Lexical Summary ra'ah: To shepherd, to tend, to pasture, to feed Original Word: רָעָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreatA primitive root; 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) -- X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep)(-er), pastor, + shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste. Brown-Driver-Briggs I. רָעָה167 verb pasture, tend, graze (Assyrian rê°û, verb pasture, noun ruler, Tel Amarna ru—i (as Canaanism) WklNo. 181, 11; Arabic ![]() ![]() ![]() Qal Perfect3masculine singular consecutive וְרָעָה Micah 5:3 +, 1 singular suffix consecutive זּרְעִיתִים Ezekiel 34:13, 3plural suffix consecutive וְרָעוּם Jeremiah 23:4, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִרְעֶה Isaiah 27:20 +, jussive יֵ֫רַע Job 20:26, suffix יִרְעֶנָּה Psalm 80:14, וַיִרְעֵם Psalm 78:72 (׳וַיַּר Hiph`il van d. H.), etc.; Imperative masculine singular רְעֵה Micah 7:14 +, suffix רְעֵם Psalm 28:9; feminine singular רְעִי Songs 1:8; masculine plural רְעוּ Genesis 29:7; Infinitive construct לִרְעוֺת Genesis 37:12 +, etc.; Participle רֹעֶה Genesis 30:36 +, suffix רֹעִי Psalm 23:1 +; feminine singular רֹעָה Genesis 29:9; Proverbs 25:19, etc.; — 1 transitive a. pasture, tend (pascere), literal, with accusative צאֹן Genesis 30:31,36; Genesis 37:12 (all J), Exodus 3:1 (E), 1 Samuel 17:15; 1 Samuel 25:16; Isaiah 61:5, accusative of asses Genesis 36:24 (P), kids Songs 1:8; accusative (צאֹן) omitted Genesis 29:7; Genesis 37:13 (ב location) Genesis 37:16 (all J), Songs 1:7 ("" הִרְבִּיץ), Job 24:2 (ᵐ5 Me Siegf Bu וְרֹעוֺ); — metaphor גֹּרֶן וָיֶקֶב לֹא יִרְעֵם Hosea 9:2, but read יֵדָעֵם ᵐ5 We Now GASm; מָוֶת יִרְעֵם Psalm 49:15. b. figurative of ׳י, accusative of person, Genesis 48:15 (E) God, who shepherded me; with accusative of people, as flock Hosea 4:16; Isaiah 40:11; Micah 7:14 (בְּשִׁבְטֶ֑ךָ), Ezekiel 34:13 (pregnantly, with אֶל location), Ezekiel 34:14; Ezekiel 34:15 (+ הִרְבִּיץ), Ezekiel 34:16; Psalm 28:9. c. figurative of ruler, and teacher, accusative of people, as flock, 2 Samuel 5:2 = 1 Chronicles 11:2; 2 Samuel 7:1 = 1 Chronicles 17:6; Psalm 78:72; Jeremiah 3:15; Jeremiah 23:2,4; Ezekiel 34:2,3,8,10,23 (twice in verse); Zechariah 11:4,7 (twice in verse); Zechariah 11:9; of teaching, יִרְעוּ רַבִּים שִׂפְתֵי צַדִּיק Proverbs 10:21; with ב of people Psalm 78:71; absolute Micah 5:3; with accusative of person reflexive pastured (fed, enriched) themselves Ezekiel 34:2,8,10. d. especially participle רֹעֶה, etc., as substantive = shepherd, herdsman: (I) literal, צאֹן רֹעֵה Genesis 4:2; Genesis 46:32,34; Genesis 47:3 (all J), ׳רֹעֶה בַּצּ Genesis 37:2 (E), 1 Samuel 16:11; 1 Samuel 17:34; רֹעֵי מִקְנֶה Genesis 13:7 (twice in verse) (J); ׳(ה)ר alone, singular Amos 3:12 7t. (all in simile); רֹעָה