7474. rayah

Strong's Lexicon

rayah: Friend, companion, neighbor

Original Word: רַעְיָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: ra`yah
Pronunciation: ray-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (rah-yaw')
Definition: Friend, companion, neighbor
Meaning: a female associate

Word Origin: Derived from the root רָעָה (ra'ah), which means "to associate with" or "to befriend."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G4139 (πλησίον, plēsion) - often translated as "neighbor" in the New Testament.

- G5384 (φίλος, philos) - meaning "friend."

Usage: The Hebrew word "rayah" primarily denotes a friend or companion, someone with whom one shares a close relationship. It can also refer to a neighbor, emphasizing the social and communal aspects of life in ancient Israel. The term is used to describe relationships characterized by loyalty, trust, and mutual support.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite society, community and relationships were central to daily life. The concept of "rayah" reflects the importance of social bonds and the expectation of mutual care and responsibility among individuals. Friendships and neighborly relations were vital for survival, support, and maintaining social harmony. The Hebrew Bible often emphasizes the ethical treatment of one's "rayah," underscoring the moral obligations inherent in these relationships.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from raah
Definition
a companion
NASB Translation
darling (9).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[רַעְיָה] noun feminine companion; — of beloved bride, suffix רַעְיָתִי Songs 1:9,15; Songs 2:2,10,13; Songs 4:1,7; Songs 5:2; Songs 6:4; so of attendant maidens Judges 11:37 Kt, but see foregoing.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fellow, love

Feminine of rea'; a female associate -- fellow, love.

see HEBREW rea'

Forms and Transliterations

וְרֵעֹותָֽי׃ ורעותי׃ רַעְיָתִ֔י רַעְיָתִ֖י רַעְיָתִ֥י רַעְיָתִֽי׃ רַעְיָתִי֙ רעיתי רעיתי׃ ra‘·yā·ṯî ra‘yāṯî rayaTi vereoTai wə·rê·‘ō·w·ṯāy wərê‘ōwṯāy

Englishman's Concordance

Judges 11:37
HEB: [וְרַעִיתִי כ] (וְרֵעֹותָֽי׃ ק)
INT: of my virginity I fellow

Songs 1:9
HEB: פַרְעֹ֔ה דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ רַעְיָתִֽי׃
NAS: To me, my darling, you are like
KJV: I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses
INT: of Pharaoh are like my darling

Songs 1:15
HEB: הִנָּ֤ךְ יָפָה֙ רַעְיָתִ֔י הִנָּ֥ךְ יָפָ֖ה
NAS: beautiful you are, my darling, How
KJV: Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair;
INT: behold beautiful are my darling behold beautiful

Songs 2:2
HEB: הַחוֹחִ֔ים כֵּ֥ן רַעְיָתִ֖י בֵּ֥ין הַבָּנֽוֹת׃
NAS: So is my darling among
KJV: among thorns, so [is] my love among the daughters.
INT: the thorns So is my darling among the maidens

Songs 2:10
HEB: ק֥וּמִי לָ֛ךְ רַעְיָתִ֥י יָפָתִ֖י וּלְכִי־
NAS: to me, 'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
KJV: unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one,
INT: and said Arise my darling my beautiful and come

Songs 2:13
HEB: (לָ֛ךְ ק) רַעְיָתִ֥י יָפָתִ֖י וּלְכִי־
NAS: Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
KJV: Arise, my love, my fair one,
INT: Arise and come my darling my beautiful and come

Songs 4:1
HEB: הִנָּ֨ךְ יָפָ֤ה רַעְיָתִי֙ הִנָּ֣ךְ יָפָ֔ה
NAS: beautiful you are, my darling, How
KJV: Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair;
INT: behold beautiful are my darling behold beautiful

Songs 4:7
HEB: כֻּלָּ֤ךְ יָפָה֙ רַעְיָתִ֔י וּמ֖וּם אֵ֥ין
NAS: beautiful, my darling, And there is no
KJV: Thou [art] all fair, my love; [there is] no spot
INT: are altogether beautiful my darling spot and there

Songs 5:2
HEB: לִ֞י אֲחֹתִ֤י רַעְיָתִי֙ יוֹנָתִ֣י תַמָּתִ֔י
NAS: to me, my sister, my darling, My dove,
KJV: to me, my sister, my love, my dove,
INT: Open my sister my darling my dove my perfect

Songs 6:4
HEB: יָפָ֨ה אַ֤תְּ רַעְיָתִי֙ כְּתִרְצָ֔ה נָאוָ֖ה
NAS: as Tirzah, my darling, As lovely
KJV: Thou [art] beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah,
INT: beautiful you my darling Tirzah lovely

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7474
10 Occurrences

ra‘·yā·ṯî — 9 Occ.
wə·rê·‘ō·w·ṯāy — 1 Occ.