רָסַס
𐤓𐤎𐤎
râçaç
H7450 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To moisten, to sprinkle or make wet (with drops); to temper or lightly wet something, especially in culinary or metallurgical contexts. Carries the sense of delicate wetting or sprinkling, rather than a thorough soaking.
Semantic Range
to moisten lightly, to temper with liquid, to sprinkle with drops, to mix while wetting, to delicately wet
Root / Etymology
From the root רסס (ר־ס־ס), connected to the noun רָסִיס (rasis) meaning 'drop' or 'dew drop.' The verb is denominative, meaning it is formed from the noun, reflecting the action suggested by 'drops'—namely, sprinkling or slight moistening. The underlying root may suggest the concept of shattering or minute particles, as drops are minute portions of liquid.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רָסַס appears exclusively in denominative form and is attested only rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Isaiah 30:24). Its usage points to actions such as lightly moistening feed for animals, which in ancient agrarian context could refer to mixing or tempering fodder with water or some form of liquid. The semantic emphasis is on the controlled addition of liquid by drops rather than pouring. The related noun רָסִיס primarily means 'a drop'—especially a dew-drop or water droplet—and gives rise to the verb’s meaning of delicate wetting. This is distinct from verbs like נטף (to drip or ooze) or זרק (to sprinkle/fling more forcefully). English translations often render רָסַס as 'moisten,' 'mix,' or 'temper,' but the nuance of light, precise wetting is often lost. In the monarchic and post-exilic periods, as metallurgy and food preparation terminology developed, the term could refer to tempering with small amounts of liquid, but evidence for broader use is limited.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to comminute; used only as denominative from רָסִיס,; to moisten (with drops); temper.
Bantu Hebrew
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רסס (r-s-s) — minute particles, drops, light moistening, sprinkling
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7450-01 |
לָ/רֹ֣ס | laros | HR/Vqc |
to moisten | to sprinkle with drops | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7450-01 |
Ezekiel 46:14 | לָ/רֹ֣ס | laros | HR/Vqc |
to moisten | to sprinkle with drops |