רָעָה (H7462) — Hebrew Lexicon

רָעָה

𐤓𐤏𐤄

Raah

H7462 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To act as a shepherd, to tend, pasture, or care for a flock; by extension, to guide, lead, or rule over people (especially in a leadership or governance role); also to graze (of animals) or to be in the role of a provider. The verb is applied both literally to livestock and metaphorically to persons entrusted with leadership or oversight. The semantic range includes contexts of providing for, protecting, and guiding.

Semantic Range

to tend a flock, to pasture, to herd (animals), to guide or lead (a group, especially people), to provide, to govern, to rule, to keep company; by extension, to associate with, to act as a companion or friend

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root רעה (resh-ayin-he), meaning 'to feed, pasture, tend'. The root signifies actions related to the care and management of livestock, particularly sheep, and through metaphorical usage expands to leadership and governance over people.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, רָעָה is commonly used to denote shepherding sheep or livestock (e.g., Genesis 29:9), as well as in a social or political metaphorical sense for leaders, such as kings (e.g., 2 Samuel 5:2, 'to shepherd My people Israel'). The term thus transitions from the concrete occupation of a shepherd to the broader concept of guidance and oversight. In later prophetic and poetic literature, 'shepherd' becomes a metaphor for both good and bad leadership (Ezekiel 34), highlighting responsibilities and failures of rulers. The verb is also used reflexively or in negative contexts (e.g., Ezekiel 34:2, for those who 'shepherd themselves' to the detriment of others). In contrast to nouns for friend or companion (רֵעַ), the verbal root רָעָה focuses on the activity of tending, guiding, or keeping company, rather than relational mutuality. Standard English versions sometimes translate רָעָה as 'pastor', 'rule', or 'companion', but such renderings may underplay the caretaking nuance of the Hebrew term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; 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); [idiom] break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep) (-er), pastor, [phrase] shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

רעה (Raah) — to feed, to graze, to tend (flocks or herds)

Root רעה to tend, to graze, to pasture, to care for, to guide

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4829	מִרְעֶה	in a grazing-place
H4830	מִרְעִית	as their pasturage
H7453	רֵעַ	with his associate
H7454	רֵעַ	to my intention
H7463	רֵעֶה	See!
H7464	רֵעָה	her female companions
H7466	רְעוּ	Reu
H7468	רְעוּת	to her female companion
H7469	רְעוּת	and craving of
H7470	רְעוּת	according to desire-of
H7471	רְעִי	grazing-place
H7473	רֹעִי	the tending-ones
H7475	רַעְיוֹן	inner striving of

Word Forms

50 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H7462-19`	רֹעֶ֑ה	roeh	`HVqrmsa`	shepherd	shepherding one of	shepherding one of	26
`H7462-05`	הָ/רֹעִ֣ים	haroim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	the shepherds	the tending-ones	the shepherds	23
`H7462-24`	רֹעִ֥ים	roim	`HVqrmpa`	shepherds	shepherding ones	shepherding ones	16
`H7462-48`	יִרְע֔וּ	yireu	`HVqj3mp`	feed	they will shepherd	they will shepherd	9
`H7462-04`	הָ/רֹעֶ֜ה	haroeh	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	the shepherd	the shepherding one	the shepherding one	6
`H7462-09`	לִ/רְע֥וֹת	lireot	`HR/Vqc`	to shepherd	to shepherd	to shepherd	6
`H7462-40`	וְ/רָע֥וּ	verau	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and feed	and they shepherded	and they will shepherd	5
`H7462-45`	יִרְעֶ֣ה	yireeh	`HVqi3ms`	feeds	he will see	grazes	5
`H7462-02`	אֶרְעֶ֣ה	ereeh	`HVqi1cs`	feed	let me shepherd	I will shepherd	4
`H7462-20`	רוֹעֵ֣י	roey	`HVqrmpc`	the shepherds	shepherding ones of	shepherds of	4
`H7462-26`	תִרְעֶ֤ה	tireeh	`HVqi2ms`	shall shepherd	you (masculine) will see	you will shepherd	4
`H7462-42`	וְ/רוֹעֶ֥ה	veroeh	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and companion of	and shepherding	and shepherding	4
`H7462-27`	תִּרְעֶ֖ינָה	tireeynah	`HVqi3fp`	shall graze	they (feminine) will tend	they will graze	3
`H7462-39`	וְ/רָעָ֣ה	veraah	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he shall feed	and he saw	and he will shepherd	3
`H7462-46`	יִרְעֵ֣/ם	yireem	`HVqi3ms/Sp3mp`	will feed them	he will shepherd them	he will shepherd them	3
`H7462-06`	כְּ/רֹעֶה֙	keroeh	`HR/Vqrmsa`	as-shepherd	as a shepherding one	as a shepherd	2
`H7462-11`	מֵ/רֹעֶ֥ה	meroeh	`HR/Vqrmsa`	from being a shepherd	tending one	from shepherd	2
`H7462-12`	רָעֽוּ	rau	`HVqp3cp`	fed	they saw	they fed	2
`H7462-14`	רְעֵ֧ה	reeh	`HVqv2ms`	shepherd	See!	shepherd	2
`H7462-28`	תִרְעֽוּ	tireu	`HVqi2mp`	you feed	you (masculine plural) will fear	you all will shepherd	2
`H7462-34`	וָֽ/אֶרְעֶה֙	vaereeh	`HC/Vqw1cs`	and I pastured	and I saw	and I pastured	2
`H7462-35`	וַ/תִּרְעֶ֖ינָה	vatireeynah	`HC/Vqw3fp`	and they fed	and they shepherded	and they grazed	2
`H7462-37`	וַ/יִּרְע֤וּ	vayireu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and fed	and they saw	and they fed	2
`H7462-01`	בִּ/רְעֹת֥/וֹ	bireoto	`HR/Vqc/Sp3ms`	as he pastured	in his shepherding	in his shepherding	1
`H7462-03`	אֶרְעֶ֥/נָּה	ereenah	`HVqi1cs/Sp3fs`	I will feed it	I will shepherd her	I will shepherd her	1
`H7462-07`	לָ/רֹעִ֜ים	laroim	`HRd/Vqrmpa`	to the shepherds	to shepherding ones	to the shepherds	1
`H7462-08`	לְ/רֹעֶֽה	leroeh	`HR/Vqrmsa`	for a shepherd	to a shepherding-one	as a shepherd	1
`H7462-10`	מֵ/רְע֣וֹת	mereot	`HR/Vqc`	from feeding	from shepherding	from feeding	1
`H7462-13`	רֵעָ֖ה	reah	`HVpp3ms`	had been his friend	he shepherded	was his friend	1
`H7462-15`	רְעֽוּ	reu	`HVqv2mp`	pasture them	Tend!	Tend	1
`H7462-16`	רֹעָ֖ה	roah	`HVqrfsa`	she was a shepherdess	shepherding woman	shepherding woman	1
`H7462-17`	רֹעַ֖/י	roay	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	my shepherds	my shepherding ones	my shepherds	1
`H7462-18`	רֹעַ֨יִ/ךְ֙	roayikhe	`HVqrmpc/Sp2fs`	your shepherds	your shepherds	your shepherds	1
`H7462-21`	רֹעֵי/הֶ֣ם	roeyhem	`HVqrmpc/Sp3mp`	their shepherds	those shepherding them	their shepherds	1
`H7462-22`	רֹעֶ֨י/ךָ֙	roeykha	`HVqrmpc/Sp2ms`	your shepherds	your shepherding ones	your shepherds	1
`H7462-23`	רֹ֝עִ֗/י	roi	`HVqrmsc/Sp1cs`	is my shepherd	my shepherd	my shepherd	1
`H7462-25`	רֹע֥וֹת	root	`HVqrfpa`	feeding	seeing ones	grazing	1
`H7462-29`	תִּ֭תְרַע	titera	`HVtj2ms`	make friends	associate yourself	make friends	1
`H7462-30`	וּ/רְעֵ֥ה	ureeh	`HC/Vqv2ms`	and-feed	and see	and shepherd	1
`H7462-31`	וּֽ/רְעֵ֥/ם	ureem	`HC/Vqv2ms/Sp3mp`	and shepherd them	and shepherd them	and shepherd them	1
`H7462-32`	וּ/רְעִי֙	urei	`HC/Vqv2fs`	and pasture	and see!	and pasture	1
`H7462-33`	וּ/רְעִיתִי/ם֙	ureitim	`HC/Vqq1cs/Sp3mp`	and I will feed them	and I shepherded them	and I will shepherd them	1
`H7462-36`	וַ֭/יִּרְעֵ/ם	vayireem	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp`	So he shepherded them	and he shepherded them	and he shepherded them	1
`H7462-38`	וְ/הָ/רֹעִ֖ים	veharoim	`HC/Td/Vqrmpa`	and the shepherds	the shepherding ones	and the shepherding ones	1
`H7462-41`	וְ/רָע֑וּ/ם	veraum	`HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3mp`	and-they-shall-feed-them	and they shepherded them	and they will shepherd them	1
`H7462-43`	וְ/רֹ֣עֵי/הֶ֔ם	veroeyhem	`HC/Vqrmpc/Sp3mp`	and their shepherds	and their shepherding-ones	and their shepherds	1
`H7462-44`	וְ/רֹעִ֖ים	veroim	`HC/Vqrmpa`	shepherds	shepherding ones	shepherding ones	1
`H7462-47`	יִרְעֶֽ/נָּה	yireenah	`HVqi3ms/Sp3fs`	feeds-on-it	he will shepherd her	will graze her	1
`H7462-49`	יִרְע֖וּ/ךְ	yireukhe	`HVqi3mp/Sp2fs`	have fed on you	they will shepherd you	they have fed on you	1
`H7462-50`	יִרְע֑וּ/ן	yireun	`HVqi3mp/Sn`	they will pasture	they shepherd	they will pasture	1

