Lexical Summary ratob: Moist, wet Original Word: רָטב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance green From ratab; moist (with sap) -- green. see HEBREW ratab Brown-Driver-Briggs רָטֹב adjective moist, juicy, fresh; — הוּא ׳ר לִפְנֵישָֿׁ֑מֶשׁ Job 8:16. Topical Lexicon Hebrew Background and Imagery The adjective רָטב portrays something freshly moistened, lush, or green. In the arid ecology of the Ancient Near East, moisture signified life, fertility, and divine favor. A plant described as רָטב is not merely alive; it is thriving in optimum conditions—its roots reaching water, its leaves invigorated, its future seemingly secure. Scripture often uses such agricultural realities to mirror spiritual truths about prosperity and ultimate security in God. Occurrence in Scripture Job 8:16 offers the single canonical use: “He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.” (Berean Standard Bible) Bildad depicts the outward success of the godless as a luxuriant vine that basks in full sun and ample irrigation. Yet the wider context (Job 8:11-19) warns that this verdure is deceptive; once uprooted, it withers swiftly. The verse contrasts fleeting, surface-level prosperity with the enduring security that God alone supplies. Theological Significance 1. Apparent Flourishing versus True Security 2. Water as a Metaphor for Divine Sustenance 3. Judgment on Superficial Prosperity Historical and Cultural Context Ancient farmers depended on seasonal rains and irrigation channels. A “well-watered” plant signaled strategic proximity to life-giving watercourses—highly prized in subsistence agriculture. Listeners in Job’s era understood that abundant foliage could vanish overnight if the water source failed or roots lacked depth. The image thus vividly communicated the precarity of worldly success apart from divine blessing. Related Biblical Themes and Parallels • Covenant Blessing: Isaiah 44:4; Hosea 14:5-6 present Israel as lush vegetation when restored to covenant fidelity. Ministry and Homiletical Applications 1. Authenticity in Discipleship Encourage believers to cultivate hidden roots of prayer, Scripture intake, and obedience rather than seeking visible success alone. Challenge congregations to discern whether material or numerical growth reflects genuine spiritual health or merely a temporary “green-before-the-sun” appearance. While Job 8 exposes empty confidence, other texts assure that God can transform withered souls into well-watered gardens (Isaiah 58:11). Pastoral counsel can direct straying hearts back to the true Source. Personal Devotion Meditate on Job 8:16 alongside Psalm 1:3. Ask: Where is my root system drawing sustenance? Pray for a heart that delights in God’s Word, producing durable fruit rather than momentary foliage. Related Words and Concepts • רַעֲנָן (raʿanān) – “lush, verdant” (Psalm 92:14) Summary Though רָטב occurs only once, it furnishes a vivid lesson: prosperity that is merely surface-level will not withstand the heat of testing. True, lasting greenness belongs to those whose lives are rooted in the living God, nourished continually by His sustaining grace and truth. Forms and Transliterations רָטֹ֣ב רטב rā·ṭōḇ raTo rāṭōḇLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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