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רֵעֶה

𐤓𐤏𐤄

rêʻeh

H7463 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רעה to associate with, to accompany, to keep company

Definition

A companion or associate, typically male, who shares a close bond or partnership. The term can range from a casual acquaintance to a trusted confidant, depending on context. In some settings, it emphasizes shared activity, partnership, or covenantal association, but does not necessarily imply deep emotional intimacy. In contrast to more formal or kinship terms, רֵעֶה often designates one with whom there is mutual obligation or loyalty, whether in friendship, cooperation, or alliance.

Semantic Range

companion, associate, peer, fellow, ally, friend (in the sense of companion rather than intimate), covenant partner

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root רעה (ר-ע-ה), meaning 'to associate with, to be a companion, to keep company.' The noun form רֵעֶה indicates the person with whom one associates, i.e., a companion or associate. This is distinct from kin terms, as it focuses on shared relationship or activity rather than blood ties. The root conveys the idea of association more than the emotional aspects implied by some English equivalents.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, רֵעֶה refers primarily to a companion in social, work, or covenantal relationships between Israelite men. It often appears in legal and ethical contexts to designate one's peer, neighbor, or associate whom one is obligated to treat justly (e.g., Leviticus 19:13, Exodus 21:18). Unlike אָח ('brother'), which centers on familial bonds, or אָהֵב ('beloved, intimate friend'), רֵעֶה is broader, encompassing social peers and covenant partners. In some periods, it takes on the legal meaning of a fellow community member with shared reciprocal obligations. Later translations occasionally render it as 'friend,' but this English word may inaccurately emphasize intimacy; 'companion,' 'peer,' or 'associate' often better preserves the nuance. The semantic domain overlaps with רֵעַ (Strong's H7453), which derives from the same root but may appear in slightly different grammatical forms. The term's use remains relatively stable across texts, but its social implications depend on genre and context, especially in narratives, legal codes, and wisdom literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from רָעָה; a (male) companion; friend.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ראה (r-ʾ-h) — to see, to perceive, to consider, to appear, to show

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1254 בָּרָא and he saw
H3372 יָרֵא he sees
H4179 מוֹרִיָּה the Seen-of-Yah
H4758 מַרְאֶה in the appearance
H4759 מַרְאָה in the visible-manifestation

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7463-01 רֵעֶ֥ה reeh HNcmsc friend See! 3
H7463-02 ו/רעה vrh HC/Ncmsc or your father's friend male companion 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7463-01 2 Samuel 15:37 רֵעֶ֥ה reeh HNcmsc friend See!
H7463-01 2 Samuel 16:16 רֵעֶ֥ה reeh HNcmsc friend See!
H7463-01 1 Kings 4:5 רֵעֶ֥ה reeh HNcmsc friend See!
H7463-02 Proverbs 27:10 ו/רעה vrh HC/Ncmsc or your father's friend male companion
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