רָעֵב

râʻêb /raw-abe'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto hunger
KJV usage(suffer to) famish, (be, have, suffer, suffer to) hunger(-ry).
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word râʻêb, represented by H7456, is a primitive root meaning to hunger. It appears 12 times across 11 unique verses, typically translated as to "famish" or to "suffer hunger." It describes a state of want, often for food.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7456 is used to describe both literal and figurative hunger. It denotes a physical crisis, as when the entire land of Egypt was famished during the famine Genesis 41:55. It is also used as a tool of divine discipline, where God suffered the Israelites to hunger in the wilderness to teach them dependence on His word Deuteronomy 8:3. The word also illustrates a key distinction between the righteous and the wicked; the LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish Proverbs 10:3, while in a future judgment, God's servants will eat but the disobedient shall be hungry Isaiah 65:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of hunger and sustenance:

  • H7457 râʻêb (hungry): This word is derived from the same root and describes the state of one who hungers. It is used in commandments to provide bread to the hungry Isaiah 58:7.
  • H6770 tsâmêʼ (to thirst): This word is a direct parallel to hunger and is often paired with it. God promises His people a future where they will not hunger nor thirst Isaiah 49:10.
  • H3899 lechem (food, especially bread): This word for food is often the object of the hunger. The people in Egypt cried for bread when they were famished Genesis 41:55, and the Israelites in the wilderness were taught that man does not live by bread alone Deuteronomy 8:3.
  • H6031 ʻânâh (to depress literally or figuratively, humble): This root is directly linked to hunger as a means of divine action, as God humbled Israel when He "suffered thee to hunger" Deuteronomy 8:3.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7456 is significant, highlighting God's relationship with humanity.

  • Divine Discipline: Hunger is explicitly used by God as a teaching tool. By allowing the Israelites to hunger, He demonstrated that their ultimate sustenance comes from His word, not just physical bread Deuteronomy 8:3.
  • Consequence of Action: The state of hunger is often linked to human behavior. An "idle soul shall suffer hunger" Proverbs 19:15, and those experiencing judgment become so hungry that they curse their leaders and God Isaiah 8:21.
  • God's Providence: Scripture repeatedly contrasts the fate of the righteous with the wicked regarding hunger. God promises not to suffer the righteous to famish Proverbs 10:3 and that those who seek Him will not suffer hunger Psalms 34:10.
  • Future Restoration: The absence of hunger is a key feature of God's promised restoration. He pledges that His people "shall not hunger nor thirst" under His merciful guidance Isaiah 49:10.

Summary

In summary, H7456 extends beyond a simple physical sensation. It serves as a powerful biblical motif representing divine judgment, discipline, and the consequences of human idleness. Conversely, its absence signifies God's blessing, provision for the righteous, and the complete satisfaction found in His future restoration. The word illustrates the dynamic where God can use a physical need to reveal a deeper spiritual truth.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb and an adjective across 16 occurrences, inflected in 14 grammatical forms.

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

+ 2 rarer forms

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".
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
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 11 verses across 6 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (3 verses).

1
Genesis
1
Deuteronomy
2
Psalms
3
Proverbs
3
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah

Verse Explorer

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