Strong's Definition
to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
Derivation: a primitive root;
KJV Usage: [idiom] break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep) (-er), pastor, [phrase] shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste.
TWOT Reference: 2185,2186
Outline of Biblical Usage
Septuagint (LXX) Greek Equivalents
This Hebrew word is translated by the following Greek words in the Septuagint:
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Hebrew Lexicon
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים (bet-e.qed ha.ro.im) — House of Shepherds. Ra'ah = "pasturing" perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to pasture. 1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tend, pasture 1a1a) to shepherd 1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig) 1a1c) of people as flock (fig) 1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst) 1a2) to feed, graze 1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal) 1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig) 1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473)
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to accompany. 1) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable) 1a) (Qal) to associate with 1b) (Hithpael) to be companions
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to befriend. (Piel) to be a special friend
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew
verb · מִרְעֶה · מַרְעִית · רְעִי · רְעוּת · רַעְיֹון
Ingest | verb qal
to graze = action by which animals are feeding on grass and other edible materials in the field, ≈ often extended to denote the way a king cares for his subjects or the way God cares for his people
GEN 41:2 · GEN 41:18 · EXO 34:3 · 1CH 27:29 · JOB 1:14 · PSA 80:14 · SNG 2:16 · SNG 4:5 · SNG 6:2 · SNG 6:3 · ISA 5:17 · ISA 11:7 · ISA 14:30 · ISA 27:10 · ISA 30:23 · ISA 49:9 · ISA 65:25 · JER 50:19 · EZK 34:14 · EZK 34:18 · EZK 34:19 · HOS 13:6 · JON 3:7 · MIC 7:14 · ZEP 2:7 · ZEP 3:13
Ingest | verb qal
to pasture, to feed, to shepherd = causative action by which humans lead domestic animals to places where they can feed on grass and other edible materials in the field, ≈ often extended to denote the way a king cares for his subjects or the way God cares for his people
GEN 29:7 · GEN 30:31 · GEN 30:36 · GEN 36:24 · GEN 37:2 · GEN 37:12 · GEN 37:13 · GEN 37:16 · EXO 3:1 · 1SA 16:11 · 1SA 17:15 · 1SA 25:16 · 2SA 5:2 · 2SA 7:7 · 1CH 11:2 · 1CH 17:6 · JOB 24:2 · PSA 28:9 · PSA 78:71 · PSA 78:72 · PRO 10:21 · SNG 1:7 · SNG 1:8 · ISA 40:11 · ISA 61:5 · JER 3:15 · JER 6:3 · JER 17:16 · JER 23:2 · JER 23:4 · EZK 34:2 · EZK 34:2 · EZK 34:3 · EZK 34:8 · EZK 34:8 · EZK 34:10 · EZK 34:10 · EZK 34:13 · EZK 34:14 · EZK 34:16 · EZK 34:23 · EZK 34:23 · HOS 4:16 · HOS 9:2 · MIC 5:3 · MIC 7:14 · ZEC 11:4 · ZEC 11:7 · ZEC 11:7 · ZEC 11:9
Non-Whole | verb qal
to shave literally: to graze; hence: = causative action by which humans remove all that grows from a place ◄ like an animal grazes off all grass and other edible plants
Engage | verb qal | ≈ בקשׁ
to pursue literally: to graze; hence: = action by which humans are actively looking for a certain activity to engage in, ◄ as an animal is looking for food
Move | verb qal | ≈ הלך
to shepherd > to carry away literally: to pasture; hence: = causative action by which a force causes humans to be removed from their place and move to another location, ◄ like a shepherd leads his flock from one place to another
Professions | verb qal ptc.act
shepherd = a male person who leads domestic animals to places where they can feed on grass and other edible materials in the field, ≈ often extended to denote the way a king cares for his subjects or the way God cares for his people
GEN 4:2 · GEN 13:7 · GEN 13:7 · GEN 13:8 · GEN 13:8 · GEN 26:20 · GEN 26:20 · GEN 46:32 · GEN 46:34 · GEN 47:3 · GEN 48:15 · GEN 49:24 · EXO 2:17 · EXO 2:19 · NUM 14:33 · NUM 27:17 · 1SA 17:34 · 1SA 17:40 · 1SA 21:8 · 1SA 25:7 · 1KI 22:17 · 2CH 18:16 · PSA 23:1 · PSA 49:15 · PSA 80:2 · ECC 12:11 · SNG 1:8 · ISA 13:20 · ISA 31:4 · ISA 38:12 · ISA 40:11 · ISA 44:28 · ISA 56:11 · ISA 63:11 · JER 2:8 · JER 3:15 · JER 6:3 · JER 10:21 · JER 12:10 · JER 22:22 · JER 23:1 · JER 23:2 · JER 23:4 · JER 25:34 · JER 25:35 · JER 25:36 · JER 31:10 · JER 33:12 · JER 43:12 · JER 49:19 · JER 50:6 · JER 50:44 · JER 51:23 · EZK 34:2 · EZK 34:2 · EZK 34:2 · EZK 34:2 · EZK 34:5 · EZK 34:7 · EZK 34:8 · EZK 34:8 · EZK 34:8 · EZK 34:9 · EZK 34:10 · EZK 34:10 · EZK 34:12 · EZK 34:15 · EZK 34:23 · EZK 34:23 · EZK 37:24 · AMO 1:2 · AMO 3:12 · MIC 5:4 · NAM 3:18 · ZEP 2:6 · ZEC 10:2 · ZEC 10:3 · ZEC 11:3 · ZEC 11:5 · ZEC 11:8 · ZEC 11:15 · ZEC 11:16 · ZEC 11:17 · ZEC 13:7 · ZEC 13:7
Professions | verb qal ptc.act
shepherdess = a female person who leads domestic animals to places where they can feed on grass and other edible materials in the field
verb · מֵרֵעַ · רֵעַ · רֵעֶה · רֵעָה · רַעְיָה · רְעוּת
Associate | verb pi
to be the best man = action by which one of the bridegroom's friends accompanies and assists the bridegroom during on his wedding
Associate | verb hit
to associate, to make friendship = action by which humans have some level of association with other humans
Copulate | verb qal
to consort (with a woman) = action by which humans have sexual relations with other humans
Engage | verb qal
to enjoy literally: to associate (with an event); hence: = process by which humans undergo a certain condition
verb · רעע
1 JER 2:16 NIV NJB ESV "shaved" NJPS "lay bare" | RSV NRSV "broken" REB "break" GNT CEV "cracked" = רעע 2 JER 17:16 NIV NJPS NRSV ESV "being ... shepherd" CEV "to care" | RSV "to send evil" GNT "to bring disaster" | REB "to press (after)" 3 JOB 24:21 RSV "feed on" NIV "prey on" = [1b] | NJPS "consort with" = [2c] | NRSV "harm" REB "wronged" ESV "wrong" GNT "mistreated"
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים perh. n.pr.loc. (binding-house of the shepherds) 2 K 10:12 base
רָעָה 167 vb. pasture, tend, graze Qal trans.
intrans.
Niph. poss.
Hiph. v.
base
[רָעָה] vb. prob. associate with Qal cherish faithfulness
Hithp. do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man
base
[רָעָה] vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend;—Ju 14:20 ref