrow the possible scope found in the Hebrew text.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably the same as רֹאשׁ; Rosh, the name of an Israelite and of a foreign nation; Rosh.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ראש (r-ʾ-š) — head, top, chief, leader
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1265 | בְּרוֹשׁ | at the head of |
| H7218 | רֹאשׁ | in the head |
| H7219 | רֹאשׁ | poisonous plant |
| H7223 | רִאשׁוֹן | in the first |
| H7226 | רַאֲשֹׁת | from headrests of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7220-01 |
וָ/רֹ֑אשׁ | varosh | HC/Np |
and Rosh | Rosh | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7220-01 |
Genesis 46:21 | וָ/רֹ֑אשׁ | varosh | HC/Np |
and Rosh | Rosh |