רֵעַ
𐤓𐤏
rêaʻ
H7452 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A resounding sound, often a loud noise such as a shout, cry, or clangor, especially in contexts of war, celebration, or tumult. Refers to both jubilant or joyful exclamations and harsh, alarming sounds. May denote an exultant shout (as in praise or rejoicing), or a warning cry (such as during battle or disaster).
Semantic Range
shout of joy, shout of alarm, battle cry, noise of tumult, celebratory noise, warning cry
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root רוע, which carries the core meaning 'to shout, cry aloud, raise a noise.' The noun רֵעַ is formed as a derivative, indicating the result or manifestation of this vocal action—the noise or clamor itself. The formation follows a common nominal pattern in Hebrew for denoting an instance or object related to the root action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In narrative and poetic texts of the Hebrew Bible, רֵעַ is used to convey the audible element of communal emotion—such as battle cries on the field, the sound of celebration and praise at religious gatherings, or even the noise accompanying disaster. It is connected to acts meant to mobilize, warn, or express collective feeling, rather than simply describing an impersonal sound. The term appears most frequently in Psalms and prophetic literature, often in parallel with other words for shouting or uproar (e.g., תְּרוּעָה). English translations sometimes render it as 'noise,' 'shout,' or 'cry aloud,' though these can miss the sense of collective emotional expression or purposeful alarm. Over time, the term's specific sense may be more strongly associated with liturgical or military contexts in exilic and post-exilic texts, whereas in earlier periods (monarchic, pre-exilic) it holds a broader connotation of vociferous exclamation. It should not be confused with related but distinct roots such as רֵעַ (H7453), 'companion.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רוּעַ; a crash (of thunder), noise (of war), shout (of joy); [idiom] aloud, noise, shouted.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רוע (r-w-ʿ) — to shout, cry aloud, make a loud noise
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7321 | רוּעַ | in raising a shout |
| H7465 | רֹעָה | shattering one |
| H8643 | תְּרוּעָה | with a shout-blast |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7452-01 |
בְּ/רֵעֹ֑/ה | bereoh | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
as they shouted | in his resounding shout | 1 |
H7452-02 |
רֵ֑עַ | rea | HNcmsa |
aloud | resounding shout | 1 |
H7452-03 |
רֵע֑/וֹ | reo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his friend/companion | his resounding shout | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7452-01 |
Exodus 32:17 | בְּ/רֵעֹ֑/ה | bereoh | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
as they shouted | in his resounding shout |
H7452-02 |
Micah 4:9 | רֵ֑עַ | rea | HNcmsa |
aloud | resounding shout |
H7452-03 |
Job 36:33 | רֵע֑/וֹ | reo | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his friend/companion | his resounding shout |