Lexical Summary riyr: Discharge, mucus, spittle Original Word: רִיר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance spittle, white of an egg From ruwr; saliva; by resemblance, broth -- spittle, white (of an egg). see HEBREW ruwr Brown-Driver-Briggs רִיר noun masculine slimy juice, spittle; — construct בְּרִיר חַלָּמוּת Job 6:6 in the juice of ׳ח (al. slime of yolk, i.e. white of egg); suffix דִירוֺ 1 Samuel 21:14 his spittle. רֵישׁ, רִישׁ see רושׁ. רִישׁוֺן see ראשׁון רַךְ, רֹךְ see רבך Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture The noun רִיר appears only twice in the Old Testament. In 1 Samuel 21:14 David, seeking asylum among the Philistines at Gath, “pretended to be insane in their presence; he acted like a madman around them, scribbling on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard”. In Job 6:6, Job alludes to the tastelessness of egg whites, asking, “Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the saliva of a marshmallow plant?”. In each case the word depicts literal spittle, yet its thematic load differs: shameful debasement in narrative, insipid meaninglessness in poetry. Cultural and Historical Background In the Ancient Near East, saliva could convey deep symbolic freight. To allow it to flow publicly, especially upon one’s beard, was considered degrading—an intentional forfeiture of dignity. Beards were badges of honor for Israelite men; soiling them with spittle highlighted utter abasement. Conversely, tasteless “saliva” imagery in Job evokes the monotony of suffering. Beyond Israel, spitting was also a gesture of contempt (Numbers 12:14; Deuteronomy 25:9) and a marker of ritual impurity (Leviticus 15:8), contextual echoes that intensify the weight of רִיר. Theological Significance 1. Voluntary Humiliation for Preservation: David’s calculated disgrace illustrates the paradox that God sometimes protects His servants through means that appear ignoble. Providence is not thwarted by human shame; rather, humility can become a strategic instrument in the divine plan. Christological Echoes The Gospels record Jesus both receiving and employing spittle. Soldiers “spit on Him” in mockery (Matthew 27:30), fulfilling prophetic patterns of righteous suffering. In mercy, Jesus used His own saliva to heal (Mark 7:33; John 9:6), demonstrating sovereign authority over what once symbolized shame. Thus רִיר presents a shadow that Christ transforms—from emblem of disgrace to medium of grace. Practical Ministry Applications • Pastoral counsel may draw from David’s episode to validate strategic humility in hostile contexts, encouraging believers that dignity surrendered for righteousness is never wasted. Conclusion Though rare, רִיר threads significant theological strands—shame, humility, suffering, and ultimate redemption. Its two brief appearances serve as gateways to larger biblical themes that culminate in the One who willingly bore spittle yet offers living water. Forms and Transliterations בְּרִ֣יר בריר רִיר֖וֹ רירו bə·rîr beRir bərîr rî·rōw riRo rîrōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 21:14 HEB: הַשַּׁ֔עַר וַיּ֥וֹרֶד רִיר֖וֹ אֶל־ זְקָנֽוֹ׃ INT: gate descend spittle about beard Job 6:6 2 Occurrences |
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