Lexical Summary rabad: To spread, to make a bed, to arrange Original Word: רָבַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deck A primitive root; to spread -- deck. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to spread over, deck NASB Translation spread (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [רָבַד] verb be-spread, deck (compare Arabic  see shew patches of colour, become clouded (of sky); Late Hebrew רֹבֶד pavement, paved terrace, ᵑ7 רוֺבֵדָא pavement); — Qal Perfect1singular מַרְבֵרִּים רָבֵדְתִּי עַרְשִׂי Proverbs 7:16 with spreads (coverlets) have I be spread my couch; read also Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִרְבְּדוּ לְשָׁאוּל 1 Samuel 9:25 ᵐ5 Th We Dr and others (for ᵑ0 וַיְדַבֵּר) ׳עִם שׁ, object omitted. Topical Lexicon Root Idea and Image רָבַד evokes the deliberate act of spreading or arranging fabric so that a surface is fully covered. The picture is domestic, intentional, and preparatory—an activity performed in advance of what will happen upon the prepared bed or couch. Only Biblical Occurrence: Proverbs 7:16 “I have spread my couch with coverings, with colored linens from Egypt” (Proverbs 7:16). Here the verb forms part of the seductress’s speech. What she spreads is not merely cloth but an invitation to sin. The carefully laid out linens highlight forethought, expense, and sensual appeal; the verb therefore becomes a window into how temptation is staged—methodically and attractively. Cultural and Historical Background 1. Imported Egyptian linen was a luxury item in the eighth–sixth centuries BC, prized for its fineness and bright dyes. References in Genesis 41:42 and Ezekiel 27:7 confirm a vigorous linen trade between Egypt and Israel’s coastal ports. Moral and Theological Implications Proverbs 7 sets wisdom against folly by dramatizing sexual temptation. The act of רָבַד becomes a symbol for: Connections within Wisdom Literature Job contrasts divine majesty with mortal fragility: “He stretches out the north over empty space” (Job 26:7). While a different verb, the conceptual overlap underscores how both God and humans “spread” surfaces—God in creative sovereignty, the seductress in manipulative self-service. Proverbs frequently contrasts righteous and wicked preparations (Proverbs 4:16–17 versus 24:27), showing that what one spreads reveals one’s heart. New Testament Echoes Though the Hebrew verb does not reappear in the New Testament, its thematic counterpart surfaces in passages warning believers to avoid carefully prepared enticements: Pastoral Applications 1. Discernment: Teach believers to recognize the layered preparations behind temptation—media, relationships, and settings intentionally arrayed to ensnare. Homiletical Outline A. The Bed Is Spread (Proverbs 7:16): attraction of sin. B. The Price Is Hidden (7:22–23): aftermath of sin. C. The Better Covering (Psalm 32:1): forgiveness and renewal through Christ. Further Study • Archaeological reports on Iron Age textile trade. Forms and Transliterations רָבַ֣דְתִּי רבדתי rā·ḇaḏ·tî rāḇaḏtî raVadtiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 7:16 HEB: מַ֭רְבַדִּים רָבַ֣דְתִּי עַרְשִׂ֑י חֲ֝טֻב֗וֹת NAS: I have spread my couch KJV: I have decked my bed with coverings INT: coverings have spread my couch colored 1 Occurrence |
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