רָחַץ (H7364) — Hebrew Lexicon

רָחַץ

𐤓𐤇𐤑

râchats

H7364 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רחץ to wash, to cleanse, to bathe

Definition

To wash or cleanse with water, typically of the body or a part thereof; in some contexts, to bathe oneself or another. The term can also imply ritual or ceremonial purification through washing, apart from ordinary washing for cleanliness.

Semantic Range

to wash (hands, feet, body), to bathe (oneself or another), to wash ritually for purification, to perform acts of hospitality involving washing, to cleanse ceremonially

Root / Etymology

The verb רָחַץ derives from the root רחץ, which at its core conveys the act of washing. The term is a standard verb form (qal, niphal, etc.), generally indicating direct or reflexive action. The root meaning 'to wash' underlies the development of the word's use in both ordinary and ritual contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, רָחַץ primarily appears in contexts of personal hygiene (washing feet, hands, or the whole body), hospitality (guests are offered water to wash), and ritual purification (such as priests washing before entering sacred spaces, or those who have become ritually impure performing washing as part of purification). Across the periods, the function oscillates between practical cleanliness and ritual significance: washing associated with the sanctuary regulations (e.g., Leviticus and Exodus) extends the word's sense to acts that confer or symbolize purity and readiness for holy service. In narrative and legal texts, the action may be mundane (Genesis 18:4: feet-washing as hospitality) or highly ritualized (Exodus 30:19: priests washing to serve). The concept of 'washing' merges in later Judaism into broader ritual ablutions, but the biblical usage should not be conflated with later rabbinic practice. English translations often use 'wash' or 'bathe,' but may obscure its significance in sacred practices. By contrast with טָבַל (H2881), meaning 'to dip, immerse,' רָחַץ generally refers to surface washing rather than full immersion.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to lave (the whole or a part of a thing); bathe (self), wash (self).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רחץ (r-ḥ-ṣ) — to wash, to cleanse, to bathe

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H7366	רַחַץ	my bath
H7367	רַחְצָה	the bathing-place

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7364-20`	וְ/רָחַ֤ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed	21
`H7364-23`	וְ/רַחֲצ֖וּ	verachatsu	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and they shall wash	and wash	6
`H7364-24`	יִרְחַ֣ץ	yirechats	`HVqi3ms`	he shall wash	he will wash	5
`H7364-18`	וַ/יִּרְחַ֥ץ	vayirechats	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and washed	and he washed	4
`H7364-21`	וְ/רָחַצְתָּ֥	verachatseta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and you shall wash	and you washed	4
`H7364-04`	לְ/רָחְצָ֑ה	lerachetsah	`HR/Vqc`	for washing	to wash	4
`H7364-06`	רָחַ֣ץ	rachats	`HVqp3ms`	he has washed	he washed	3
`H7364-25`	יִרְחֲצוּ	yirechatsu	`HVqi3mp`	shall wash	they will wash	3
`H7364-05`	לִ/רְחֹ֣ץ	lirechots	`HR/Vqc`	to wash	to wash	3
`H7364-09`	רָחָ֑צוּ	rachatsu	`HVqp3cp`	bathed	they washed	2
`H7364-19`	וַ/יִּרְחֲצ֣וּ	vayirechatsu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they washed	and they washed	2
`H7364-02`	אֶרְחַ֥ץ	erechats	`HVqi1cs`	I will wash	I will wash	2
`H7364-01`	בִּ/רְחֹ֣ץ	birechots	`HR/Vqc`	when my steps were washed	in washing	1
`H7364-22`	וְ/רָחַ֣צְתְּ	verachatsete	`HC/Vqq2fs`	and-wash-yourself	and you shall wash	1
`H7364-10`	רְחַ֥ץ	rechats	`HVqv2ms`	Wash	Wash!	1
`H7364-08`	רָחַ֥צְתִּי	rachatseti	`HVqp1cs`	I have washed	I washed	1
`H7364-11`	רֹֽחֲצוֹת֙	rochatsot	`HVqrfpa`	bathed	washing women	1
`H7364-15`	וּ/רְחַ֣ץ	urechats	`HC/Vqv2ms`	and wash	and wash	1
`H7364-16`	וָ/אֶרְחַ֖ץ	vaerechats	`HC/Vqw1cs`	and I washed	and I washed	1
`H7364-13`	רֻחָֽץ	ruchats	`HVPp3ms`	is washed	was washed	1
`H7364-14`	רֻחַ֖צְתְּ	ruchatsete	`HVPp2fs`	were you washed	you were washed	1
`H7364-12`	רֹחֶ֖צֶת	rochetset	`HVqrfsa`	bathing	washing woman	1
`H7364-07`	רָחַ֛צְתְּ	rachatsete	`HVqp2fs`	you washed	you washed	1
`H7364-17`	וָ/אֶרְחָצֵ֣/ךְ	vaerechatsekhe	`HC/Vqw1cs/Sp2fs`	Then I bathed you	and I washed you	1
`H7364-03`	הִתְרָחַ֥צְתִּי	hiterachatseti	`HVtp1cs`	I wash myself	I washed myself	1

