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רָחַץ

𐤓𐤇𐤑

râchats

H7364 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To wash or cleanse with water, typically of the body or a part thereof; in some contexts, to bathe oneself or another. The term can also imply ritual or ceremonial purification through washing, apart from ordinary washing for cleanliness.

Semantic Range

to wash (hands, feet, body), to bathe (oneself or another), to wash ritually for purification, to perform acts of hospitality involving washing, to cleanse ceremonially

Root / Etymology

The verb רָחַץ derives from the root רחץ, which at its core conveys the act of washing. The term is a standard verb form (qal, niphal, etc.), generally indicating direct or reflexive action. The root meaning 'to wash' underlies the development of the word's use in both ordinary and ritual contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, רָחַץ primarily appears in contexts of personal hygiene (washing feet, hands, or the whole body), hospitality (guests are offered water to wash), and ritual purification (such as priests washing before entering sacred spaces, or those who have become ritually impure performing washing as part of purification). Across the periods, the function oscillates between practical cleanliness and ritual significance: washing associated with the sanctuary regulations (e.g., Leviticus and Exodus) extends the word's sense to acts that confer or symbolize purity and readiness for holy service. In narrative and legal texts, the action may be mundane (Genesis 18:4: feet-washing as hospitality) or highly ritualized (Exodus 30:19: priests washing to serve). The concept of 'washing' merges in later Judaism into broader ritual ablutions, but the biblical usage should not be conflated with later rabbinic practice. English translations often use 'wash' or 'bathe,' but may obscure its significance in sacred practices. By contrast with טָבַל (H2881), meaning 'to dip, immerse,' רָחַץ generally refers to surface washing rather than full immersion.

Translation Consistency

primary "wash" 42 occurrences

Most natural and widely used English equivalent for the SILEX range (body washing, bathing, ritual cleansing, hospitality). 'Wash' is the dominant attested rendering (34 of 72) and easily covers both ordinary and ceremonial senses, making it the best single base verb for consistent rendering.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):
"bathe" (7x) "bathing" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to lave (the whole or a part of a thing); bathe (self), wash (self).

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

רחץ (râchats) — to wash, to cleanse, to bathe

Root רחץ to wash, to cleanse, to bathe

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7364-20 וְ/רָחַ֤ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he shall wash 21
H7364-23 וְ/רָחֲצ֛וּ verachatsu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall wash and wash and wash 6
H7364-24 יִרְחַ֣ץ yirechats HVqi3ms he shall wash he will wash he will wash 5
H7364-04 לְ/רָחְצָ֣ה lerachetsah HR/Vqc for washing to wash to wash 4
H7364-18 וַ/יִּרְחַ֣ץ vayirechats HC/Vqw3ms and washed and he washed and he washed 4
H7364-21 וְ/רָחַצְתָּ֤ verachatseta HC/Vqq2ms and you shall wash and you washed and you shall wash 4
H7364-05 לִ/רְחֹ֕ץ lirechots HR/Vqc to wash to wash to wash 3
H7364-06 רָחַ֣ץ rachats HVqp3ms he has washed he washed he washed 3
H7364-25 יִרְחֲצוּ֙ yirechatsu HVqi3mp shall wash they will wash they will wash 3
H7364-02 אֶרְחַ֥ץ erechats HVqi1cs I will wash I will wash I will wash 2