shepherdess, Genesis 29:9 (J); כְּלִי רֹעֶה אֱוִילִי Zechariah 11:15 (see כְּלִי 2c), as symbol; plural (הָ)רֹעִים Amos 1:2; Exodus 2:17,19 (J) 1 Samuel 21:8 (׳אַבִּיר הָר; Gr Dr Bu Kit Löhr חָרָצִים ׳א; ᵐ5 LagBN 45 HPS אֹבִיל הָעְַיָרִים, but compare We) + 8 t. + Isaiah 31:4 (simile), Isaiah 38:12 (read רֹעִים for רֹעִי Perles29 Du CheHpt compare Di), compare (suffix) Genesis 13:8 (twice in verse) (J); כְּלִי הָרֹעִים 1 Samuel 17:40 (see כְּלִי 3); — בֵּידעֵֿקֶד הָרִעִיס. (2) figurative of ruler (as often Assyrian; compare Greek (Homer) ποιμένα λαῶν), absolute singular Jeremiah 17:16 **figurative of prophet (but Aq Symm ᵑ6 Gie Du Co מֵרָעָה); Zechariah 10:2; Zechariah 11:16; Zechariah 13:7b + 8 t. Jeremiah, Ezekiel; suffix of ׳י, רֹעִי Isaiah 44:28 (of Cyrus), Zechariah 13:7a.; Zechariah 13:17 (read רֹעִי הָאֱוִילִי We Now GASm); absolute plural Isaiah 56:11; Jeremiah 2:8; Jeremiah 3:15; Micah 5:4; Zechariah 10:3; Zechariah 11:5,8 18t. Jeremiah Ezekiel 34, + (of Assyrian leaders) Nahum 3:18; ׳רֹעֵי יִשׂ Ezekiel 34:2; צאֹנוֺ רֹעֵי Isaiah 63:11 (but read רֹעֵה [of Moses] ᵐ5 Targam Di Du and others). (3) epithet of ׳רֹעִי ׃ י ׳י Psalm 23:1, ׳רֹעֵה יִשׂ Psalm 80:2, ׳רֹעֶה אֶבֶן יִשׂ Genesis 49:24 (poem in J; read construct רֹעֵה. compare Commentaries); מֵרֹעֶה אֶחָד Ecclesiastes 12:11 De Wild, < president of assembly of sages Siegf SS. 2 intransitive feed, graze: a. literally of cows, sheep, etc.: with ב location Genesis 41:2,18 (E), 1 Chronicles 27:29; with accusative of pasture Isaiah 30:23; with עַל location Zephaniah 2:7 (עֲלֵי הַיָּם for ᵑ0 עֲלֵיהֶם, see Now); אֶלמֿוּל location Exodus 34:3 (J); absolute Isaiah 5:17; Isaiah 11:7 ("" רבץ; but see רעה below) Isaiah 27:10 ("" id.), Isaiah 65:25; Jonah 3:7; Job 1:14. b. figurative of idolater, Isaiah 44:20 he feedeth on ashes (accusative); compare Hosea 12:2 Ehpraimitic source feedeth on wind (acc); אִוֶּלֶת ׳מִּי כְסִילִים יִר Proverbs 15:14 (so Vrss Qr; Kt פני for פי) the mouth of fools feeds on folly (Toy; Buhl √ II. רעה, Gerber162 below III. רעה); in Canticles, with ב location, figurative of lover Songs 2:16; Songs 6:2,3; of breasts (like gazelles) Songs 4:5. c. figurative, of Israel as flock Isaiah 14:30 ("" רבץ), read (יַ֯) בְּכָרֹי in my pasture(s), for ᵑ0 בְּכוֺרֵי, Koppe Ew Di Du (otherwise CheHpt, compare Marti); Zephaniah 3:13 ("" id..); with עַלדְּֿרָכִים Isaiah 49:9; with accusative of pasture-land Jeremiah 50:19; Micah 7:14; Ezekiel 34:14b ( + אֶל location), Ezekiel 34:18; Ezekiel 34:19; hence crop, strip, i.e. devastate, of conqueror, with accusative of land Micah 5:6, cf; אֶתיָֿדוֺ Jeremiah 6:3; so יִרְעוּךְ קָדְקֹד; Jeremiah 2:16; accusative of Israel under figure of vine (subject foes, as beasts) Psalm 80:14. d. subject wind, with accusative of person Jeremiah 22:22, i. e. drive