רָעֵב
𐤓𐤏𐤁
râʻêb
H7456 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To experience hunger, to be in a state of lacking food, to feel physical hunger. In extended senses, refers to people or animals suffering from want or lack of nourishment, or metaphorically to a longing or deep need. The term most commonly describes literal hunger but may be used metaphorically in poetic or prophetic texts to express intense need or deprivation.
Semantic Range
to be hungry, experience hunger, suffer from hunger, to famish, to suffer deprivation of food, to long for food, to endure famine, figuratively to long or crave
Root / Etymology
From the root רעב, which in its verbal form denotes entering a state of hunger or experiencing lack of food. The root itself suggests a shift from a state of satiation to one of want, specifically in the realm of nourishment. The term רָעֵב is the basic qal verb form, meaning 'to hunger.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
רָעֵב appears in narrative, legal, and prophetic texts, most frequently in contexts describing physical deprivation or the threat of famine affecting individuals, families, or entire populations. While often describing literal hunger as a condition of humans (Gen 41:55, 1 Ki 17:12), the verb can also apply to animals (Ps 34:11). Metaphorical uses—such as a 'hungry soul'—are more common in later poetic and wisdom materials (e.g., Pro 10:3, Isa 29:8). The noun form (רָעָב, 'famine') derives directly from this root. In legal or covenantal contexts, hunger is often a sanction (Deut 28:48). Standard English translations as 'to be hungry' or 'to hunger' fairly represent the basic sense, but sometimes do not capture the severity (extreme debilitation) or the social-structural implications in ancient Israelite life, especially where hunger is a sign of divine judgment or social breakdown. The term does not denote a voluntary fast, but rather an involuntary condition.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to hunger; (suffer to) famish, (be, have, suffer, suffer to) hunger(-ry).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רעב (r-ʿ-b) — to be hungry, experience hunger, suffer want
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7457 | רָעֵב | the hungry man |
| H7458 | רָעָב | in the famine |
| H7459 | רְעָבוֹן | hunger-famine of |
Word Forms
12 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7456-11 |
יִרְעַ֜ב | yireav | HVqi3ms |
he is hungry | he will hunger | 2 |
H7456-12 |
יִרְעָ֨בוּ֙ | yireavu | HVqi3mp |
they-will-hunger | they will hunger | 1 |
H7456-10 |
יַרְעִ֣יב | yareiv | HVhi3ms |
will let go hungry | he will make hungry | 1 |
H7456-01 |
אֶ֭רְעַב | ereav | HVqi1cs |
I were hungry | I will hunger | 1 |
H7456-05 |
תִּרְעָ֔בוּ | tireavu | HVqi2mp |
will hunger | you will hunger | 1 |
H7456-06 |
וַ/תִּרְעַב֙ | vatireav | HC/Vqw3fs |
was famished | and she hungered | 1 |
H7456-02 |
נִרְעָ֖ב | nireav | HVqi1cp |
be hungry | we hunger | 1 |
H7456-09 |
וְ/רָעֵ֑בוּ | veraevu | HC/Vqp3cp |
and hungered | and they hungered | 1 |
H7456-03 |
רָעֵב֙ | raev | HVqp3ms |
he-is-hungry | hungry one | 1 |
H7456-07 |
וַ/יַּרְעִבֶ/ךָ֒ | vayareivekha | HC/Vhw3ms/Sp2ms |
and let you hunger | and he made you hunger | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
13 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7456-06 |
Genesis 41:55 | וַ/תִּרְעַב֙ | vatireav | HC/Vqw3fs |
was famished | and she hungered |
H7456-07 |
Deuteronomy 8:3 | וַ/יַּרְעִבֶ/ךָ֒ | vayareivekha | HC/Vhw3ms/Sp2ms |
and let you hunger | and he made you hunger |
H7456-11 |
Isaiah 8:21 | יִרְעַ֜ב | yireav | HVqi3ms |
they-are-hungry | he will hunger |
H7456-08 |
Isaiah 9:19 | וְ/רָעֵ֔ב | veraev | HC/Vqq3ms |
and hungry | and hungry |
H7456-03 |
Isaiah 44:12 | רָעֵב֙ | raev | HVqp3ms |
he-is-hungry | hungry one |
H7456-12 |
Isaiah 49:10 | יִרְעָ֨בוּ֙ | yireavu | HVqi3mp |
they-will-hunger | they will hunger |
H7456-05 |
Isaiah 65:13 | תִּרְעָ֔בוּ | tireavu | HVqi2mp |
will hunger | you will hunger |
H7456-02 |
Jeremiah 42:14 | נִרְעָ֖ב | nireav | HVqi1cp |
be hungry | we hunger |
H7456-09 |
Psalms 34:11 | וְ/רָעֵ֑בוּ | veraevu | HC/Vqp3cp |
and hungered | and they hungered |
H7456-01 |
Psalms 50:12 | אֶ֭רְעַב | ereav | HVqi1cs |
I were hungry | I will hunger |