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רוּשׁ

𐤓𐤅𐤔

rûwsh

H7326 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רושׁ to become poor, to impoverish, to be destitute, to lack

Definition

To be impoverished, to be or become poor, to experience lack or deprivation, particularly in material or economic resources; also used to indicate the state of a person lacking in means or reduced to a condition of dependence. The root often conveys not merely the presence of financial want, but a pressing, ongoing condition of need, especially as a social or economic status within the community.

Semantic Range

to be or become poor, to become destitute, to be in a state of need, to suffer lack, to be deprived of means, to make oneself poor, to be reduced to poverty

Root / Etymology

The word רוּשׁ (rûwsh) derives from the Hebrew root רושׁ, which fundamentally expresses the idea of becoming or being impoverished. The root itself refers to the process or state of lacking or being bereft (often materially), and this specific verbal form denotes the condition or action of becoming poor or destitute. Distinct from other roots related to poverty, its focus is on economic destitution rather than humility or meekness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רוּשׁ is employed in biblical texts primarily to describe individuals who have become impoverished or find themselves lacking essential resources, often contrasted with the wealthy (עשיר, ʿāshîr). It is used in wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs) to discuss societal relations, obligations, and the plight of the poor. The term emphasizes a material condition as opposed to metaphorical or spiritual poverty. Over time, רוּשׁ came to signify not just passing indigence but a persistent state of destitution. It plays a key role in legal and ethical discourse surrounding justice and care for the economically marginalized in Israelite society. Unlike עָנִי (ʿānî, often 'afflicted' or 'poor') and אֶבְיוֹן (ʾevyôn, 'needy'), רוּשׁ frequently highlights a sudden or stark fall into destitution. English translations typically render the term as 'poor' or 'needy,' but may not capture its emphasis on ongoing lack and the resulting vulnerability of the individual within the community.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be destitute; lack, needy, (make self) poor (man).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רושׁ (r-w-sh) — to become poor, to be impoverished, to be destitute, to lack

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7389 רֵישׁ be destitute

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7326-05 רָ֥שׁ rash HVqrmsa poor Become impoverished 13
H7326-03 לָ֭/רָשׁ larash HRd/Vqrmsa the poor impoverished one 2
H7326-08 וָ/רָ֣שׁ varash HC/Vqrmsa and poor becoming poor 2
H7326-02 הָ/רָ֔אשׁ harash HTd/Vqrmsa the poor impoverished one 1
H7326-10 וְ֝/רָ֗שׁ verash HC/Vqrmsa but poor impoverished one 1
H7326-06 רָאשִׁ֑ים rashim HVqrmpa of the poor heads 1
H7326-04 מִ֝תְרוֹשֵׁ֗שׁ miteroshesh HVrrmsa who pretends to be poor self-impoverishing one 1
H7326-07 רָשׁ֣וּ rashu HVqp3cp have lacked they became impoverished 1
H7326-01 בְּ/רָשִׁ֣ים berashim HR/Vqrmpa over the poor impoverished ones 1
H7326-09 וְ/לָ/רָ֣שׁ velarash HC/Rd/Vqrmsa but to-the-poor impoverished one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7326-05 1 Samuel 18:23 רָ֥שׁ rash HVqrmsa poor Become impoverished
H7326-05 2 Samuel 12:1 רָֽאשׁ rash HVqrmsa poor Become impoverished
H7326-09 2 Samuel 12:3 וְ/לָ/רָ֣שׁ velarash HC/Rd/Vqrmsa but to-the-poor impoverished one
H7326-02 2 Samuel 12:4 הָ/רָ֔אשׁ harash HTd/Vqrmsa the poor impoverished one
H7326-07 Psalms 34:11 רָשׁ֣וּ rashu HVqp3cp have lacked they became impoverished
H7326-08 Psalms 82:3 וָ/רָ֣שׁ varash HC/Vqrmsa and the destitute becoming poor
H7326-05 Proverbs 10:4 רָ֗אשׁ rash HNcmsa poverty Become impoverished
H7326-04 Proverbs 13:7 מִ֝תְרוֹשֵׁ֗שׁ miteroshesh HVrrmsa who pretends to be poor self-impoverishing one
H7326-10 Proverbs 13:8 וְ֝/רָ֗שׁ verash HC/Vqrmsa but poor impoverished one
H7326-06 Proverbs 13:23 רָאשִׁ֑ים rashim HVqrmpa of the poor heads
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