### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun רֵבֶץ (*rêbets*, `{{H7258}}`) is derived from the verbal root רָבַץ (*rabats*, `{{H7257}}`), meaning "to lie down," "to crouch," or "to stretch out." Consequently, *rêbets* denotes a "place of lying down," a "couch," or a "place of repose." It specifically refers to the location where an animal or, by extension, a person, settles down to rest. The word emphasizes the *location* or *space* of rest, rather than the act of resting itself. Its semantic range is quite narrow, consistently pointing to a physical spot of repose, often associated with animals.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term *rêbets* appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, each instance offering a distinct nuance of its core meaning:
1. **[[Isaiah 17:2]]**: "The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be for flocks, which lie down, and no one will make them afraid." Here, *rêbets* describes the desolate cities of Aroer becoming a "place of lying down" for flocks. The context is one of divine judgment leading to the abandonment of human settlements. The once-bustling cities are reduced to ruins, serving as undisturbed resting places for animals. This imagery evokes a profound sense of desolation and the reversal of the natural order, where human habitation gives way to the undisturbed repose of livestock. The absence of a human "frightener" (מַחֲרִיד, *macharid*) underscores the complete abandonment and the security afforded to the animals in this new, desolate "resting place."
2. **[[Job 39:7]]**: Describing the wild donkey, the text states, "He scorns the tumult of the city; he hears not the shouts of the driver. He ranges the mountains as his pasture, and he searches after every green thing." The full verse reads, "He laughs at the tumult of the city, and the *rêbets* of the driver he does not hear." In this poetic depiction of the wild donkey's untamed nature, *rêbets* refers to the "resting place" or "settled abode" of the driver, symbolizing human domestication and control. The wild donkey's inability to hear or its disdain for the *rêbets* of the driver highlights its absolute freedom and its rejection of any human-imposed order or constraint. Its preferred "resting place" is the open, untamed wilderness, contrasting sharply with the structured, human-controlled environment implied by the driver's *rêbets*.
In both occurrences, *rêbets* signifies a place of rest, but the contexts imbue it with different implications: one of desolate security for animals in a ruined human world, and the other of defiant freedom from human subjugation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most immediate and significant related word is the verbal root רָבַץ (*rabats*, `{{H7257}}`), from which *rêbets* is derived. This verb frequently describes animals lying down (e.g., [[Genesis 49:9]] for a lion, [[Deuteronomy 33:13]] for a deep that lies beneath), but can also apply to humans (e.g., [[Genesis 29:2]] for flocks lying down by a well). The noun *rêbets* crystallizes the *place* of this action.
Other related concepts include:
* **Rest/Resting Place**: The broader concept of rest is often conveyed by words like מְנוּחָה (*m'nuchah*, `{{H4496}}`), which can denote a place of rest, quiet, or security (e.g., [[Psalm 23:2]] "still waters"). While *m'nuchah* is a more general term for rest, *rêbets* is more specific to the physical spot where one lies down.
* **Dwelling/Habitation**: Terms like נָוֶה (*naveh*, `{{H5118}}`), referring to a dwelling place or pasture, particularly for flocks, share some semantic overlap. *Naveh* can describe a "resting place" for flocks, similar to *rêbets* in [[Isaiah 17:2]], but *rêbets* specifically emphasizes the act of lying down.
* **Couch/Bed**: While *rêbets* can mean "couch," it's not a common term for a human bed. Other words like מִשְׁכָּב (*mishkav*, `{{H4904}}`) are typically used for a bed or couch.
### Theological Significance
While *rêbets* itself is not a word laden with deep theological doctrine, its sparse occurrences offer subtle theological insights:
1. **Divine Sovereignty over Creation and Judgment**: In [[Isaiah 17:2]], the transformation of human cities into a *rêbets* for flocks illustrates God's absolute sovereignty. Human endeavors and structures are transient; God's judgment can reduce them to ruins, returning them to a state where nature reclaims its space. This highlights the ephemeral nature of human power versus the enduring power of God's will and the natural order He establishes. The undisturbed rest of the flocks in the desolate cities can be seen as a quiet testament to God's continued provision, even amidst judgment.
2. **The Wildness and Freedom of God's Creation**: [[Job 39:7]] speaks to the inherent wildness and untamed spirit of certain aspects of God's creation, exemplified by the wild donkey. Its rejection of the "resting place of the driver" (רֵבֶץ נֹגֵשׂ) underscores a divinely ordained freedom that resists human attempts at domestication and control. This passage contributes to the broader biblical theme in Job of God's wisdom being displayed in the natural world, a wisdom that often defies human understanding and control. It reverently acknowledges the diverse ways in which creation reflects God's character, including its majestic, untamable aspects.
In both instances, *rêbets* provides a concrete image that grounds larger theological themes of divine judgment, the natural order, and the distinct characteristics of God's creatures.
### Summary
The Hebrew noun רֵבֶץ (*rêbets*, `{{H7258}}`) denotes a "place of lying down" or a "resting place," derived from the verb *rabats* (`{{H7257}}`). Its two biblical occurrences offer distinct yet complementary insights: in [[Isaiah 17:2]], it portrays the desolation of human cities transformed into secure resting places for flocks, signifying divine judgment and the reclamation of nature. In [[Job 39:7]], it describes the "resting place of the driver," which the wild donkey scorns, emphasizing the creature's inherent freedom and rejection of human domestication. Though infrequent, *rêbets* serves as a precise term to illustrate the specific location of repose, contributing to vivid imagery that undergirds biblical themes of divine sovereignty, judgment, and the untamed beauty of God's creation.
TRV