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רְאָיָה

𐤓𐤀𐤉𐤄

Reayah

H7211 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ראה to see, perceive, look upon

Definition

Masculine personal name meaning 'Yahweh has seen' or 'Yah(weh) has regarded.' The name is constructed theophorically, combining a verbal element from the root רָאָה (to see) with the divine element יָהּ (Yah, a form of the divine name). It appears in biblical texts as the name of three different figures, all identified as Israelites, but with no narrative or descriptive detail beyond genealogical listings. The primary semantic sense is that of a statement of divine attention, recognition, or regard.

Semantic Range

personal name meaning 'Yahweh has seen' or 'Yahweh has regarded'; expresses the idea of divine attention, selection, or recognition; attested exclusively as a theophoric Israelite male name in genealogical contexts

Root / Etymology

The name is formed from the verb רָאָה (to see, perceive, look upon) and the theophoric suffix יָהּ (Yah, an abbreviated form of the Tetragrammaton YHWH). Thus, רְאָיָה is a verbal sentence name: 'Yah has seen' or 'Yahweh has regarded.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

רְאָיָה appears solely as a personal name, attested in genealogical lists in the books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah (1 Chr 4:2; Ezra 2:47; Neh 7:50). In each context, the individuals are listed among returned exiles or within clan structures of the Israelite community, reflecting its use within post-exilic Judahite society. The construction is typical of post-exilic theophoric names that express trust or testimony regarding divine action (cf. other names with -יה ending, such as עֲזַרְיָה, 'Yah has helped'). English translations generally render the name as 'Reaiah' or 'Reaia,' but these forms do not carry the meaning of the original; the semantic content is explicit in the Hebrew. There is no indication in the Hebrew Bible that the name was in use among non-Israelites or outside the theophoric naming tradition. Usage is stable and does not reflect major semantic shifts across periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָאָה and יָהּ; Jah has seen; Reajah, the name of three Israelites; Reaia, Reaiah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ראה (r-ʾ-h) — to see, perceive, look upon

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

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7211-01 רְאָיָֽה reayah HNp Reaiah Yah has seen 3
H7211-02 וּ/רְאָיָ֤ה ureayah HC/Np and Reaiah and Yah has seen 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7211-01 Ezra 2:47 רְאָיָֽה reayah HNp Reaiah Yah has seen
H7211-01 Nehemiah 7:50 רְאָיָ֥ה reayah HNp Reaiah Yah has seen
H7211-02 1 Chronicles 4:2 וּ/רְאָיָ֤ה ureayah HC/Np and Reaiah and Yah has seen
H7211-01 1 Chronicles 5:5 רְאָיָ֥ה reayah HNp Reaiah Yah has seen
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