a primitive root; to slake the thirst (occasionally of other appetites); bathe, make drunk, (take the) fill, satiate, (abundantly) satisfy, soak, water (abundantly).
Transliteration:râvâh
Pronunciation:raw-vaw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H7301 (רָוָה, *râvâh*) is a primitive root whose core meaning revolves around the concept of being thoroughly saturated or abundantly satisfied, particularly with liquid. Its most literal application is "to slake the thirst" or "to drink one's fill." From this foundational sense, its semantic range expands significantly:
1. **Physical Saturation:** It denotes being drenched, soaked, or watered abundantly. This can apply to land, plants, or even objects like a sword. The emphasis is on complete immersion or saturation, rather than just a minimal amount.
2. **Figurative Satisfaction (Positive):** Beyond physical thirst, *râvâh* is frequently used metaphorically to describe the complete satisfaction of desires, emotions, or spiritual needs. This includes being "filled" with joy, delight, love, or blessing. It implies an overflowing abundance, a state of being more than adequately supplied.
3. **Figurative Saturation (Negative):** Paradoxically, the root can also describe being "made drunk" or "drenched" with negative experiences such as bitterness, judgment, or blood. In these contexts, it still conveys the idea of complete saturation, but with an emphasis on overwhelming, inescapable experience of distress or divine wrath.
The underlying thread across all uses is a sense of *fullness* or *abundance* to the point of overflow, whether it brings refreshment or judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root H7301 appears in various contexts, illustrating its rich semantic range:
* **Physical Watering/Drenching:**
* In [[Proverbs 11:25]], the generous soul is promised to be "watered" (literally, "made fat" or "satisfied"), implying prosperity and blessing.
* [[Isaiah 58:11]] uses *râvâh* to describe the Lord continually guiding and "satisfying" the soul in parched places, making one like a "well-watered garden." This highlights divine provision in times of need.
* [[Psalm 65:10]] speaks of God "watering" the furrows of the earth and softening it with showers, leading to abundant harvest.
* **Spiritual/Emotional Satisfaction (Positive):**
* Perhaps one of the most poignant uses is in [[Psalm 36:8]], where the psalmist declares, "They drink their fill (from the river) of Your delights." This vividly portrays the overflowing joy and satisfaction found in God's presence.
* [[Proverbs 5:19]] advises a man to be "satisfied" with the love of his wife, emphasizing contentment and fulfillment within marital fidelity.
* [[Jeremiah 31:25]] is a promise of restoration: "For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish." Here, *râvâh* speaks to God's capacity to bring deep spiritual refreshment and renewal.
* **Intoxication/Judgment (Negative):**
* The root can signify being "drunk," as in [[Jeremiah 46:10]], where the sword of the Lord is said to be "drenched" with blood and "satisfied" with slaughter, depicting divine judgment against Egypt.
* Similarly, [[Isaiah 34:5]] speaks of God's sword being "drenched" in heaven, prepared for judgment against Edom.
* In [[Lamentations 3:15]], the suffering prophet laments that God has "filled" him with bitterness and made him "drunk" with wormwood, illustrating overwhelming distress.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H7300}}` (רוה - *râvâ*):** This is a closely related root, often considered a variant or cognate, also meaning to water or refresh. It reinforces the core idea of liquid saturation.
* **`{{H7646}}` (שבע - *sâvaʿ*):** To be satisfied, full, or satiated, often in the context of food or general well-being. While *sâvaʿ* is broader, *râvâh* often carries the specific nuance of being *drenched* or *overflowingly* satisfied, particularly with liquids or metaphorical "drinks."
* **`{{H8248}}` (שקה - *shâqâh*):** To give drink, to water. This is the causative form, where one *causes* another to drink or waters something. *Râvâh* describes the *state* of being watered or satisfied as a result.
* **Concepts:** Abundance, refreshment, saturation, blessing, prosperity, joy, divine provision, judgment, wrath, thirst, quenching. The interplay between physical and spiritual fulfillment, as well as the dual capacity for blessing and judgment, are central to its usage.
### Theological Significance
The theological implications of H7301 are profound and multifaceted:
* **God as the Source of Abundant Life and Satisfaction:** The frequent use of *râvâh* to describe God's provision highlights Him as the ultimate wellspring of true satisfaction. He is the one who "waters" the soul, providing spiritual refreshment that goes beyond mere sufficiency to overflowing abundance. This imagery connects to the concept of living water and the deep spiritual nourishment that only God can provide.
* **Covenantal Blessing:** The promise of being "watered" or "satisfied" is often a sign of God's blessing upon those who walk in His ways. It signifies prosperity, fruitfulness, and well-being, both physical and spiritual, as a result of covenant faithfulness.
* **The Depth of Divine Judgment:** The application of *râvâh* to divine wrath underscores the comprehensive and inescapable nature of God's justice. When God's sword is "drenched" or His people are "filled" with bitterness, it signifies a judgment that fully accomplishes its purpose, leaving no aspect untouched. This reveals God's absolute sovereignty over both blessing and judgment.
* **Spiritual Thirst and Fulfillment:** The root implicitly speaks to humanity's inherent spiritual thirst and longing. God's ability to "satisfy" and "replenish" the weary soul points to Him as the sole answer to humanity's deepest cravings, offering a fulfillment that the world cannot provide.
### Summary
The Hebrew root H7301 (רָוָה, *râvâh*) powerfully conveys the concept of being utterly saturated or abundantly satisfied. While literally referring to quenching thirst or drenching with water, its metaphorical applications are rich and diverse. It beautifully describes God's overflowing provision and spiritual refreshment, making the soul like a "well-watered garden" [[Isaiah 58:11]] or allowing one to "drink their fill of Your delights" [[Psalm 36:8]]. Yet, it also unflinchingly portrays the comprehensive nature of divine judgment, where a sword is "drenched" with blood [[Jeremiah 46:10]]. Across its various uses, *râvâh* consistently emphasizes a state of complete fullness, whether it brings life-giving blessing, profound spiritual satisfaction, or the overwhelming experience of divine justice. It underscores God's absolute capacity to provide, fulfill, and judge with an abundance that knows no bounds.
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