Original Word: רִאשׁוֹן
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: ri'shown
Pronunciation: ree-SHON
Phonetic Spelling: (ree-shone')
KJV: ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past
NASB: first, former, former things, formerly, before, earlier, former ones
Word Origin: [from H7221 (רִאשָׁה - first)]

1. first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)

ancestor, that were beforetime, beginning, eldest, first, forefather most, former thing, of old time,

Or riishon {ree-shone'}; from ri'shah; first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun) -- ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past.

see HEBREW ri'shah

Word Origin
from rosh
Definition
former, first, chief
NASB Translation
ancestors (3), before (4), beginning (2), chief (1), chiefs (1), earlier (4), earlier things (1), first (113), first one (2), first time (1), forefathers (1), foremost (1), former (25), former ones (4), former things (6), formerly (6), front (1), old (1), older (1), one in front (1), past (1), previous (1), previously (1).

רִאשׁוֺן₁₈₂ adjective former, first, chief (i heightened from original a, see √); — absolute ׳ר Hosea 2:19 +, שֹׁן- - Exodus 12:15 +, רִישׁוֺן Job 8:8, construct רִאשׁוֺן Job 15:7 Qr (Kt ראישון and so always Manuscript Sam. Pentateuch, see Kö^{ii. 1, 225 n}); feminine רִאשֹׁנָה Judges 20:37 + (Joshua 21:10 Kt ראישנה see above); masculine plural רִאשֹׁנִים Exodus 34:1 +, feminine plural רִאשֹׁנוֺת Isaiah 41:22 +, etc.; —

1 former:

a. in time, former of two Genesis 25:25 (J), Genesis 41:20 (E), Deuteronomy 10:1,2,3,4,10; Deuteronomy 24:4, compare Hosea 2:9; Leviticus 4:21; Leviticus 9:15 (both P), Judges 20:39; 2 Kings 1:14; Haggai 2:3,9; Ezra 3:12 +; more Generally former, previous, Numbers 21:26 (JE), Micah 4:8; 2 Kings 17:34,40; Zechariah 1:4; Zechariah 7:7,12; Zechariah 8:11; Nehemiah 5:15; Eccl 17:10; Psalm 79:8 +; ׳כָּעֵת הָ ר Isaiah 8:23; ׳דִּבְרֵי דויד הָ ר 1 Chronicles 29:29 the doings of David, the former and the latter (הָאַחֲדֹנִים), compare 2 Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; 16:11; 20:34; 25:26; 26:22; 28:26; 35:27; early days of harvest 2 Samuel 21:9; רִאשֹׁנִים as substantive, former persons, ancestors, men of old, Deuteronomy 19:14; Leviticus 26:45 (H), Ecclesiastes 1:11 (opposed to אַחֲרֹנִים); (תָ)רִאשֹׁנוֺת as substantive the former things, i.e. past events Isaiah 41:22; Isaiah 43:9,18; Isaiah 46:9; Isaiah 48:3, earlier predictions Isaiah 42:9.

b. location, foremost, of two 2 Samuel 18:27.

2 first:

a. in time, ׳הַמַּכָּה הָ ר 1 Samuel 14:14 the first slaughter (preliminary to General carnage); ׳וְלֹאהָֿיָה דְּבָרִי ר 2 Samuel 19:44 was not my word first? ׳ר in apposition with person subject 2 Samuel 19:21 I am come as first, compare perhaps Isaiah 41:27 (insert אָמַרְתִּי Ges De < read הִגַּדְתִּים for הִנֵּה הִנָּם Che^Hpt Kit Di), and ׳הָ ר Jeremiah 50:17 (opposed to הָאַחֲרוֺן), Isaiah 43:27; ׳ר absolute, first of mankind Job 15:17; absolute of ׳י, I (an the) first Isaiah 41:4 (+אֶתֿ אַחֲדֹנִים), + אַחְרוֺן Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12; absolute of time, מֵרִאשׁוֺן Jeremiah 17:12 from the beginning; especially first of a def. series (sometimes opposed to אַחֲרוֺן). first day of feast Deuteronomy 16:4; Exodus 12:15 (twice in verse); Exodus 12:16 5t. P (H), Nehemiah 8:18, usually first month (חֹרֶשׁ) Exodus 40:2,17; Leviticus 23:5 6t. P, 1 Chronicles 12:16 (van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:15) + 10 t. Chronicles, Ezra, Esther 3:7; Daniel 10:4, חֹדֶשׁ omitted Genesis 8:13; Exodus 12:2,18; Numbers 9:5 (all P) Ezekiel 29:17; Ezekiel 30:20; Ezekiel 45:18,21, so Joel 2:23, but read כָּרִאשׁוֺנָה (3a) ᵐ5 ᵑ6 We Now and Dr.

