English · KJV
H737

אֲרֻחָה

ʼăruchâh /ar-oo-khaw'/ Ask about this word
Rootfeminine passive participle of אָרַח (in the sense of appointing)
Meaninga ration of food
KJV usageallowance, diet, dinner, victuals.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼăruchâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʼăruchâh, represented by H737, refers to a ration of food or a fixed portion. Derived from a root meaning "to appoint," it signifies an allowance, diet, dinner, or victuals. It appears 6 times across 4 unique verses, illustrating its specific application to designated provisions.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H737 is used to describe specific, allotted provisions. For the captive King Jehoiachin, it was a "continual allowance" or "diet" granted by the king of Babylon, a set portion for each day of his life (2 Kings 25:30, Jeremiah 52:34). Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah was given "victuals" by the captain of the guard Jeremiah 40:5. The term is also used in a moral or social context in Proverbs, which states that a "dinner of herbs where love is" is better than a fine meal accompanied by hatred Proverbs 15:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context of this provision:

  • H5414 nâthan (to give, used with greatest latitude of application): This verb is consistently used to describe the action of providing the ʼăruchâh. The allowance was given to King Jehoiachin 2 Kings 25:30 and Jeremiah Jeremiah 40:5.
  • H3117 yôwm (a day): This word establishes the regularity of the provision. The ʼăruchâh was a "daily rate for every day" 2 Kings 25:30 and a portion given "every day" Jeremiah 52:34, emphasizing its role as daily sustenance.
  • H1697 dâbâr (a word; by implication, a matter... or thing... rate... portion): While often translated as "word," in this context it specifies the measure of the allowance as a set "rate" or "portion" (2 Kings 25:30, Jeremiah 52:34).

Theological Significance

The theological and moral weight of H737 centers on the concept of provision and its source.

  • Provision from Authority: The word is primarily used for a ration provided by an authority figure, like a king or a captain of the guard. This highlights a theme of dependence on a provider for sustenance (2 Kings 25:30, Jeremiah 40:5).
  • Daily Sustenance: The provision is explicitly linked to the continuation of life, described as a continual allowance for "all the days of his life" Jeremiah 52:34.
  • Value Beyond the Physical: Proverbs uses H737 to teach that the quality of a provision is determined by its emotional and spiritual context. A simple "dinner" with love is superior to a feast with hatred, underscoring that fellowship is more valuable than material abundance Proverbs 15:17.

Summary

In summary, H737 moves beyond a simple definition of a meal. It specifically denotes an allotted, regular provision, whether it is a king's allowance for a captive or a humble dinner among loved ones. The word illustrates a biblical principle where the source and spirit of a provision can be as significant as the provision itself, highlighting themes of dependence, daily sustenance, and the value of love over material wealth.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 6 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • אֲרֻחַת
  • אֲרֻחָה

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5414 נָתַן a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, a H3117 יוֹם from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one s H1697 דָּבָר from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer,

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
2 Kings
1
Proverbs
2
Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.