Occurrences in Scripture

72 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7364-23 Genesis 18:4 וְ/רַחֲצ֖וּ verachatsu HC/Vqv2mp and wash and wash and wash
H7364-23 Genesis 19:2 וְ/רַחֲצ֣וּ verachatsu HC/Vqv2mp and wash and wash and wash
H7364-05 Genesis 24:32 לִ/רְחֹ֣ץ lirechots HR/Vqc to wash to wash to wash
H7364-19 Genesis 43:24 וַ/יִּרְחֲצ֣וּ vayirechatsu HC/Vqw3mp and they washed and they washed and they washed
H7364-18 Genesis 43:31 וַ/יִּרְחַ֥ץ vayirechats HC/Vqw3ms he washed and he washed and he washed
H7364-05 Exodus 2:5 לִ/רְחֹ֣ץ lirechots HR/Vqc to bathe to wash to wash
H7364-21 Exodus 29:4 וְ/רָחַצְתָּ֥ verachatseta HC/Vqq2ms and you shall wash and you washed and you shall wash
H7364-21 Exodus 29:17 וְ/רָחַצְתָּ֤ verachatseta HC/Vqq2ms and you shall wash and you washed and you shall wash
H7364-04 Exodus 30:18 לְ/רָחְצָ֑ה lerachetsah HR/Vqc for washing to wash to wash
H7364-23 Exodus 30:19 וְ/רָחֲצ֛וּ verachatsu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall wash and wash and wash
H7364-25 Exodus 30:20 יִרְחֲצוּ yirechatsu HVqi3mp they shall wash they will wash they will wash
H7364-23 Exodus 30:21 וְ/רָחֲצ֛וּ verachatsu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall wash and wash and wash
H7364-21 Exodus 40:12 וְ/רָחַצְתָּ֥ verachatseta HC/Vqq2ms and you shall wash and you washed and you will wash
H7364-04 Exodus 40:30 לְ/רָחְצָֽה lerachetsah HR/Vqc for washing to wash to wash
H7364-23 Exodus 40:31 וְ/רָחֲצ֣וּ verachatsu HC/Vqq3cp and they washed and wash and wash
H7364-25 Exodus 40:32 יִרְחָ֑צוּ yirechatsu HVqi3mp they washed they will wash they washed
H7364-24 Leviticus 1:9 יִרְחַ֣ץ yirechats HVqi3ms he shall wash he will wash he will wash
H7364-24 Leviticus 1:13 יִרְחַ֣ץ yirechats HVqi3ms he-shall-wash he will wash he will wash
H7364-18 Leviticus 8:6 וַ/יִּרְחַ֥ץ vayirechats HC/Vqw3ms and washed and he washed and he washed
H7364-06 Leviticus 8:21 רָחַ֣ץ rachats HVqp3ms he washed he washed he washed
H7364-18 Leviticus 9:14 וַ/יִּרְחַ֥ץ vayirechats HC/Vqw3ms and he washed and he washed and he washed
H7364-20 Leviticus 14:8 וְ/רָחַ֤ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and shall bathe and he washed and he shall bathe
H7364-20 Leviticus 14:9 וְ/רָחַ֧ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and he shall wash and he washed and he shall wash
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:5 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he will wash
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:6 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he washed
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:7 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he will wash
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:8 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he washed
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:10 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and shall bathe
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:11 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he washed
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:13 וְ/רָחַ֧ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he shall bathe
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:16 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms then he shall wash and he washed and he shall wash
H7364-23 Leviticus 15:18 וְ/רָחֲצ֣וּ verachatsu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall bathe and wash and wash
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:21 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he will bathe
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:22 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he washed
H7364-20 Leviticus 15:27 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he shall bathe
H7364-20 Leviticus 16:4 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and he shall bathe and he washed and he will wash
H7364-20 Leviticus 16:24 וְ/רָחַ֨ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and he shall wash and he washed and he shall wash
H7364-20 Leviticus 16:26 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he shall wash
H7364-20 Leviticus 16:28 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and-bathe and he washed and he shall wash
H7364-20 Leviticus 17:15 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and bathe and he washed and he shall bathe
H7364-24 Leviticus 17:16 יִרְחָ֑ץ yirechats HVqi3ms he bathes he will wash he will wash
H7364-06 Leviticus 22:6 רָחַ֥ץ rachats HVqp3ms he has washed he washed he washed
H7364-20 Numbers 19:7 וְ/רָחַ֤ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and shall bathe and he washed and he washed
H7364-20 Numbers 19:8 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and-bathe and he washed and he shall wash
H7364-20 Numbers 19:19 וְ/רָחַ֥ץ verachats HC/Vqq3ms and-he-shall-bathe and he washed and he shall bathe
H7364-25 Deuteronomy 21:6 יִרְחֲצוּ֙ yirechatsu HVqi3mp shall wash they will wash they will wash
H7364-24 Deuteronomy 23:12 יִרְחַ֣ץ yirechats HVqi3ms he shall wash he will wash he will wash
H7364-19 Judges 19:21 וַֽ/יִּרְחֲצוּ֙ vayirechatsu HC/Vqw3mp and they washed and they washed and they washed
H7364-05 1 Samuel 25:41 לִ/רְחֹ֕ץ lirechots HR/Vqc to wash to wash to wash
H7364-12 2 Samuel 11:2 רֹחֶ֖צֶת rochetset HVqrfsa bathing washing woman bathing
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