b. first in degree, chief: יַד הַשָּׂרִיםרִ֗֗֗אשׁוֺנָה Ezra 9:2 the hand of the princes ... has been first in this trespass; 1 Chronicles 18:17; Daniel 10:13 (Chronicles, Esther 1:14 below).

3. a. feminine with preposition as adverb phrase: (1) of time, בָּרִאשֹׁנָה Genesis 13:4 (J), = before, formerly, so Joshua 8:5,6 (JE), 2 Samuel 7:10; 2 Samuel 20:18; Jeremiah 7:12; Isaiah 52:4, ׳לָר = before, formerly, Genesis 28:19 (J), Judges 18:29; so ׳כְּבָר as formerly Judges 20:32; 1 Kings 13:6; Isaiah 1:26; Jeremiah 33:7,11, = ׳כָּ ר Deuteronomy 9:15; Daniel 11:29 (opposed to כָּאַחֲרוֺנָה); בָּר = at first, first of all, Deuteronomy 13:10; Deuteronomy 17:7; Numbers 10:13 (P) Joshua 8:33 (D), 1 Kings 17:13; 1 Kings 20:9; Zechariah 12:7; Proverbs 20:21 (opposed to אַחֲרִיתָהּ), 1 Chronicles 11:6 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 17:9; Nehemiah 7:5; לְמַבָּרִאשׁוֺנָה 1 Chronicles 15:13 (= ׳לְמַהבָּֿר) for what was at first, etc. (מָךְ 1e); (2) location, ׳בָּר i.e. at the head of an army 1 Kings 20:17, a procession Numbers 10:14 (P), compare Isaiah 60:9.

b. רִאשֹׁנָה alone as adverb: (1) of time first Genesis 38:28 (J), 1 Kings 18:25; Jeremiah 16:18; Leviticus 5:8; Numbers 2:9; Joshua 21:10 (all P), Isaiah 65:7 (Ew De Che Di Du Skinner, >adjective Ges Hi Kn); (2) of place Genesis 33:2 (J); (3) of degree, rank, Esther 1:14.

Meaning and Scope of Usage

רִאשׁוֹן occurs about 182 times and functions as an adjective or noun describing what is “first,” “earlier,” or “former.” Its range spans (1) the opening point in a sequence of days, months, military ranks, priestly courses, or prophetic messages, and (2) all that belongs to the “former things” in contrast with what will come afterward.

Temporal and Cultic “Firsts”

1. Sacred Calendar. The word dominates the festival legislation. “On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses” (Exodus 12:15). Similar instructions appear for the first day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:24), the first day of Booths (Leviticus 23:35), and the first day of every month (Numbers 28:11). By marking each opening day with worship, Scripture establishes God’s claim on the whole period that follows.
2. Priestly Service. The courses of Levites are numbered by רִאשׁוֹן for the opening rotation (1 Chronicles 24:7; 27:2). Ministry begins with an act labeled “first,” reminding servants that their order and privilege originate in God’s choice, not personal ambition.
3. National Events. Israel’s departure from Sinai occurs “the first time they set out” (Numbers 10:13). Ezra records a political assault lodged “at the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus” (Ezra 4:6) to show how early opposition to restoration set the stage for later deliverance.

Sequential and Ordinal Uses

1. Military Formations. David’s men strike “the first slaughter” (1 Samuel 14:14); battlefield organization progresses from that decisive opening engagement.
2. Administrative Lots. “The first lot came out for the Kohathites” (Joshua 21:10), underscoring Yahweh’s sovereignty over apparently random outcomes.
3. Royal Annals. Chronicles repeatedly catalogs the “acts of Solomon, first and last” (2 Chronicles 9:29). The notation undergirds biblical historiography: nothing in Israel’s account lies outside God’s oversight from first to last.