them away; subject fire, with accusative of thing, יֵרַע Job 20:26, but read perhaps יֵרָע, Niph`al (Ol Di Hoffm Siegf Bu; otherwise Du). רֹעֶה עֲקָרָה֯ Job 24:21 is difficult; Bu חֵרַע for ׳ר; more radical conjectures in Du. Niph`al possibly Job 20:26, see 2d above Hiph`il Psalm 78:72 van d. H., see 1c above רֹעֶה shepherd, רֹעָה shepherdess, see √ 1 d. above II. [רָעָה] verb probably associate with (compare Schulth69ff. but also NöZMG iiv (1900), 154 f.; Assyrian ru°a, ruttu, neighbour, fellow (masculine and feminine; compare JägerBAS i. 483,486); so Bedouin Qal Imperative masculine singular וּרְעֵה אֱמוּנָה Psalm 37:3 cherish faithfulness (Hup-Now RV Che Du Dr); > feed seocurely (Bae; I.רעה; feed on (his) faithfulness AmRV); Participle כְסִילִים רֹעֶה Proverbs 13:20 one associating with fools, so ׳זֹלְלְים ר Proverbs 28:7, זוֺנוֺת ׳ר Proverbs 29:3 (Thes and others think these figurative from I. רעה, see 2b). Hithpa`el2masculine singular אַלתִּֿתְרַע אֶתבַּֿעַל אָ֑ף Proverbs 22:24 do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man; perhaps also 3 feminine plural תִּתְרָעֶינָה Isaiah 11:7 (LagOr. i. 21; Deceased Wife's Sister 399 Brd Du Che Hpt) cow and bear shall be each other's companions; + Infinitive construct הִתְרָעֹת Proverbs 18:24 (Toy, for ᵑ0 הִתְרֹעֵעַ) there are [יֵשׁ, for אִישׁ] friends (merely) to be companions (see II. רעע near the end). [רָעָה] verb denominative Pi`el be a special friend; — Perfect3masculine singular מֵרֵעֵהוּ אֲשֶׁר רֵעָה לוֺ Judges 14:20 his comrade who had been 'best man' (GFM) to him. רעה (√ of following; compare Biblical Hebrew III. רעה). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope רָעָה carries the life-oriented idea of tending, feeding, and leading—whether flocks, people, or one’s own heart. Its 164 Old Testament occurrences span narrative, poetry, prophecy, and wisdom literature, keeping before the reader a single, integrated picture of shepherding that is both literal and metaphorical. Shepherding in the Biblical World Sheep and goats were staples of Near-Eastern agrarian life. The verb portrays everyday labors: guiding animals to grazing land, securing water, protecting from predators, searching for the lost, and dwelling among the flock (Genesis 30:31; Exodus 3:1; 1 Samuel 17:34-35). In that world, a shepherd’s character—patient vigilance, gentle firmness, sacrificial courage—became an ideal image for leadership. Literal Usage: Caring for Flocks • Genesis 29:7—Jacob urges diligence: “Water the sheep and let them pasture.” The verb describes routine but formative disciplines that forged leaders such as Moses and David, preparing them to guide the covenant community. Divine Shepherdhood: The LORD as Shepherd God appropriates the imagery for Himself, asserting personal, covenantal care: These passages ground assurance in the character of God: He feeds, guides, protects, heals, and seeks. Messianic Anticipation Prophets harness רָעָה to foretell a coming Shepherd-King: These texts shape expectation for a leader combining regal authority with pastoral compassion, fulfilled in the New Testament Good Shepherd (John 10). Human Shepherds: Kings, Priests, and Prophets Israel’s leaders are repeatedly charged to “shepherd” the people: Leadership is evaluated by this pastoral yardstick—feeding with truth, guarding from harm, guiding in righteousness. Pastoral Responsibilities and Accountability Faithful shepherds: 1. Feed with wholesome teaching (Deuteronomy 11:15; Jeremiah 3:15). Accountability is severe: “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” (Jeremiah 23:1). God Himself intervenes when human shepherds fail. False Shepherds and Spiritual Neglect Negligent leaders “have not sought the LORD; therefore they do not prosper, and all their flock is scattered” (Jeremiah 10:21). Ezekiel 34:2-10 indicts shepherds who feed themselves, ignore the weak, rule harshly, and permit disease. Zechariah 11 paints the tragic outcome: sheep doomed to slaughter under worthless shepherds, yet divine sovereignty still moves redemptively. Ethical and Spiritual Lessons 1. Leadership is relational and sacrificial, not merely administrative. Connection to New Testament Pastoral Imagery Although רָעָה itself is Hebrew, its concepts overflow into Greek ποιμαίνω and ποιμήν. The Good Shepherd lays down His life (John 10:11), seeks the lost (Luke 15:4-7), and commissions undershepherds: “Feed My sheep” (John 21:16). Elders are exhorted, “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (1 Peter 5:2), demonstrating the seamless biblical theology of pastoral care established by רָעָה. Contemporary Ministry Significance Pastors and Christian leaders inherit this mantle. Authentic ministry is measured by feeding on Scripture, guiding toward holiness, guarding against error, and embodying Christ-like compassion. Congregations are called to recognize and support such shepherds while resting ultimately in the LORD, “the great Shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20), who perfects what human shepherds can only imperfectly model. Forms and Transliterations אֶרְעֶ֖ה אֶרְעֶ֣ה אֶרְעֶ֤ה אֶרְעֶ֥ה אֶרְעֶ֥נָּה ארעה ארענה בִּרְעֹת֥וֹ ברעתו הָֽרֹעִ֑ים הָֽרֹעִ֔ים הָֽרֹעִים֙ הָֽרֹעֶה֙ הָרֹעִ֑ים הָרֹעִ֔ים הָרֹעִ֖ים הָרֹעִ֜ים הָרֹעִ֣ים הָרֹעִ֤ים הָרֹעִ֧ים הָרֹעִֽים׃ הָרֹעִים֮ הָרֹעֶ֖ה הָרֹעֶ֜ה הָרֹעֶ֣ה הָרוֹעִ֖ים הרועים הרעה הרעים הרעים׃ וְהָרֹעִ֖ים וְרָע֑וּם וְרָע֖וּ וְרָע֥וּ וְרָעָ֣ה וְרָעָ֥ה וְרָעָה֙ וְרָעוּ֙ וְרֹ֣עֵיהֶ֔ם וְרֹעִ֖ים וְרֹעֶ֖ה וְרֹעֶ֥ה וְרֹעֶה וְרוֹעֶ֥ה וַ֭יִּרְעֵם וַיִּרְע֤וּ וַיִּרְעֽוּ׃ וַתִּרְעֶ֖ינָה וָֽאֶרְעֶה֙ וָאֶרְעֶ֖ה וּֽרְעֵ֥ם וּרְעִי֙ וּרְעִיתִים֙ וּרְעֵ֥ה וארעה והרעים וירעו וירעו׃ וירעם ורועה ורעה ורעו ורעום ורעי ורעיהם ורעים ורעיתים ורעם ותרעינה יִ֫רְעֵ֥ם יִרְע֑וּן יִרְע֔וּ יִרְע֖וּ יִרְע֖וּךְ יִרְע֣וּ יִרְע֥וּ יִרְעֵ֑ם יִרְעֵ֣ם יִרְעֶ֔ה יִרְעֶ֣ה יִרְעֶ֥ה יִרְעֶֽנָּה׃ ירעה ירעו ירעוך ירעון ירעם ירענה׃ כְּרֹעֶ֥ה כְּרֹעֶה֙ כרעה לְרֹעֶֽה׃ לִ֭רְעוֹת לִרְע֛וֹת לִרְע֥וֹת לִרְעוֹת֙ לָרֹעִ֜ים לרעה׃ לרעות לרעים מֵרְע֣וֹת מֵרֹעֶ֣ה מֵרֹעֶ֥ה מרעה מרעות עֵ֥קֶד עקד רְעֵ֖ה רְעֵ֧ה רְעֽוּ׃ רֵעָ֖ה רָע֖וּ רָעֽוּ׃ רֹ֘עֵ֤ה רֹ֝עִ֗י רֹ֣עֵה רֹ֣עֵי רֹ֥עֵה רֹע֥וֹת רֹעִ֔ים רֹעִ֖ים רֹעִ֗ים רֹעִ֣ים רֹעִ֤ים רֹעִ֥ים רֹעִֽים׃ רֹעֵ֣י רֹעֵ֥ה רֹעֵֽי־ רֹעֵיהֶ֣ם רֹעֶ֑ה רֹעֶ֔ה רֹעֶ֖ה רֹעֶ֙יךָ֙ רֹעֶ֛ה רֹעֶ֜ה רֹעֶ֣ה רֹעֶ֤ה רֹעֶ֥ה רֹעֶ֨ה רֹעֶֽה׃ רֹעַ֖י רֹעַ֙יִךְ֙ רֹעָ֖ה רוֹעֵ֣י רועי רעה רעה׃ רעו רעו׃ רעות רעי רעי־ רעיהם רעיך רעים רעים׃ תִּ֭תְרַע תִּרְע֔וּ תִּרְעֶ֔ינָה תִּרְעֶ֖ינָה תִּרְעֶה־ תִרְעֶ֔ה תִרְעֶ֤ה תִרְעֽוּ׃ תרעה תרעה־ תרעו תרעו׃ תרעינה תתרע ‘ê·qeḏ ‘êqeḏ ’er‘eh ’er‘ennāh ’er·‘eh ’er·‘en·nāh bir‘ōṯōw bir·‘ō·ṯōw biroTo Eked erEh erEnnah hā·rō·‘eh hā·rō·‘îm hā·rō·w·‘îm hārō‘eh hārō‘îm haroEh haroIm hārōw‘îm kə·rō·‘eh kərō‘eh keroEh lā·rō·‘îm lārō‘îm laroIm lə·rō·‘eh lərō‘eh leroEh lir‘ōwṯ lir·‘ō·wṯ lirot mê·rə·‘ō·wṯ mê·rō·‘eh mêrə‘ōwṯ mereot mêrō‘eh meroEh rā‘ū rā·‘ū raU rê‘āh rə‘êh rə‘ū rê·‘āh rə·‘êh rə·‘ū reAh reEh reU rō‘āh rō‘ay rō‘ayiḵ rō‘ê rō‘ê- rō‘eh rō‘êh rō‘êhem rō‘eḵā rō‘î rō‘îm rō‘ōwṯ rō·‘a·yiḵ rō·‘āh rō·‘ay rō·‘ê rō·‘ê- rō·‘ê·hem rō·‘e·ḵā rō·‘eh rō·‘êh rō·‘î rō·‘îm rō·‘ō·wṯ rō·w·‘ê roAh roAi roAyich Roeh Roei roEicha roeiHem roI roIm root rōw‘ê ṯir‘eh tir‘eh- tir‘enāh tir‘ū ṯir‘ū tir·‘e·nāh ṯir·‘eh tir·‘eh- tir·‘ū ṯir·‘ū tirEh tirEinah tirU tiṯ·ra‘ Titra tiṯra‘ ū·rə·‘êh ū·rə·‘êm ū·rə·‘î ū·rə·‘î·ṯîm ūrə‘êh ūrə‘êm ūrə‘î ūrə‘îṯîm ureEh ureEm ureI ureiTim vaerEh Vaiyirem vaiyirU vattirEinah veharoIm veraAh veraU veraUm veroEh veRoeiHem veroIm wā’er‘eh wā·’er·‘eh wat·tir·‘e·nāh wattir‘enāh way·yir·‘êm way·yir·‘ū wayyir‘êm wayyir‘ū wə·hā·rō·‘îm wə·rā·‘āh wə·rā·‘ū wə·rā·‘ūm wə·rō·‘ê·hem wə·rō·‘eh wə·rō·‘îm wə·rō·w·‘eh wəhārō‘îm wərā‘āh wərā‘ū wərā‘ūm wərō‘eh wərō‘êhem wərō‘îm wərōw‘eh yir‘eh yir‘êm yir‘ennāh yir‘ū yir‘ūḵ yir‘ūn yir·‘eh yir·‘êm yir·‘en·nāh yir·‘ū yir·‘ūḵ yir·‘ūn yirEh yirEm yirEnnah yirU yirUch yirUnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 4:2 HEB: וַֽיְהִי־ הֶ֙בֶל֙ רֹ֣עֵה צֹ֔אן וְקַ֕יִן NAS: And Abel was a keeper of flocks, KJV: And Abel was a keeper of sheep, INT: become and Abel was a keeper of flocks Cain Genesis 29:7 Genesis 29:9 Genesis 30:31 Genesis 30:36 Genesis 36:24 Genesis 37:2 Genesis 37:12 Genesis 37:13 Genesis 37:16 Genesis 41:2 Genesis 41:18 Genesis 46:32 Genesis 46:34 Genesis 47:3 Genesis 48:15 Genesis 49:24 Exodus 2:17 Exodus 2:19 Exodus 3:1 Exodus 34:3 Numbers 14:33 Numbers 27:17 Judges 14:20 1 Samuel 16:11 164 Occurrences |