### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **raglîy**, represented by `{{H7273}}`, is a term for a **footman** or soldier, and can also refer to being **on foot**. It appears 12 times in 12 unique verses. The word is primarily used in a military context to denote infantry, the main body of an army, and is often associated with large numbers that signify the scale of a force.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H7273}}` is used to quantify both military forces and civilian populations. In the context of war, it appears in tallies of armies and casualties, such as when Israel lost thirty thousand **footmen** in a battle against the Philistines [[1 Samuel 4:10]] or when David's forces slew forty thousand Syrian **footmen** [[1 Chronicles 19:18]]. It is also used to describe the hiring of mercenary armies, as when the children of Ammon hired twenty thousand Syrian **footmen** [[2 Samuel 10:6]]. Beyond battle, the term describes the massive exodus from Egypt, where about six hundred thousand men traveled **on foot** ([[Exodus 12:37]], [[Numbers 11:21]]). Prophetically, Jeremiah uses it to create a metaphor for endurance, asking, "If thou hast run with the **footmen**, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?" [[Jeremiah 12:5]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the role and context of the footman:
* `{{H6571}}` **pârâsh** (horseman): This term for a mounted soldier is often mentioned alongside **footmen** to provide a full picture of an army's composition, distinguishing the cavalry from the infantry ([[2 Samuel 8:4]], [[2 Kings 13:7]]).
* `{{H7323}}` **rûwts** (to run): This verb is directly linked to the physical action of a footman. Jeremiah connects the two by questioning one's ability to **run** with footmen as a test of strength [[Jeremiah 12:5]].
* `{{H2719}}` **chereb** (sword): This is the primary weapon of the foot soldier. The men of Israel are numbered as four hundred thousand **footmen** that drew the **sword** [[Judges 20:2]].
* `{{H5483}}` **çûwç** (a horse): The **horse** is presented as a greater military asset and a more significant challenge than a footman, highlighting the difference in power and speed [[Jeremiah 12:5]].
* `{{H376}}` **ʼîysh** (a man): This word is often used with **raglîy** to specify that the footmen being counted are individual male soldiers ([[2 Samuel 8:4]], [[1 Chronicles 18:4]]).
### Theological Significance
The thematic weight of `{{H7273}}` is primarily tied to concepts of human power and national scale.
* **Measure of Military Might:** The word is consistently used with large numbers to express the strength of a nation's army. The counting of tens or hundreds of thousands of **footmen** serves to emphasize the immense human effort involved in biblical warfare ([[1 Samuel 15:4]], [[1 Kings 20:29]]).
* **Foundation of the Nation:** In the Exodus account, the "six hundred thousand on **foot**" represents the entire body of Israelite men departing Egypt. Here, the term is not just military but foundational, defining the size and scope of the fledgling nation [[Exodus 12:37]].
* **Human Strength in Contrast:** The footman can represent a baseline of human capability. Jeremiah's rhetorical question contrasts the exertion of running with **footmen** to the greater challenge of contending with horses, illustrating that life's trials can escalate beyond normal human capacity [[Jeremiah 12:5]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7273}}` is a specific and significant term in the Old Testament. While its base definition is simple, its usage provides a lens through which to view the scale of ancient warfare, the mobilization of a people, and the limits of human strength. It quantifies the masses, whether they are soldiers in an army, a nation on the move, or a metaphor for life's initial challenges.
TRV