רָוָה

râvâh /raw-vaw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto slake the thirst (occasionally of other appetites)
KJV usagebathe, make drunk, (take the) fill, satiate, (abundantly) satisfy, soak, water (abundantly).
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word râvâh, represented by H7301, is a primitive root meaning to slake thirst. It appears 15 times in 14 unique verses. Its meaning extends beyond simple thirst to encompass a range of appetites, with translations including to satiate, (abundantly) satisfy, water (abundantly), soak, bathe, or even make drunk.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H7301 is used to describe both divine blessing and severe judgment. In a positive sense, it conveys God's abundant provision, as when He promises to satiate the weary soul Jeremiah 31:25 and allow His people to be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of His house Psalms 36:8. The word also depicts the natural cycle of creation where rain watereth the earth to make it fruitful Isaiah 55:10. Conversely, H7301 is used to illustrate the totality of God's wrath, where a sword is bathed in heaven Isaiah 34:5 or made drunk with blood Jeremiah 46:10, and land is soaked with blood Isaiah 34:7. The term can also describe intimate human fulfillment Proverbs 5:19 or being filled with bitterness Lamentations 3:15.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words highlight the sources and effects associated with being filled or watered:

  • H1880 deshen (fatness): This word, meaning abundance or the fat, often describes the substance with which one is satisfied. God promises to satiate the soul of the priests with fatness Jeremiah 31:14, linking satisfaction directly to divine provision.
  • H8248 shâqâh (to make drink): Defined as to irrigate or furnish a potion, this word often describes the action that leads to satisfaction. In God's house, He will not only satisfy His people but also make them drink from the river of His pleasures Psalms 36:8.
  • H1818 dâm (blood): In the context of judgment, this word for blood shows what the land or sword is saturated with. On the day of vengeance, the sword will be made drunk with their blood Jeremiah 46:10, illustrating the severity of the consequence.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7301 is seen in its dual application to both blessing and curse.

  • Divine Abundance: The word frequently points to God as the source of complete satisfaction. He waters the earth to produce food Isaiah 55:10, He satiates the weary and sorrowful soul Jeremiah 31:25, and He satisfies His people with the fatness of His own house Psalms 36:8.
  • Instrument of Judgment: In a stark contrast, to be 'soaked' or 'made drunk' is a terrifying image of divine judgment. The Lord's sword is 'bathed' in heaven before it descends for judgment Isaiah 34:5, and it is 'made drunk' with blood as a sacrifice to the Lord Jeremiah 46:10.
  • Spiritual Reciprocity: The word is used to establish a key principle of wisdom, stating that the one who watereth others "shall be watered also himself" Proverbs 11:25, linking generosity to personal blessing.

Summary

In summary, H7301 is a powerful and multifaceted word. It expresses the extremes of experience, from the life-giving act of watering the earth Psalms 65:10 and the deep spiritual satisfaction God provides Jeremiah 31:14 to the terrifying finality of a land soaked in blood as an act of judgment Isaiah 34:7. Whether describing blessing, judgment, or human relationships, râvâh demonstrates a state of being completely filled or saturated, for better or for worse.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 14 occurrences, inflected in 13 grammatical forms.

  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Hiphil Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Piel Consecutive Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Piel Consecutive Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Piel Infinitive Absolute 1×
  • Piel Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 1st Plural common gender 1×

+ 1 rarer form

Singular
One.
Plural
More than 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.
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.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 14 verses across 5 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (5 verses).

2
Psalms
3
Proverbs
5
Isaiah
3
Jeremiah
1
Lamentations

Verse Explorer

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