Former Things vs. Future Glory

1. Prophetic Contrast. Isaiah tells the nation, “Do not call to mind the former things” (Isaiah 43:18) because the LORD is setting in motion a new exodus. Zechariah warns, “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed” (Zechariah 1:4). Rִאשׁוֹן exposes past sin while pointing to future mercy.
2. Restoration Hope. Haggai employs the term to compare the temple’s past with its promised splendor: “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory?” (Haggai 2:3). The contrast between רִאשׁוֹן glory and latter glory fuels perseverance amid discouragement.
3. Covenant Memory. The psalmist pleads, “Do not hold past sins against us” (Psalm 79:8). Recalling earlier guilt becomes a springboard for seeking present compassion.

The Self-Revelation of Yahweh as “the First”

Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; and 48:12 anchor רִאשׁוֹן in God’s own identity:
• “I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last I am He” (Isaiah 41:4).
• “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me” (Isaiah 44:6).

Here “first” transcends chronological beginnings; it declares God’s primacy, sovereignty, and eternality. He precedes creation, kings, idols, and every human agenda. The same formula reappears in Revelation 1:17, linking the divine title to the risen Christ and confirming the unity of Scripture.

Messianic and Eschatological Trajectory

Because the Servant-King shares the title “First,” רִאשׁוֹן becomes a messianic marker. The God who was “first” to call Abraham (Isaiah 41:8–9) is “first” to redeem through the cross and will be “first” in the age to come. The term thus frames history from creation through consummation, assuring believers that the end (אַחֲרוֹן) will perfectly mirror the beginning in divine faithfulness.

Ministry Applications

1. Guarding the “first love” (Revelation 2:4) echoes the Old Testament call to honor the first day, firstfruits, and first commandments. Ministry that dedicates every beginning to the Lord fosters endurance.
2. Teaching and Preaching. Highlighting רִאשׁוֹן in narratives enables congregations to trace God’s unbroken initiative—He always moves first. That shapes a theology of grace: human response is never the catalyst but always the answer to divine priority.
3. Discipleship and Memory Work. Rehearsing the “former things” God has done (deliverance from Egypt, return from exile) equips believers to trust Him for present trials. At the same time, forgetting “former sins” once forgiven cultivates joyful assurance.

Historical Importance for Israel

From the opening day of the Exodus calendar to the “first year of Cyrus king of Persia” (Ezra 1:1), רִאשׁוֹן structures Israel’s collective memory. Kings rise and fall, temples are built and rebuilt, but each era begins under the banner of the God who is eternally first.

Conclusion

רִאשׁוֹן threads through worship, law, prophecy, and promise to declare that the Lord alone determines every beginning. By recognizing His primacy, God’s people find orientation for past, present, and future, living in the sure hope that the One who is “first” will also be “last,” completing the good work He has begun.

