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רְאִי

𐤓𐤀𐤉

rᵉʼîy

H7209 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ראה to see, look, perceive

Definition

An object used for viewing one's reflection, usually made from polished metal in ancient contexts. The term denotes a physical device by which a person could observe their own image, commonly referred to as a mirror or looking-glass.

Semantic Range

mirror, looking-glass, reflective surface for viewing oneself

Root / Etymology

From the root רָאָה (to see, look, perceive). רְאִי is a noun formation, indicating an instrument or means associated with seeing, i.e., something that enables one to see (their own reflection).

Historical & Contextual Notes

רְאִי occurs in the Hebrew Bible to denote mirrors, which in ancient Israelite society were typically crafted from highly polished bronze or copper, rather than glass. These were used primarily for personal grooming. The term appears in contexts such as Exodus 38:8, where the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting donated their mirrors for the construction of the laver. The nuance here is not merely 'a glass mirror' as in modern usage, but a reflective metallic object. The word is relatively rare and, unlike some terms for tools or artifacts, did not become specialized in religious terminology. English translations that render רְאִי as 'glass' may inadvertently introduce anachronism, as glass mirrors were not present in the Israelite period. No evidence indicates the term was used metaphorically in biblical Hebrew; its usage is concrete and descriptive of material artifacts. The word also occurs in later Hebrew but acquires broader meaning as mirror technology develops.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָאָה; a mirror (as seen); looking glass.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ראה (r-ʾ-h) — to see, look, perceive

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1254 בָּרָא and he saw
H3372 יָרֵא he sees
H4179 מוֹרִיָּה the Seen-of-Yah
H4758 מַרְאֶה in the appearance
H4759 מַרְאָה in the visible-manifestation

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7209-01 כִּ/רְאִ֥י kirei HR/Ncmsa like a mirror mirror 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7209-01 Job 37:18 כִּ/רְאִ֥י kirei HR/Ncmsa like a mirror mirror
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