Original Word: רְאָיָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: R'ayah
Pronunciation: ray-AH-yah
Phonetic Spelling: (reh-aw-yaw')
KJV: Reaia, Reaiah
NASB: Reaiah
Word Origin: [from H7200 (רָאָה - see) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. Jah has seen
2. Reajah, the name of three Israelites

Reaia, Reaiah

From ra'ah and Yahh; Jah has seen; Reajah, the name of three Israelites -- Reaia, Reaiah.

see HEBREW ra'ah

see HEBREW Yahh

Word Origin
from raah and Yah
Definition
"Yah has seen," three Isr.
NASB Translation
Reaiah (4).

רְאָיָה proper name, masculine (׳י hath seen); —

1 Judaite 1 Chronicles 4:2 (Ραδα), A Ρεια, ᵐ5^L Ρεαα), = III. הָרֹאֶה 1 Chronicles 2:52 (corrupt; Αια, A Αραα)

2 Reubenite 1 Chronicles 5:5, Ρηχα, ᵐ5^L Ραια)

3 post-exilic name Ezra 2:47 (Ρεηλ, A ᵐ5^L Ραια) = Nehemiah 7:50 (Ραεα, A ᵐ5^L Ρααια).

Overview

Reaiah appears four times in the Old Testament, designating three distinct men and the ancestor of a post-exilic family. In every context his name silently affirms that no person or tribe escapes the watchful care of the Lord, and each reference contributes a thread to the tapestry of redemption history—from Judah’s early settlement, through Reuben’s east-Jordan heritage, to the restored worship community after the exile.

Biblical Occurrences

• 1 Chronicles 4:2 – a descendant of Judah through Shobal.
• 1 Chronicles 5:5 – a descendant of Reuben in the line of Joel.
• Ezra 2:47 – head of a clan of temple servants (Nethinim) returning from Babylon.
• Nehemiah 7:50 – the same Nethinim family recorded again after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt.

Genealogical Significance

Chronicles traces the royal tribe of Judah from Perez onward, pausing long enough to name Reaiah as the son of Shobal and father of Jahath. Though a single verse, it secures his place in the ordered lineage that anticipated the Messiah. The Chronicler also lists a Reaiah in Reuben’s genealogy, reminding readers that the northern and Trans-Jordan tribes were not forgotten despite their later displacement (1 Chronicles 5:26).

Tribal Contexts

Judah’s Reaiah is linked with “the clans of the Zorathites” (1 Chronicles 4:2), a group that settled in the Shephelah southwest of Jerusalem. Reuben’s Reaiah belongs to a line that “dwelt east of the Euphrates” (1 Chronicles 5:9), illustrating how God preserved covenant identity even outside the land. Together they showcase the geographical breadth of Israel and the unifying bond of covenant lineage.

Role among the Nethinim

The post-exilic lists highlight families devoted to temple service. “The temple servants: … the descendants of Reaiah” numbered 96 (Ezra 2:43,47). Though socially humble, their presence was vital; without them the daily offerings could not resume. Nehemiah repeats the record (Nehemiah 7:46-50) to stress continuity between Zerubbabel’s return and the later covenant renewal. By naming Reaiah, Scripture honors generational faithfulness in tasks often overlooked by men—but never by God.

Spiritual Insights

1. God’s Omniscient Care. Each mention whispers that the Lord sees and remembers every household, whether in prominence (Judah), obscurity (Reuben), or servanthood (Nethinim).
2. Covenant Faithfulness Across Time. The genealogies span the patriarchal era, the monarchy’s decline, and the exile’s aftermath, testifying that divine promises endure despite national upheaval.
3. Dignity of Service. The Nethinim carried water and wood, yet their names stand beside princes and priests. In Christ, “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Corinthians 12:22).

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Value Every Believer. Congregational lists, volunteer rosters, and unseen laborers matter to the kingdom.
• Guard Generational Continuity. Passing down faith and ministry roles ensures that future “descendants of Reaiah” will stand ready when God restores and revives.
• Serve Where Needed. Whether in Judah’s heartland, Reuben’s frontier, or the rebuilt courts of Jerusalem, the call is the same: “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).

וּרְאָיָ֤ה וראיה רְאָיָ֥ה רְאָיָֽה׃ ראיה ראיה׃ rə’āyāh rə·’ā·yāh reaYah ū·rə·’ā·yāh ūrə’āyāh ureaYahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts