רַחְצָה
𐤓𐤇𐤑𐤄
rachtsâh
H7367 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A place designated for washing or bathing, particularly referring to a bathhouse, pool, or area where ritual or practical cleansing takes place. The term may also denote the act of bathing itself or the facility used for communal or ritual washing.
Semantic Range
bathing place, bathhouse, pool, place of washing, the act of bathing; sometimes the means or facility for washing
Root / Etymology
From the root רָחַץ (rachats), meaning 'to wash, bathe.' רַחְצָה is the feminine noun form built from this root, indicating the place or occasion of washing rather than simply the action itself.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רַחְצָה appears in late Biblical Hebrew, particularly in post-exilic books (e.g., Nehemiah 3:15), to describe a structure or area used for washing—possibly communal facilities or city pools. The term can refer both to facilities designed for hygienic practices and those used for ritual purification, especially in the context of urban environments after the return from exile. Earlier texts use verbs or other nouns; the concept of a dedicated 'bathing place' reflects evolving public and ritual infrastructure. Standard English translations like 'pool' or 'bath' may not fully capture the social and ritual significance of such locations in Second Temple period communities. The term is distinct from מִקְוֶה (miqveh), which gains technical meaning for ritual immersion baths in post-biblical Hebrew. In the Hebrew Bible, רַחְצָה is less technical, focusing on the location/function rather than specific ritual requirements. English translations historically render the term as 'pool,' 'bath,' or 'bathing place,' but these choices sometimes obscure the communal and urban-scale nuance of the Hebrew term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of רַחַץ; a bathing place; washing.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רחץ (r-ḥ-ṣ) — wash, bathe, cleanse
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7367-01 |
הָ/רַחְצָ֑ה | harachetsah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the washing | the bathing-place | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7367-01 |
Song of Songs 4:2 | הָ/רַחְצָ֑ה | harachetsah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the washing | the bathing-place |
H7367-01 |
Song of Songs 6:6 | הָ/רַחְצָ֑ה | harachetsah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the washing | the bathing-place |