רָגַע

râgaʻ /raw-gah'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root · properly, to toss violently and suddenly (the sea with waves, the skin with boils)
Meaningfiguratively (in a favorable manner) to settle, i.e. quiet; specifically, to wink (from the motion of the eye-lids)
KJV usagebreak, divide, find ease, be a moment, (cause, give, make to) rest, make suddenly.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word râgaʻ, represented by H7280, conveys a dynamic range of meanings, from violent, sudden tossing to a state of quiet settlement. It appears 13 times across 13 unique verses in the Bible. Its definition encompasses concepts like breaking, dividing, finding ease, being for a moment, and bringing to rest, showcasing a powerful duality between turmoil and tranquility.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7280 describes God's sovereign power over creation, particularly His ability to divide the sea (Job 26:12, Isaiah 51:15). This act of controlling chaos is contrasted with the word's use to signify a state of peace and settlement. God promises to cause Israel to rest Jeremiah 31:2 and make His judgment rest as a light for the people Isaiah 51:4. Conversely, a curse for disobedience is to find no ease in foreign lands Deuteronomy 28:65. The word also denotes swiftness, as when God makes an enemy suddenly run away Jeremiah 49:19 or when the fleeting nature of a lie is described as lasting only for a moment Proverbs 12:19. It can even describe physical affliction, as when Job's skin is broken Job 7:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illuminate the meaning of H7280:

  • H1530 gal (wave): This word is directly linked to God's power over the sea. In passages like Jeremiah 31:35 and Isaiah 51:15, God divides H7280 the sea when its waves roar, highlighting the context of immense natural force being brought under divine control.
  • H4494 mânôwach (rest): This term is often used in parallel with H7280 to emphasize the concept of a settled home or quiet. It appears in contexts of both the absence of rest Deuteronomy 28:65 and the finding of a place of rest Isaiah 34:14.
  • H7264 râgaz (disquiet): This word for trembling or turmoil is used as a direct antonym to H7280. In Jeremiah 50:34, God promises to give rest H7280 to the land while bringing disquiet to the inhabitants of Babylon, showcasing the two opposing fates delivered by God's judgment.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7280 is significant and multifaceted.

  • Sovereignty Over Chaos: The act of dividing the sea is a powerful demonstration of God's absolute authority. He brings order to the roaring waves H1530, an act tied directly to the declaration of His name as "The LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 51:15, Jeremiah 31:35).
  • Rest as Divine Favor: Rest is portrayed not as a default state, but as a gift from God. He leads His people to rest Jeremiah 31:2 and even causes His law to rest as a light Isaiah 51:4. The withholding of this ease is a sign of judgment and sorrow Deuteronomy 28:65.
  • The Swiftness of Divine Action: H7280 emphasizes the suddenness with which God can act, whether in routing an enemy Jeremiah 50:44 or in the transient nature of evil, where a lying tongue lasts only for a moment Proverbs 12:19.

Summary

In summary, râgaʻ H7280 is a word of profound contrasts. It captures God's power to both stir up and to settle, to toss violently and to bring to a quiet rest. From the cosmic scale of dividing the sea to the personal experience of broken skin or the fleeting duration of a moment, it illustrates a God who is sovereign over all states of being, capable of bringing both sudden disquiet and perfect, lasting peace.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 13 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms.

  • Hiphil Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 4×
  • Qal Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 2×
  • Qal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Hiphil Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hiphil Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Imperative 2nd Singular Feminine 1×
Singular
One.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 13 verses across 5 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (6 verses).

1
Deuteronomy
2
Job
1
Proverbs
3
Isaiah
6
Jeremiah

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