רֵאשׁ
𐤓𐤀𐤔
rêʼsh
H7217 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Head; the uppermost or leading part of the body, or the top or foremost part of an object. Used figuratively for chief, leader, or principal person; also refers to a total or sum when counting people or things in lists or censuses.
Semantic Range
head (body part); head, top, or leading part (of an object); leader, chief, principal person; sum, total (in enumeration or census); beginning or prominent position
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root ראש (ר-א-ש), meaning 'head.' In Aramaic, רֵאשׁ functions similarly to its Hebrew cognate רֹאשׁ, though spelling and pronunciation are distinctive. The root's core meaning is 'head,' but the word also develops extended senses depending on context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רֵאשׁ is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew רֹאשׁ and appears primarily in the Aramaic portions of biblical books such as Ezra and Daniel. Its primary usage is anatomical, but it frequently appears in administrative or official contexts where it can denote a principal person, leader, or chief official. The term is also used idiomatically to mean 'sum' or 'total' in contexts involving enumeration, reflecting the practice of counting 'heads.' While some English translations sometimes render this as 'Jew' or 'chief' depending on context, more precise translation is 'principal person,' 'leader,' or simply 'head,' especially when distinguishing from later Judean or Israelite-specific terms. The semantic range in Aramaic use remains closely aligned with the Hebrew but can shift according to regional dialect and administrative context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to רֹאשׁ; the head; figuratively, the sum; chief, head, sum.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ראשׁ (r-ʾ-š) — to be head, to lead, to be foremost, to count heads
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4761 | מַרְאָשָׁה | your dominions |
| H4762 | מַרְאֵשָׁה | to Mareshah |
| H4763 | מְרַאֲשָׁה | his headrests |
| H7219 | רֹאשׁ | poison-plant |
| H7221 | רִאשָׁה | from your beginnings |
Word Forms
9 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7217-06 |
רֵאשִׁ֖/י | reshi | ANcmsc/Sp1cs |
my head | my head | 4 |
H7217-04 |
רֵאשֵׁ/הּ֙ | resheh | ANcmsc/Sp3ms |
of his head | his head | 3 |
H7217-07 |
רֵאשִׁין֙ | reshin | ANcmpa |
heads | heads | 1 |
H7217-01 |
רֵ֥אשׁ | resh | ANcmsc |
head | be head | 1 |
H7217-02 |
רֵאשָׁ֖/ה | reshah | ANcmsd/Td |
the head | the head | 1 |
H7217-03 |
רֵאשָׁ֛/ךְ | reshakhe | ANcmsc/Sp2ms |
of your head | your head | 1 |
H7217-08 |
בְ/רָאשֵׁי/הֹֽם | verasheyhom | AR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp |
were at their head | at their heads | 1 |
H7217-09 |
בְ/רֵאשַׁ֔/הּ | vereshah | AR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs |
on its head | on her head | 1 |
H7217-05 |
רֵֽאשְׁ/הוֹן֙ | reshehon | ANcmsc/Sp3mp |
of their heads | their head | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
14 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7217-03 |
Daniel 2:28 | רֵאשָׁ֛/ךְ | reshakhe | ANcmsc/Sp2ms |
of your head | your head |
H7217-04 |
Daniel 2:32 | רֵאשֵׁ/הּ֙ | resheh | ANcmsc/Sp3ms |
head | his head |
H7217-02 |
Daniel 2:38 | רֵאשָׁ֖/ה | reshah | ANcmsd/Td |
the head | the head |
H7217-05 |
Daniel 3:27 | רֵֽאשְׁ/הוֹן֙ | reshehon | ANcmsc/Sp3mp |
of their heads | their head |
H7217-06 |
Daniel 4:2 | רֵאשִׁ֖/י | reshi | ANcmsc/Sp1cs |
of my head | my head |
H7217-06 |
Daniel 4:7 | רֵאשִׁ֖/י | reshi | ANcmsc/Sp1cs |
of-my-head | my head |
H7217-06 |
Daniel 4:10 | רֵאשִׁ֖/י | reshi | ANcmsc/Sp1cs |
upon my bed | my head |
H7217-04 |
Daniel 7:1 | רֵאשֵׁ֖/הּ | resheh | ANcmsc/Sp3ms |
of his head | his head |
H7217-01 |
Daniel 7:1 | רֵ֥אשׁ | resh | ANcmsc |
head | be head |
H7217-07 |
Daniel 7:6 | רֵאשִׁין֙ | reshin | ANcmpa |
heads | heads |