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רֵבֶץ

𐤓𐤁𐤑

rêbets

H7258 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רבץ to lie down, to rest, to recline

Definition

A place for lying down, specifically a resting place used by animals—particularly sheep, cattle, or wild creatures—or, less commonly, humans. It most often refers to a spot where livestock or wild animals rest, graze, or gather for repose; by extension, it may denote any enclosure or natural area set aside for resting. The lexical sense is physical and concrete, tied to locations of comfort or security for lying down, but can be extended poetically to connote a condition of rest or security.

Semantic Range

animal lair, animal resting place, fold or enclosure for livestock, place of repose for wild or domestic animals, (by extension) safe or tranquil resting place for people (usually in poetic or prophetic contexts)

Root / Etymology

The noun רֵבֶץ (rêbets) derives from the root רבץ (רָבַץ), meaning 'to lie down (usually referring to animals), to recline, to rest.' The form רֵבֶץ is a noun derived from the root, denoting the place where the action of lying down or resting occurs, especially for animals.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, רֵבֶץ is most frequently used to describe the habitual resting places of animals, such as sheepfolds, grazing lands, or lairs for wild creatures (Isaiah 65:10, Zephaniah 2:15). The term emphasises the physical aspect—a defined or familiar location where animals are at ease. Less commonly, it can refer more figuratively to secure places for people, as in poetic or prophetic imagery, signifying tranquility or divine protection (Ezekiel 34:14). The English 'resting place' captures part of the meaning but does not always convey the animal-focused nuance present in most biblical usage. The usage remains consistent from early Israelite periods into exilic and post-exilic texts, with possible expanding metaphorical application in later prophetic literature to express safety or restoration. The word should be distinguished from related terms like מִשְׁכָּב (couch, bed—used also for people), which is less specifically zoological; רֵבֶץ almost always carries an animal context. English translations sometimes obscure this nuance by using generic terms like 'resting place' or 'habitation.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָבַץ; a couch or place of repose; where each lay, lie down in, resting place.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רבץ (r-b-ṣ) — to lie down, to rest, to recline

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4769 מַרְבֵּץ to the lying-down place of
H7257 רָבַץ I will cause them to lie down

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7258-03 רִבְצָֽ/ם rivetsam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their resting place their resting-place 1
H7258-01 לְ/רֵ֣בֶץ lerevets HR/Ncmsc a resting place for for a lying-place of 1
H7258-02 רִבְצָ֔/הּ rivetsah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its resting place her resting-place 1
H7258-04 רִבְצ/וֹ rivetso HNcmsc/Sp3ms his resting place his lying-down place 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7258-02 Isaiah 35:7 רִבְצָ֔/הּ rivetsah HNcmsc/Sp3fs its resting place her resting-place
H7258-01 Isaiah 65:10 לְ/רֵ֣בֶץ lerevets HR/Ncmsc a resting place for for a lying-place of
H7258-03 Jeremiah 50:6 רִבְצָֽ/ם rivetsam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their resting place their resting-place
H7258-04 Proverbs 24:15 רִבְצ/וֹ rivetso HNcmsc/Sp3ms his resting place his lying-down place
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