בָּ֠רִאשׁוֹן בָּֽרִאשׁ֖וֹן בָּֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ בָּרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים בָּרִ֣אשֹׁנָ֔ה בָּרִ֣אשׁוֹנָ֔ה בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֔ה בָּרִֽאשׁוֹנָ֑ה בָּרִאשֹׁ֡ן בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֖ה בָּרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ בָּרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ בָּרִאשׁ֡וֹן בָּרִאשׁוֹנָ֔ה בָּרִאשׁוֹנָ֛ה בָּרִאשׁוֹנָֽה׃ בָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ בָרִֽאשׁוֹנָ֖ה בָרִאשֹׁנָה֙ בראשון בראשון׃ בראשונה בראשונה׃ בראשן בראשנה בראשנה׃ בראשנים הֲרִאישׁ֣וֹן הָ֣רִאשׁ֔וֹן הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן הָֽרִאשׁ֖וֹן הָֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנ֔וֹת הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים הָרִ֣אשֹׁנָ֔ה הָרִֽאשֹׁנ֖וֹת הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֔ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֗ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֜ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִים֙ הָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה הָרִֽאשֹׁנוֹת֙ הָרִֽאשׁוֹנָה֙ הָרִאשֹׁ֖ן הָרִאשֹׁנ֖וֹת הָרִאשֹׁנ֣וֹת ׀ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים הָרִאשֹׁנִ֥ים ׀ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֨ים הָרִאשֹׁנִים֙ הָרִאשֹׁנָ֗ה הָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן הָרִאשׁ֛וֹן הָרִאשׁ֣וֹן הָרִאשׁ֤וֹן הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ הָרִאשׁוֹן֮ הָרִאשׁוֹנִ֖ים הָרִאשׁוֹנָ֨ה הראישון הראשון הראשון׃ הראשונה הראשונים הראשן הראשנה הראשנה׃ הראשנות הראשנים וְרִֽאשֹׁנ֖וֹת וראשנות כְּבָרִ֣אשֹׁנָ֔ה כְּבָרִֽאשֹׁנָֽה׃ כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָ֖ה כָּרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים כָּרִאשֹׁנִ֑ים כָּרִאשֹׁנִ֗ים כָּרִאשֹׁנָ֗ה כָּרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ כָרִאשֹׁנָ֖ה כבראשנה כבראשנה׃ כראשון׃ כראשנה כראשנים לְמַבָּרִ֥אשׁוֹנָ֖ה לָרִאשֹׁנִ֑ים לָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ למבראשונה לראשנה׃ לראשנים מֵֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן מראשון רִֽאשֹׁנ֑וֹת רִֽאשֹׁנִ֖ים רִֽאשֹׁנִ֜ים רִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה רִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה רִֽאשׁוֹנָ֗ה רִאשֹׁ֫נִ֥ים רִאשֹׁנ֖וֹת רִאשֹׁנִ֑ים רִאשֹׁנָ֔ה רִאשֹׁנָ֖ה רִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ רִאשׁ֔וֹן רִאשׁ֛וֹן רִאשׁ֥וֹן רִאשׁוֹן֙ רִאשׁוֹנָ֑ה רִאשׁוֹנָֽה׃ רִיאשֹׁנָֽה׃ רִישׁ֑וֹן ראשון ראשונה ראשונה׃ ראשנה ראשנה׃ ראשנות ראשנים ריאשנה׃ רישון bā·ri·šō·nāh ḇā·ri·šō·nāh bā·ri·šō·nîm bā·ri·šō·w·nāh ḇā·ri·šō·w·nāh bā·ri·šō·wn bā·ri·šōn barishOn barishoNah baRishoNim bārišōn bārišōnāh ḇārišōnāh bārišōnîm bārišōwn bārišōwnāh ḇārišōwnāh charishoNah hā·ri·šō·nāh hā·ri·šō·nîm hā·ri·šō·nō·wṯ hā·ri·šō·w·nāh hā·ri·šō·w·nîm hā·ri·šō·wn hā·ri·šōn hă·ri·yō·šō·wn harishOn harishoNah harishoNim harishoNot hārišōn hārišōnāh hārišōnîm hārišōnōwṯ hārišōwn hārišōwnāh hārišōwnîm hariyoShon hăriyōšōwn kā·ri·šō·nāh ḵā·ri·šō·nāh kā·ri·šō·nîm kā·ri·šō·wn kariShon karishoNah karishoNim kārišōnāh ḵārišōnāh kārišōnîm kārišōwn kə·ḇā·ri·šō·nāh kəḇārišōnāh kevarishoNah lā·ri·šō·nāh lā·ri·šō·nîm larishoNah larishoNim lārišōnāh lārišōnîm lə·mab·bā·ri·šō·w·nāh lemabbaRishoNah ləmabbārišōwnāh mê·ri·šō·wn meriShon mêrišōwn ri·šō·nāh rî·šō·nāh ri·šō·nîm ri·šō·nō·wṯ ri·šō·w·nāh ri·šō·wn rî·šō·wn riShon rishoNah rishoNim rishoNot rišōnāh rîšōnāh rišōnîm rišōnōwṯ rišōwn rîšōwn rišōwnāh varishoNah verishoNot wə·ri·šō·nō·wṯ wərišōnōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts