← H7256 H7258 →

רָבַץ

𐤓𐤁𐤑

râbats

H7257 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רבץ to lie down, to crouch, to stretch out

Definition

To stretch oneself out, lie down, or crouch, especially in a recumbent posture as of an animal. The verb denotes the act of lying (often on the ground) for rest, sleep, or quiet, and is frequently used for animals lying in their natural manner, but also for people and metaphorically for land or objects. It can also convey the sense of taking a position of repose, dwelling, or even lurking (contextually rare). The verbal action may indicate restfulness, security, or waiting, often drawing on agricultural or pastoral imagery.

Semantic Range

to lie down (of animals or people), to recline for rest or sleep, to crouch (esp. animals), to dwell or reside in a recumbent manner, to lurk (metaphorical sense), to be at rest or in a restful state, to broodingly wait

Root / Etymology

The root ר-ב-ץ (רָבַץ) primarily relates to the physical act of being sprawled or recumbent. The core root meaning is 'to lie down, crouch,' particularly as an animal does. The verb is a basic Semitic root, evident in comparable forms in other Semitic languages, such as Ugaritic and Arabic, associated with lying or reclining. There are derived nouns based on the root referring to 'couch' or 'quarters' (e.g., מִרְבָּץ).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, רָבַץ most often appears in passages describing animals (especially livestock and wild creatures) lying down, frequently with connotations of safety, tranquility, or established residence in a location (e.g., flocks in secure pasture). In poetic and prophetic literature, it extends to imagery of people, nations, or even the land itself 'lying down' in peace or desolation. Some contexts (e.g., Gen 4:7) use the term metaphorically for sin 'crouching' at the door, capturing a posture of readiness or lurking. The word should not be confused with verbs meaning 'to dwell' in a settled residence (e.g., יָשַׁב), as רָבַץ is more specific to the act of stretching out or reclining, not establishing habitation. Across the biblical periods, primary usage remains consistent, but prophetic literature may employ the term with heightened metaphorical nuance. English translations ('lie down', 'crouch', 'rest') generally capture the main range but may fail to convey the specifically animal-associated, physical nuance present in Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal); be implication, to recline, repose, brood, lurk, imbed; crouch (down), fall down, make a fold, lay, (cause to, make to) lie (down), make to rest, sit.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

רבץ (r-b-ts) — to lie down, to crouch, to stretch out in repose

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4769 מַרְבֵּץ to the lying-down place of
H7258 רֵבֶץ for a lying-place of

Word Forms

21 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7257-15 וְ/רָבְצוּ veravetsu HC/Vqq3cp and they will lie down and they lay down 4
H7257-08 רֹבֶ֣צֶת rovetset HVqrfsa lying beneath crouching 3
H7257-07 רֹבֵ֑ץ rovets HVqrmsa is crouching lying-down one 3
H7257-20 יִרְבָּצ֔וּ/ן yirebatsun HVqi3mp/Sn they lie down they will lie down 2
H7257-18 יִרְבָּ֑ץ yirebats HVqi3ms will lie down he will lie down 2
H7257-13 וְֽ֭/רָבַצְתָּ veravatseta HC/Vqq2ms you will lie down and you shall lie down 1
H7257-02 הָ/רֹבֵ֖ץ harovets HTd/Vqrmsa that lies the one lying down 1
H7257-06 רָבָ֑צָה ravatsah HVqp3fs she lay down she lay down 1
H7257-10 תַּרְבִּ֣יץ tarebits HVhi2ms you make it rest you cause to lie down 1
H7257-17 יַרְבִּ֥צוּ yarebitsu HVhi3mp will-lie-down they will cause to lie down 1

Occurrences in Scripture

30 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7257-07 Genesis 4:7 רֹבֵ֑ץ rovets HVqrmsa is crouching lying-down one
H7257-09 Genesis 29:2 רֹבְצִ֣ים rovetsim HVqrmpa lying those lying down
H7257-05 Genesis 49:9 רָבַ֧ץ ravats HVqp3ms he lies down he lay down
H7257-07 Genesis 49:14 רֹבֵ֖ץ rovets HVqrmsa lying down lying-down one
H7257-08 Genesis 49:25 רֹבֶ֣צֶת rovetset HVqrfsa that lies beneath crouching
H7257-07 Exodus 23:5 רֹבֵץ֙ rovets HVqrmsa lying lying-down one
H7257-12 Numbers 22:27 וַ/תִּרְבַּ֖ץ vatirebats HC/Vqw3fs and she lay down and she lay down
H7257-08 Deuteronomy 22:6 רֹבֶ֨צֶת֙ rovetset HVqrfsa sitting crouching
H7257-14 Deuteronomy 29:19 וְ/רָ֤בְצָה veravetsah HC/Vqq3fs and will rest and she lay down
H7257-08 Deuteronomy 33:13 רֹבֶ֥צֶת rovetset HVqrfsa lying beneath crouching
← H7256 Hebrew Lexicon H7258 →