Occurrences in Scripture

164 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H7462-19`	Genesis 4:2	רֹ֣עֵה	roeh	`HVqrmsc`	keeper	shepherding one of	shepherding one of
`H7462-15`	Genesis 29:7	רְעֽוּ	reu	`HVqv2mp`	pasture them	Tend!	Tend
`H7462-16`	Genesis 29:9	רֹעָ֖ה	roah	`HVqrfsa`	she was a shepherdess	shepherding woman	shepherding woman
`H7462-02`	Genesis 30:31	אֶרְעֶ֥ה	ereeh	`HVqi1cs`	I will pasture	let me shepherd	I will shepherd
`H7462-19`	Genesis 30:36	רֹעֶ֛ה	roeh	`HVqrmsa`	fed	shepherding one of	shepherding one of
`H7462-01`	Genesis 36:24	בִּ/רְעֹת֥/וֹ	bireoto	`HR/Vqc/Sp3ms`	as he pastured	in his shepherding	in his shepherding
`H7462-19`	Genesis 37:2	רֹעֶ֤ה	roeh	`HVqrmsa`	shepherding	shepherding one of	shepherding one of
`H7462-09`	Genesis 37:12	לִ/רְע֛וֹת	lireot	`HR/Vqc`	to pasture	to shepherd	to shepherd
`H7462-24`	Genesis 37:13	רֹעִ֣ים	roim	`HVqrmpa`	pasturing	shepherding ones	shepherding
`H7462-24`	Genesis 37:16	רֹעִֽים	roim	`HVqrmpa`	are feeding	shepherding ones	shepherding
`H7462-35`	Genesis 41:2	וַ/תִּרְעֶ֖ינָה	vatireeynah	`HC/Vqw3fp`	and they fed	and they shepherded	and they grazed
`H7462-35`	Genesis 41:18	וַ/תִּרְעֶ֖ינָה	vatireeynah	`HC/Vqw3fp`	and they grazed	and they shepherded	and they grazed
`H7462-20`	Genesis 46:32	רֹ֣עֵי	roey	`HVqrmpc`	are shepherds	shepherding ones of	shepherds of
`H7462-19`	Genesis 46:34	רֹ֥עֵה	roeh	`HVqrmsc`	shepherd	shepherding one of	shepherding one of
`H7462-19`	Genesis 47:3	רֹעֵ֥ה	roeh	`HVqrmsc`	shepherds	shepherding one of	shepherds
`H7462-04`	Genesis 48:15	הָ/רֹעֶ֣ה	haroeh	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	who has been my shepherd	the shepherding one	the shepherding one
`H7462-19`	Genesis 49:24	רֹעֶ֖ה	roeh	`HVqrmsa`	Shepherd	shepherding one of	shepherding one of
`H7462-05`	Exodus 2:17	הָ/רֹעִ֖ים	haroim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	the shepherds	the tending-ones	the shepherds
`H7462-05`	Exodus 2:19	הָ/רֹעִ֑ים	haroim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	the shepherds,	the tending-ones	the shepherds
`H7462-19`	Exodus 3:1	רֹעֶ֛ה	roeh	`HVqrmsa`	shepherding	shepherding one of	shepherding
`H7462-48`	Exodus 34:3	יִרְע֔וּ	yireu	`HVqj3mp`	graze	they will shepherd	graze
`H7462-24`	Numbers 14:33	רֹעִ֤ים	roim	`HVqrmpa`	shepherds	shepherding ones	shepherding ones
`H7462-19`	Numbers 27:17	רֹעֶֽה	roeh	`HVqrmsa`	shepherd	shepherding one of	shepherd
`H7462-13`	Judges 14:20	רֵעָ֖ה	reah	`HVpp3ms`	had been his friend	he shepherded	was his friend
`H7462-19`	1 Samuel 16:11	רֹעֶ֖ה	roeh	`HVqrmsa`	keeping	shepherding one of	shepherding
`H7462-09`	1 Samuel 17:15	לִ/רְע֛וֹת	lireot	`HR/Vqc`	to tend	to shepherd	to shepherd
