Lexical Summary regesh: Tumult, commotion, throng Original Word: רֶגֶשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance company, insurrection Or (feminine) rigshah {rig-shaw'}; from ragash; a tumultuous crowd -- company, insurrection. see HEBREW ragash Brown-Driver-Briggs [רֶ֫גֶשׁ] noun [masculine] throng; — נְהֵלֵךְ בִּרָ֑נֶשׁ Psalm 55:15 used to walk in the throng (compare הָמוֺן Psalm 42:5, also to בית אלהים). [רִגְשָׁה] noun feminine throng; — construct רִגְשַׁת מֹּעֲלֵי אָ֫וֶן Psalm 64:3; so (of worshippers, compare רֶגֶשׁ) Psalm 68:28, reading רִגְשָׁתָם for רֹגְמָתָם, Hup Pe Bi Che Bae Dr. Topical Lexicon Summary of UsageThe noun רֶגֶשׁ appears twice in the Psalter, Psalm 55:14 and Psalm 64:2. In both settings it denotes an assembled group marked not merely by number but by noisy agitation, secrecy, or hostility. The notion of “crowd” carries the darker overtones of tumult or conspiracy rather than neutral companionship. Psalm 55:14 – Broken Fellowship in Worship “We who had shared sweet fellowship together walked with the throng in the house of God.” Psalm 55 laments betrayal by a close friend—traditionally linked to Ahithophel’s complicity in Absalom’s coup (2 Samuel 15–17). The term underscores the bitter irony: the very crowd that once processed joyfully to the sanctuary has become the backdrop for treachery. What ought to have been a festive assembly in covenant worship is now remembered with pain. The psalm therefore exposes how corporate religious participation can be emptied of sincerity when hearts grow disloyal. Ministry implication: unity in public worship must be matched by integrity in private allegiance, otherwise the “regesh” of praise disintegrates into hollow ritual (Isaiah 1:13–15). Psalm 64:2 – Protection from a Plotting Mob “Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity.” Here רֶגֶשׁ frames David’s plea for deliverance from clandestine opponents who wield words like arrows (Psalm 64:3–4). The crowd operates in stealth, planning the righteous man’s downfall. The term thus conveys both numerical force and conspiratorial intent. Theologically, the verse lays bare a perennial pattern: the ungodly may assemble and strategize, yet their designs remain subject to divine counter-strategy (Psalm 64:7). The fearful believer is invited to shelter under God’s sovereignty rather than succumb to intimidation by majority. Literary and Canonical Connections 1. Tumult of the nations: Although Psalm 2:1 employs the related verb “rage,” its thematic resonance is clear—the assembled powers of earth oppose the Lord’s Anointed, only to be overthrown. Both psalms locate security not in the absence of opposition but in Yahweh’s unassailable reign. 2. New Testament echo: Acts 4:25–26 cites Psalm 2 to interpret the coalition against Jesus. The crucifixion scene shows another “regesh” of sorts—religious leaders and crowds clamoring for His death (Matthew 27:20–23). God again overturns their plot through resurrection, reinforcing the Psalter’s confidence. Historical Background Ancient Near-Eastern politics often revolved around shifting alliances and popular agitation. A king’s strength lay not solely in personal valor but in managing collective sentiment. David’s life records multiple episodes where mobs or armies gathered either for him (1 Samuel 22:2) or against him (2 Samuel 15:13). The term’s presence in psalms attributed to David fits this milieu, capturing the volatile social landscape of Israel’s monarchy. Theological Significance • Human crowds are morally ambivalent; their value depends on the direction of their fervor. Scripture warns that majority opinion frequently aligns against righteousness (Exodus 23:2; Matthew 7:13–14). Pastoral and Homiletical Applications 1. Betrayal within the worshiping community calls for lament, honest confession, and renewed covenant fidelity. Psalm 55 guides sufferers to process pain through prayer rather than retaliation. Devotional Reflection Believers today may stand in crowded stadiums, scrolling comment feeds or walking city streets, yet feel isolated by the surrounding tumult of ideas and agendas. The twin witness of רֶגֶשׁ assures us that God discerns every voice in the multitude. He redeems betrayed fellowship and thwarts hidden plots. “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22). Forms and Transliterations בְּרָֽגֶשׁ׃ ברגש׃ מֵ֝רִגְשַׁ֗ת מרגשת bə·rā·ḡeš bərāḡeš beRagesh mê·riḡ·šaṯ mêriḡšaṯ merigShatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 55:14 HEB: אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים נְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בְּרָֽגֶשׁ׃ NAS: in the house of God in the throng. KJV: unto the house of God in company. INT: of God Walked the throng Psalm 64:2 2 Occurrences |
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