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רֹעִי

𐤓𐤏𐤉

rôʻîy

H7473 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רעה to pasture, to tend, to feed, to shepherd

Definition

One who tends, leads, and cares for sheep or other livestock; a shepherd. By extension, the term can refer to someone who acts as a guardian, caretaker, or leader—especially over a group or community; the sense can include both literal herder and figurative leader depending on context.

Semantic Range

shepherd, herdsman, one who tends flocks, caretaker or leader (figuratively)

Root / Etymology

רֹעִי is derived from the root רעה (to pasture, to tend, to feed, to shepherd), functioning as an active participle meaning 'my shepherd' or less commonly 'my herdsman.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

רֹעִי primarily appears as a noun in a possessive form (my shepherd). It is used for literal shepherds who tend flocks in agricultural contexts, typical of ancient Israelite society. The term is also famously employed figuratively in poetic or theological passages, such as Psalm 23:1, where it depicts YHWH as 'my shepherd,' expressing guidance and provision. In the monarchic period, the shepherd metaphor is extended to kings and leaders as caretakers of the people. Usage emphasizes the role of guidance, sustenance, and oversight, and is distinct from terms for hired laborers or others with lesser responsibility. English translations as 'shepherd' generally convey the meaning accurately, but can lose some nuances of personal relationship or agency in the term. Later English translations and traditions sometimes read messianic or religious connotations into the term that are not intrinsic in early biblical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from active participle of רָעָה; pastoral; as noun, a shepherd; shipherd.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רעה (r-ʿ-h) — to tend, pasture, graze, care for, guide

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4829 מִרְעֶה in a grazing-place
H4830 מִרְעִית as their pasturage
H7200 רָאָה shepherds of
H7453 רֵעַ with his associate
H7454 רֵעַ to my intention

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7473-03 רֹעֵ֣י roey HVqrmpc herdsmen shepherds of 4
H7473-05 רֹעִ֑/י roi HVqrmsc/Sp1cs my shepherd my shepherd 4
H7473-02 רֹעַ֖/י roay HVqrmpc/Sp1cs my herdsmen my shepherds 1
H7473-04 רֹעֶ֑י/ךָ roeykha HVqrmpc/Sp2ms your herdsmen your shepherds 1
H7473-01 הָ/רֹעִ֖ים haroim HTd/Vqrmpa of the shepherds the tending-ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7473-03 Genesis 13:7 רֹעֵ֣י roey HVqrmpc herdmen shepherds of
H7473-03 Genesis 13:7 רֹעֵ֣י roey-2 HVqrmpc herdmen shepherds of
H7473-02 Genesis 13:8 רֹעַ֖/י roay HVqrmpc/Sp1cs my herdsmen my shepherds
H7473-04 Genesis 13:8 רֹעֶ֑י/ךָ roeykha HVqrmpc/Sp2ms your herdsmen your shepherds
H7473-03 Genesis 26:20 רֹעֵ֣י roey HVqrmpc herdsmen shepherds of
H7473-03 Genesis 26:20 רֹעֵ֥י roey-2 HVqrmpc herdsmen shepherds of
H7473-01 1 Samuel 21:8 הָ/רֹעִ֖ים haroim HTd/Vqrmpa of the shepherds the tending-ones
H7473-05 Isaiah 38:12 רֹעִ֑/י roi HVqrmsc/Sp1cs of my shepherd my shepherd
H7473-05 Isaiah 44:28 רֹעִ֔/י roi HVqrmsc/Sp1cs my shepherd my shepherd
H7473-05 Zechariah 11:17 רֹעִ֤י roi HVqrmsc shepherd my shepherd
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