The Hebrew word rîyr, represented by H7388, is a specific term used for saliva or spittle, and by resemblance, the white of an egg. It appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses, with each occurrence providing a distinct and powerful image. Its meaning ranges from a physical discharge to a metaphor for something utterly tasteless.
In its biblical usage, H7388 appears in two starkly different contexts. In the first, it is translated as spittle during David's ruse to feign madness before the king of Gath. He "let his spittle fall down upon his beard," a deliberate act of self-debasement to appear harmless 1 Samuel 21:13. In the second instance, it refers to the white of an egg in a rhetorical question from Job, who asks if there is any taste in what is insipid, using the egg white as an example of something without flavor Job 6:6.
Several related words help clarify the meaning of H7388 in its contexts:
- H8138 shânâh (to change): This word describes David's action of "changing" his behavior to feign madness, the very act that involved the use of spittle 1 Samuel 21:13. It means to alter or disguise oneself.
- H2206 zâqân (beard): This is the object upon which David's spittle fell. As a symbol of age and dignity, the defilement of the beard amplified the appearance of his feigned madness 1 Samuel 21:13.
- H2940 ṭaʻam (taste): This is the quality that the white of an egg, or H7388, lacks in Job 6:6. The word also means behavior or discretion, linking the idea of tastelessness in Job to the "changed behaviour" of David.
- H8602 tâphêl (unsavoury): Used in parallel with H7388 in Job's question, this word describes that which is tasteless or foolish. It refers to things that are unsavoury and, by extension, frivolous or false Job 6:6.
While its use is infrequent, the thematic weight of H7388 is significant in its contexts.
- Symbol of Debasement: As spittle, rîyr becomes the physical evidence of David's feigned madness. Letting it run down his beard was a calculated act of humiliation, a powerful visual representation of a man appearing worthless to ensure his survival 1 Samuel 21:13.
- Metaphor for Insipidity: As the white of an egg, rîyr serves as a biblical benchmark for something utterly devoid of substance or value. Job uses it to articulate a state of worthlessness, comparing it to something unsavoury that cannot be eaten without salt Job 6:6.
- Physicality and Abstraction: The word bridges a concrete physical substance with an abstract concept. It is both a literal bodily fluid and a figurative representation of that which lacks ṭaʻam H2940—a term encompassing not just taste but also reason and judgment.
In summary, H7388 is a term with a dual application that carries significant symbolic meaning. Though appearing only twice, it effectively illustrates concepts of deliberate debasement and inherent worthlessness. Whether as the "spittle" of a feigned madman or the tasteless "white of an egg," rîyr serves as a potent biblical image for a lack of dignity and substance.
TRV