### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb H7370 (רָחַשׁ, *râchash*) is a primitive root, carrying the core semantic range of "to gush" or "to overflow," which then extends to "to indite" or "to compose." The primary sense evokes an abundant, spontaneous outpouring, like water from a spring. When applied to the heart or mind, it signifies an internal wellspring of thought, emotion, or inspiration that overflows and finds expression. The transition from "gushing" to "inditing" suggests that the act of composition is not merely intellectual effort but a natural consequence of an overflowing inner state. It implies a rich, uncontainable surge of material that demands utterance, particularly in written or poetic form.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb H7370 (רָחַשׁ, *râchash*) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, in [[Psalm 45:1]]. The verse states: "My heart is stirred by a noble theme; I recite my verses about the king—my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer" (NIV). The King James Version renders the key phrase as "My heart is inditing a good matter."
In this unique occurrence, the psalmist declares, "רָחַשׁ לִבִּי דָּבָר טוֹב" (*râchash libbî dāvār ṭôv*), which literally translates to "my heart gushes/overflows a good word/matter." The context is a royal wedding song, likely celebrating the king. The psalmist's heart is not merely thinking or considering a good theme, but it is *overflowing* with it. This internal abundance is the impetus for the poetic composition that follows. The "gushing" of the heart is the immediate cause of the tongue becoming "the pen of a skillful writer," emphasizing that the words flow effortlessly and abundantly from a deeply moved and inspired inner source. The single usage thus powerfully illustrates the core meaning: an internal, abundant wellspring of thought or emotion leading to articulate expression.
### Related Words & Concepts
Given its singular occurrence, direct lexical parallels for H7370 are scarce. However, its meaning connects conceptually to several broader biblical themes:
* **Outpouring of the Heart:** The idea of the heart (`{{H3820}}`, *lev/levav*) as the seat of emotion, thought, and will, from which all things flow (cf. [[Proverbs 4:23]]). Other verbs describing the pouring out of the soul or spirit (e.g., `{{H8210}}`, *shafakh*, "to pour out") share a conceptual affinity, though râchash uniquely links this outpouring to the act of composition.
* **Divine Inspiration and Prophetic Utterance:** While râchash itself does not explicitly denote divine inspiration, its use in a psalm, a form of sacred literature, suggests a connection to the wellspring of truth and beauty from which such works arise. Prophetic speech is often depicted as an overflow of God's Spirit (e.g., [[Numbers 11:25]], where the Spirit "rests" and causes prophecy).
* **Abundance of Speech:** Concepts related to speaking abundantly or fluently (e.g., `{{H1696}}`, *dabar*, "to speak"; `{{H5042}}`, *naba'*, "to prophesy") resonate with the "gushing" aspect of râchash. The emphasis is not just on speaking, but on speaking from a full, overflowing source.
### Theological Significance
The sole appearance of H7370 in [[Psalm 45:1]] carries profound theological implications regarding the nature of inspired speech, worship, and the composition of sacred texts.
1. **Source of True Expression:** Râchash highlights that genuine praise, prophecy, or poetic expression does not originate from mere intellectual effort or external prompting, but from an *internal wellspring*. The psalmist's heart is not merely thinking about a "good matter" but is actively "gushing" or "overflowing" with it. This suggests that authentic spiritual expression flows from a deep, abundant, and often divinely stirred inner state.
2. **Heart-Centered Worship:** The verb underscores the importance of the heart in worship and devotion. When the heart is "gushing" with a noble theme (which, in a psalm about a king, implicitly points to God's anointed and ultimately to Christ), the resulting words are not empty but vibrant with truth and emotion. This aligns with the biblical emphasis on worshipping God "in spirit and truth" ([[John 4:24]]), from an engaged and overflowing inner being.
3. **Nature of Sacred Writing:** For the psalmist, the act of "inditing" is a natural consequence of an overflowing heart. This implies that the composition of the Psalms, and by extension, other inspired writings, was not a cold, calculated process but the spontaneous and abundant expression of a heart moved by divine truth or a noble theme. It speaks to the organic, living nature of the biblical text, flowing from inspired human vessels.
### Summary
H7370 (רָחַשׁ, *râchash*) is a unique and potent Hebrew verb, appearing only once in [[Psalm 45:1]]. Its core meaning signifies "to gush" or "to overflow," extending to "to indite" or "to compose." In its singular biblical context, it describes the psalmist's heart "gushing forth" with a noble theme, leading directly to the composition of a psalm. This rare word powerfully conveys the idea that true poetic, prophetic, or worshipful expression springs from an abundant, internal wellspring. It underscores the heart's crucial role as the source of authentic speech and sacred composition, emphasizing that genuine spiritual utterance flows from a deeply moved and overflowing inner being, rather than from mere intellectual effort.
TRV