רַחַץ
𐤓𐤇𐤑
rachats
H7366 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A physical act or vessel involving the application of water for cleansing—primarily a bath for washing the body. Depending on context, denotes a place for bathing, a vessel used for washing, or the act itself. In some instances, may refer to a communal or ritual setting for washing, but always fundamentally connected to bodily cleanliness through bathing.
Semantic Range
bath for washing the body, place of bathing, vessel for cleansing, washbasin, metaphor for subjugation or humiliation
Root / Etymology
From the verb רָחַץ (rachats), meaning 'to wash, bathe.' רַחַץ (rachats) is a noun formation from this root, signifying the result, object, or location of washing, particularly a bath or washing vessel. The root itself conveys the central idea of cleansing with water.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Used very sparingly in biblical texts, the noun רַחַץ appears most notably in contexts involving servants or royal households (e.g., Psalm 60:10, 108:10, where 'washpot' or 'basin' is used metaphorically of Moav). While related to the verb 'to wash,' the noun specifically denotes the means or place for washing, distinguishing it from other vessels or locations described by different terms (such as כִּיּוֹר, kiyyor, 'laver,' which usually refers to the Temple furnishing). In ancient Israelite society, physical washing had both hygienic and ritual implications, but רַחַץ as a noun emphasizes the functional object or site rather than ritual terminology. While English translators use phrases like 'washing pot' or 'washbasin,' these capture only part of the term’s range and lose the underlying connection to ordinary bathing. The word's sparse occurrence and metaphorical use indicate a primarily functional sense rather than established ritual or liturgical meaning. In post-biblical Hebrew, related nouns and roots extend to ritual hand- or body-washing, but רַחַץ in the Hebrew Bible itself is not a technical term for ritual ablution.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָחַץ; a bath; wash(-pot).
Bantu Hebrew
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רחץ (r-ḥ-ts) — wash, bathe, cleanse with water
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7366-01 |
רַחְצִ֗/י | rachetsi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
I wash | my bath | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7366-01 |
Psalms 60:10 | רַחְצִ֗/י | rachetsi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
I wash | my bath |
H7366-01 |
Psalms 108:10 | רַחְצִ֗/י | rachetsi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my washing place | my bath |