`H7462-19`	1 Samuel 17:34	רֹעֶ֨ה	roeh	`HVqrmsa`	shepherding	shepherding one of	shepherding one of
`H7462-05`	1 Samuel 17:40	הָ/רֹעִ֧ים	haroim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	of the shepherd's	the tending-ones	of the shepherds
`H7462-05`	1 Samuel 25:7	הָ/רֹעִ֤ים	haroim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	the shepherds	the tending-ones	the shepherds
`H7462-24`	1 Samuel 25:16	רֹעִ֥ים	roim	`HVqrmpa`	shepherding	shepherding ones	shepherding ones
`H7462-26`	2 Samuel 5:2	תִרְעֶ֤ה	tireeh	`HVqi2ms`	will shepherd	you (masculine) will see	you will shepherd
`H7462-09`	2 Samuel 7:7	לִ/רְע֛וֹת	lireot	`HR/Vqc`	to shepherd	to shepherd	to shepherd
`H7462-19`	1 Kings 22:17	רֹעֶ֑ה	roeh	`HVqrmsa`	shepherd	shepherding one of	shepherding one of
`H7462-05`	2 Kings 10:12	הָרֹעִ֖ים	haroim	`HNp`	of the shepherds	the tending-ones	Raah
`H7462-40`	Isaiah 5:17	וְ/רָע֥וּ	verau	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and lambs will graze	and they shepherded	and they will graze
`H7462-27`	Isaiah 11:7	תִּרְעֶ֔ינָה	tireeynah	`HVqi3fp`	shall graze	they (feminine) will tend	they will graze
`H7462-44`	Isaiah 13:20	וְ/רֹעִ֖ים	veroim	`HC/Vqrmpa`	shepherds	shepherding ones	shepherding ones
`H7462-40`	Isaiah 14:30	וְ/רָעוּ֙	verau	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and shall graze	and they shepherded	and they shall pasture
`H7462-45`	Isaiah 27:10	יִרְעֶ֥ה	yireeh	`HVqi3ms`	will-graze	he will see	he will graze
`H7462-45`	Isaiah 30:23	יִרְעֶ֥ה	yireeh	`HVqi3ms`	will graze	he will see	will graze
`H7462-24`	Isaiah 31:4	רֹעִ֔ים	roim	`HVqrmpa`	of shepherds	shepherding ones	shepherds
`H7462-06`	Isaiah 40:11	כְּ/רֹעֶה֙	keroeh	`HR/Vqrmsa`	like a shepherd	as a shepherding one	as a shepherding one
`H7462-45`	Isaiah 40:11	יִרְעֶ֔ה	yireeh	`HVqi3ms`	he will tend	he will see	he will tend
`H7462-19`	Isaiah 44:20	רֹעֶ֣ה	roeh	`HVqrmsa`	feeds	shepherding one of	shepherding one of
`H7462-48`	Isaiah 49:9	יִרְע֔וּ	yireu	`HVqi3mp`	they will feed	they will shepherd	they will shepherd
`H7462-24`	Isaiah 56:11	רֹעִ֔ים	roim	`HVqrmpa`	shepherds	shepherding ones	shepherds
`H7462-40`	Isaiah 61:5	וְ/רָע֖וּ	verau	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and feed	and they shepherded	and they shall shepherd
`H7462-20`	Isaiah 63:11	רֹעֵ֣י	roey	`HVqrmpc`	the shepherds	shepherding ones of	shepherds of
`H7462-48`	Isaiah 65:25	יִרְע֣וּ	yireu	`HVqi3mp`	shall-graze	they will shepherd	they will graze
`H7462-38`	Jeremiah 2:8	וְ/הָ/רֹעִ֖ים	veharoim	`HC/Td/Vqrmpa`	and the shepherds	the shepherding ones	and the shepherding ones

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