Original Word: רָוָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ravah
Pronunciation: rah-VAH
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-vaw')
KJV: bathe, make drunk, (take the) fill, satiate, (abundantly) satisfy, soak, water (abundantly)
NASB: fill, satisfy, drench, drink, drink its fill, drink our fill, filled
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to slake the thirst (occasionally of other appetites)

bathe, make drunk, take the fill, satiate, abundantly satisfy, soak, water abundantly

A primitive root; to slake the thirst (occasionally of other appetites) -- bathe, make drunk, (take the) fill, satiate, (abundantly) satisfy, soak, water (abundantly).

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be saturated, drink one's fill
NASB Translation
drench (1), drink (1), drink its fill (1), drink our fill (1), fill (2), filled (1), made me drunk (1), satiated (1), satisfy (2), soaked (1), water its abundantly (1), watering (1), waters (1).

[רָוָה] verb be saturated, drink one's fill (Late Hebrew in derived species; Arabic ; Ethiopic Aramaic רְוִי, ); —

Qal Perfect3feminine singular consecutive וְרָוְָֽתָּה מִדָּמָם Jeremiah 46:10, figurative of sword ("" שָֽׂבְעָה, אָֽכְלָה); Imperfect3masculine plural יִרְוְיֻן מִדֶּשֶׁן בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ Psalm 36:9 (Ges^{§ 75u}) figurative of men ("" תַּשְׁקֵם); 1 plural נִרְוֶה דֹדִים Proverbs 7:18 we will take our fill of love ("" נִתְעַלְּסָה).

Pi`el Perfect3feminine singular רִוְּתָה Isaiah 34:5, ׳וְר consecutive Isaiah 34:7; 1singular consecutive וְרִוֵּיתִי Jeremiah 31:14; Imperfect1singular suffix אֲרַיָּ֫וֶךְ Isaiah 16:9 (read probably אֲרַוַּ֫יִךְ Margolis^{Amos. J. Semitic Lang., Oct. 1902, 48,} see also Kö^{i. 589 f.}; > אֲרַוָּ֫יֶךְ Sta^{§ 634 e} Ges^{§ 75dd}); 3 masculine plural suffix יְרַוֻּךָ Proverbs 5:19; Infinitive absolute רַוֵּה Psalm 65:11 (Ges^{§ 113z}); —

1 intensive be intoxicated, drunk Isaiah 34:5, figurative of sword; + מִדָּם Isaiah 34:7, of land ("" יְדֻשָּׁ֑ן).

2 causative, drench, water abundantly, with accusative תְּלָמֶיהָ (subject ׳י); Isaiah 16:9 with accusative of person + דִּמְעָתִי material; saturate (figurative), sate, וֶפֶשׁ הַכֹּהֲנִים דָּ֑שֶׁן ׳ור Jeremiah 31:14 ("" שׂבע); sexually, דַּדָּיהָ יְרַוֻּךָ Proverbs 5:19.

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular הִרְוָה Isaiah 55:10, suffix הִרְוַנִי Lamentations 3:15; 2masculine singular suffix הִרְוִיתָ֑נִי Isaiah 43:24; 1singular הִרְוֵיתִי Jeremiah 31:25; Participle מַרְוֶה Proverbs 11:25; — saturate, water, with accusative ארץ Isaiah 55:10 (subject שֶׁלֶג, גֶּשֶׁם); cause to drink (figurative), with accusative of person etrei (לַעֲנָה) Lamentations 3:15 ("" הִשְׂבִּיעַנִי); with accusative of person only (נֶפֶשׁ) Jeremiah 31:25 ("" מִלֵּאתִי), absolute Proverbs 11:25; of Israel satisfying ׳י, חֵלֶב זְבָחִים Isaiah 43:24.

Hoph`al Imperfect יוֺרֶא (יָרְוֶה ?) Proverbs 11:25 see Toy and ירא p. 432.

Overview

רָוָה traces a movement from lack to abundance—whether rain saturating furrows, worshippers drinking delight, or swords gorged with blood. Appearing fourteen times, the verb binds together creation, covenant worship, personal relationships, national judgment, and promised restoration, all under the sovereign hand of the LORD.