Occurrences in Scripture

72 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7364-23`	Genesis 18:4	וְ/רַחֲצ֖וּ	verachatsu	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and wash	and wash
`H7364-23`	Genesis 19:2	וְ/רַחֲצ֣וּ	verachatsu	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and wash	and wash
`H7364-05`	Genesis 24:32	לִ/רְחֹ֣ץ	lirechots	`HR/Vqc`	to wash	to wash
`H7364-19`	Genesis 43:24	וַ/יִּרְחֲצ֣וּ	vayirechatsu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they washed	and they washed
`H7364-18`	Genesis 43:31	וַ/יִּרְחַ֥ץ	vayirechats	`HC/Vqw3ms`	he washed	and he washed
`H7364-05`	Exodus 2:5	לִ/רְחֹ֣ץ	lirechots	`HR/Vqc`	to bathe	to wash
`H7364-21`	Exodus 29:4	וְ/רָחַצְתָּ֥	verachatseta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and you shall wash	and you washed
`H7364-21`	Exodus 29:17	וְ/רָחַצְתָּ֤	verachatseta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and you shall wash	and you washed
`H7364-04`	Exodus 30:18	לְ/רָחְצָ֑ה	lerachetsah	`HR/Vqc`	for washing	to wash
`H7364-23`	Exodus 30:19	וְ/רָחֲצ֛וּ	verachatsu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they shall wash	and wash
`H7364-25`	Exodus 30:20	יִרְחֲצוּ	yirechatsu	`HVqi3mp`	they shall wash	they will wash
`H7364-23`	Exodus 30:21	וְ/רָחֲצ֛וּ	verachatsu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they shall wash	and wash
`H7364-21`	Exodus 40:12	וְ/רָחַצְתָּ֥	verachatseta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and you shall wash	and you washed
`H7364-04`	Exodus 40:30	לְ/רָחְצָֽה	lerachetsah	`HR/Vqc`	for washing	to wash
`H7364-23`	Exodus 40:31	וְ/רָחֲצ֣וּ	verachatsu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they washed	and wash
`H7364-25`	Exodus 40:32	יִרְחָ֑צוּ	yirechatsu	`HVqi3mp`	they washed	they will wash
`H7364-24`	Leviticus 1:9	יִרְחַ֣ץ	yirechats	`HVqi3ms`	he shall wash	he will wash
`H7364-24`	Leviticus 1:13	יִרְחַ֣ץ	yirechats	`HVqi3ms`	he-shall-wash	he will wash
`H7364-18`	Leviticus 8:6	וַ/יִּרְחַ֥ץ	vayirechats	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and washed	and he washed
`H7364-06`	Leviticus 8:21	רָחַ֣ץ	rachats	`HVqp3ms`	he washed	he washed
`H7364-18`	Leviticus 9:14	וַ/יִּרְחַ֥ץ	vayirechats	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he washed	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 14:8	וְ/רָחַ֤ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and shall bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 14:9	וְ/רָחַ֧ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he shall wash	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:5	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:6	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:7	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:8	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:10	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:11	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:13	וְ/רָחַ֧ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:16	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	then he shall wash	and he washed
`H7364-23`	Leviticus 15:18	וְ/רָחֲצ֣וּ	verachatsu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they shall bathe	and wash
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:21	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:22	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 15:27	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 16:4	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he shall bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 16:24	וְ/רָחַ֨ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he shall wash	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 16:26	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 16:28	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and-bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Leviticus 17:15	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and bathe	and he washed
`H7364-24`	Leviticus 17:16	יִרְחָ֑ץ	yirechats	`HVqi3ms`	he bathes	he will wash
`H7364-06`	Leviticus 22:6	רָחַ֥ץ	rachats	`HVqp3ms`	he has washed	he washed
`H7364-20`	Numbers 19:7	וְ/רָחַ֤ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and shall bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Numbers 19:8	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and-bathe	and he washed
`H7364-20`	Numbers 19:19	וְ/רָחַ֥ץ	verachats	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and-he-shall-bathe	and he washed
`H7364-25`	Deuteronomy 21:6	יִרְחֲצוּ֙	yirechatsu	`HVqi3mp`	shall wash	they will wash
`H7364-24`	Deuteronomy 23:12	יִרְחַ֣ץ	yirechats	`HVqi3ms`	he shall wash	he will wash
`H7364-19`	Judges 19:21	וַֽ/יִּרְחֲצוּ֙	vayirechatsu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they washed	and they washed
`H7364-05`	1 Samuel 25:41	לִ/רְחֹ֕ץ	lirechots	`HR/Vqc`	to wash	to wash
`H7364-12`	2 Samuel 11:2	רֹחֶ֖צֶת	rochetset	`HVqrfsa`	bathing	washing woman
`H7364-15`	2 Samuel 11:8	וּ/רְחַ֣ץ	urechats	`HC/Vqv2ms`	and wash	and wash
`H7364-18`	2 Samuel 12:20	וַ/יִּרְחַ֣ץ	vayirechats	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and washed	and he washed
`H7364-09`	1 Kings 22:38	רָחָ֑צוּ	rachatsu	`HVqp3cp`	bathed	they washed
`H7364-21`	2 Kings 5:10	וְ/רָחַצְתָּ֤	verachatseta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and wash	and you washed
`H7364-02`	2 Kings 5:12	אֶרְחַ֥ץ	erechats	`HVqi1cs`	wash	I will wash
`H7364-10`	2 Kings 5:13	רְחַ֥ץ	rechats	`HVqv2ms`	Wash	Wash!
`H7364-09`	Isaiah 1:16	רַחֲצוּ֙	rachatsu	`HVqv2mp`	wash yourselves	they washed
`H7364-06`	Isaiah 4:4	רָחַ֣ץ	rachats	`HVqp3ms`	he has washed	he washed
`H7364-14`	Ezekiel 16:4	רֻחַ֖צְתְּ	ruchatsete	`HVPp2fs`	were you washed	you were washed
`H7364-17`	Ezekiel 16:9	וָ/אֶרְחָצֵ֣/ךְ	vaerechatsekhe	`HC/Vqw1cs/Sp2fs`	Then I bathed you	and I washed you
`H7364-07`	Ezekiel 23:40	רָחַ֛צְתְּ	rachatsete	`HVqp2fs`	you washed	you washed
`H7364-02`	Psalms 26:6	אֶרְחַ֣ץ	erechats	`HVqi1cs`	I will wash	I will wash
`H7364-24`	Psalms 58:11	יִ֝רְחַ֗ץ	yirechats	`HVqi3ms`	he washes	he will wash
`H7364-16`	Psalms 73:13	וָ/אֶרְחַ֖ץ	vaerechats	`HC/Vqw1cs`	and I washed	and I washed
`H7364-13`	Proverbs 30:12	רֻחָֽץ	ruchats	`HVPp3ms`	is washed	was washed
`H7364-03`	Job 9:30	הִתְרָחַ֥צְתִּי	hiterachatseti	`HVtp1cs`	I wash myself	I washed myself
`H7364-01`	Job 29:6	בִּ/רְחֹ֣ץ	birechots	`HR/Vqc`	when my steps were washed	in washing
`H7364-08`	Song of Songs 5:3	רָחַ֥צְתִּי	rachatseti	`HVqp1cs`	I have washed	I washed
`H7364-11`	Song of Songs 5:12	רֹֽחֲצוֹת֙	rochatsot	`HVqrfpa`	bathed	washing women
`H7364-22`	Ruth 3:3	וְ/רָחַ֣צְתְּ	verachatsete	`HC/Vqq2fs`	and-wash-yourself	and you shall wash
`H7364-04`	2 Chronicles 4:6	לְ/רָחְצָ֣ה	lerachetsah	`HR/Vqc`	for washing	to wash
`H7364-04`	2 Chronicles 4:6	לְ/רָחְצָ֥ה	lerachetsah-2	`HR/Vqc`	for washing	to wash

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