רְחִיט

𐤓𐤇𐤉𐤈

rᵉchîyṭ

H7351 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רַהַט to flow, to run (as of water), to channel

Definition

A board or plank, particularly used in construction as a panel, beam, or rafter. In its biblical context, רְחִיט refers to a structural element, possibly a flat board or slat that formed part of a building or roof, sometimes functioning as a rafter or other linear timber component integral to architectural frameworks.

Semantic Range

board, plank, panel, rafter, slat, architectural timber, part of a structural framework

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root רָהַט (raḥaṭ), which means 'to run, to flow,' often associated with troughs or channels intended for water. The term רְחִיט seems to metaphorically extend the sense of a 'channel' or 'trough' to the idea of a long board or plank, perhaps inspired by its elongated shape.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רְחִיט appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (Ezekiel 41:6), where it describes architectural details of the Temple in Ezekiel's visionary description. The identification as a 'rafter' or 'panel' is contextually based on comparison to Near Eastern architectural terminology, though precise architectural reconstructions vary. The word is related to רַהַט (raḥaṭ, 'watering trough'), but refers here to a constructional component, not a vessel. Most modern translations render it as 'panel,' 'board,' or 'slat,' but the term is somewhat generic and its specific architectural function is debated. It is distinct from more common words for beams (e.g., קוֹרָה) and is likely a technical or regional term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as רַהַט; a panel (as resembling a trough); rafter.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רהט (r-h-ṭ) — to flow, to run, to channel

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7298 רַהַט water channels

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7351-01 רַהִיטֵ֖/נוּ rahitenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp rafters-our our structural plank 1
H7351-02 רחיט/נו rchytnv HNcmsc/Sp1cp rafters-our our plank 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7351-02 Song of Songs 1:17 רחיט/נו rchytnv HNcmsc/Sp1cp rafters-our our plank
H7351-01 Song of Songs 1:17 רַהִיטֵ֖/נוּ rahitenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp rafters-our our structural plank