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רִאשָׁה

𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤄

riʼshâh

H7221 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ראשׁ to be first, to lead, to begin, to be at the head

Definition

Fem. noun denoting the concept of a first, initial, or earliest stage, often understood as 'beginning,' 'start,' or 'origin.' Typically refers to the starting point in a sequence or process, either temporally, spatially, or conceptually. In some contexts, can indicate a state of priority or preeminence among a group or series.

Semantic Range

beginning, start, origin, outset, priority, preeminence

Root / Etymology

From the root רֹאשׁ (rosh), meaning 'head,' 'chief,' or 'top.' The form רִאשָׁה derives from the root's sense of what comes first or leads, shifting the meaning from physical 'head' to abstract 'first' or 'beginning.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

רִאשָׁה is a rarely used feminine noun, occurring in poetic or formal registers rather than in everyday narrative prose, and is notably less common than the masculine רֵאשִׁית ('reshit'). Its use often highlights the abstract concept of initiation or primacy, rather than a physical or concrete object. While רֵאשִׁית is more frequently employed to denote 'beginning' (e.g., Genesis 1:1), רִאשָׁה occasionally appears in later biblical poetry and post-biblical writings, sometimes to connote the idea of precedence, origin, or the very start of an event or entity. Standard English translations almost always render it as 'beginning,' though this can obscure the nuance of primacy or preeminence inherent in the term. The distinction between רֵאשִׁית (often first in a series or process) and רִאשָׁה (the state or quality of being first) can be subtle, but is important for understanding poetic emphasis.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as רֹאשׁ; a beginning; beginning.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ראשׁ (r-ʾ-š) — head, firstness, beginning, leadership, priority

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4761 מַרְאָשָׁה your dominions
H4762 מַרְאֵשָׁה to Mareshah
H4763 מְרַאֲשָׁה his headrests
H7217 רֵאשׁ be head
H7219 רֹאשׁ poison-plant

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7221-01 מֵ/רִאשֹׁ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם merishoteykhem HR/Ncfpc/Sp2mp than at the first from your beginnings 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7221-01 Ezekiel 36:11 מֵ/רִאשֹׁ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם merishoteykhem HR/Ncfpc/Sp2mp than at the first from your beginnings
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