Semantic Field and Key Imagery

1. Hydration: land and dust are “watered” or “soaked” (Psalm 65:10; Isaiah 55:10).
2. Satisfaction: persons “drink their fill” or “are refreshed” (Psalm 36:8; Proverbs 11:25; Jeremiah 31:25).
3. Saturation unto Judgment: weapons or soil become “bathed” in blood (Isaiah 34:5; Jeremiah 46:10).

Each nuance retains the idea of thorough permeation, whether for blessing or curse.

Psalms: Worship and Providence

Psalm 36:8 celebrates sanctuary joy: “They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights”. Psalm 65:10 shifts the focus to creation: “You soak its furrows and level the ridges; You soften it with showers and bless its growth.” Together, they teach that the God who satisfies souls also sustains fields.

Wisdom Literature: Holy and Unholy Satiation

Proverbs 5:19 commends marital fidelity: “May her breasts satisfy you always.” Proverbs 7:18 records the adulteress: “Come, let us take our fill of love until morning.” Proverbs 11:25 universalizes the principle: “A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” The verb therefore guides appetites toward covenant faithfulness and self-giving generosity.

Prophetic Warnings

Isaiah 34:5 pictures cosmic retribution: “My sword is bathed in heaven.” Jeremiah 46:10 echoes: “The sword will devour; it will be satisfied and drink its fill of their blood.” When covenant rebellion matures, the same verb of refreshment describes the terrors of divine justice.

Prophetic Consolation

Jeremiah 31 expands the verb’s hope: “I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak” (Jeremiah 31:25). Priests will be “satisfied with My goodness” (Jeremiah 31:14). Isaiah 55:10–11 employs agricultural watering to assure that God’s word never fails, presaging covenant renewal.

Agricultural and Cultic Background

Dependent on seasonal rain, Israel knew that “watering” determined survival. Temple rituals echoed the motif with drink offerings and fat portions meant to “satisfy” God (Isaiah 43:24). Thus רָוָה resonated in both field and sanctuary, constantly reminding the nation of its reliance on divine provision.

Theological Themes

• God alone grants true fullness; anything else is counterfeit and empty.
• Judgment and mercy share a vocabulary—abundance can bless or condemn.
• Blessing flows outward: those who “refresh” others participate in God’s own generosity.

New Testament Fulfillment

Jesus proclaims, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37), fulfilling the longing inherent in רָוָה. Revelation 7:16–17 promises a people who “will never again thirst,” gathered to the Lamb. The verb’s trajectory thus culminates in Christ, who both satisfies and, through His blood, averts the saturation of judgment for all who believe.

Ministry Application

• Lead worshippers to seek fullness in God’s presence (Psalm 36:8).
• Model generosity that expects God’s reciprocal refreshment (Proverbs 11:25).
• Offer Jeremiah 31:25 to the exhausted.
• Preach judgment texts to warn, pairing them with the gospel’s offer of living water.

אֲרַיָּ֙וֶךְ֙ אריוך הִרְוִיתָ֑נִי הִרְוֵ֖יתִי הִרְוַ֥נִי הִרְוָ֣ה הרוה הרויתי הרויתני הרוני וְרִוְּתָ֤ה וְרִוֵּיתִ֛י וְרָוְתָ֖ה וּ֝מַרְוֶ֗ה ומרוה ורויתי ורותה יְרַוֻּ֣ךָ יִ֭רְוְיֻן ירוין ירוך נִרְוֶ֣ה נרוה רִוְּתָ֥ה רַ֭וֵּה רוה רותה ’ă·ray·yā·weḵ ’ărayyāweḵ araiYavech hir·wa·nî hir·wāh hir·wê·ṯî hir·wî·ṯā·nî hirVah hirVani hirVeiti hirviTani hirwāh hirwanî hirwêṯî hirwîṯānî nir·weh nirVeh nirweh Ravveh raw·wêh rawwêh rivveTah riw·wə·ṯāh riwwəṯāh ū·mar·weh umarVeh ūmarweh veraveTah verivveiTi verivveTah wə·rā·wə·ṯāh wə·riw·wə·ṯāh wə·riw·wê·ṯî wərāwəṯāh wəriwwəṯāh wəriwwêṯî yə·raw·wu·ḵā yeravVucha yərawwuḵā yir·wə·yun Yirveyun yirwəyunInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts