### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **rᵉʻîy**, represented by `{{H7471}}`, translates to **pasture**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible. Derived from the word רָעָה, its meaning is specific, referring to the grazing land where animals are raised and from which they are sourced.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H7471}}` is found in a detailed account of the daily provisions for King Solomon's royal court. The scripture notes the vast amount of food required, specifying "twenty **oxen** out of the **pastures**" [[1 Kings 4:23]] in addition to other fattened livestock. This usage emphasizes the immense wealth and logistical scale of Solomon's kingdom, where such a distinction between different types of livestock was significant.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words appear alongside `{{H7471}}` in its only context, providing a picture of agricultural abundance:
* `{{H1241}}` **bâqâr** (beef cattle or an animal of the ox family): This term for an **ox** or **herd** is listed as coming from the **pastures** [[1 Kings 4:23]]. Herds were a primary measure of wealth and a key animal in the sacrificial system ([[Genesis 24:35]], [[Exodus 20:24]]).
* `{{H6629}}` **tsôʼn** (a collective name for a flock): Representing **sheep** or a **flock**, this word appears in the list of Solomon's provisions [[1 Kings 4:23]]. It is also used figuratively to describe God's people, who are called the **sheep** of his pasture [[Psalms 100:3]].
* `{{H354}}` **ʼayâl** (a stag or male deer): This word for a **hart** is included among the wild game supplied to the king's table [[1 Kings 4:23]]. Elsewhere in scripture, it is used to symbolize deep spiritual longing [[Psalms 42:1]].
### Theological Significance
While `{{H7471}}` itself is not theologically developed, its context connects it to broader biblical themes through the animals it sustains.
* **Symbol of Divine Blessing:** The animals that come from the **pasture**, such as **oxen** `{{H1241}}` and **flocks** `{{H6629}}`, are consistently portrayed as tangible signs of the LORD's blessing upon individuals like Abraham and Job ([[Genesis 24:35]], [[Job 42:12]]).
* **Provision for Worship:** The **herd** and the **flock** were central to Israel's system of worship, providing the prescribed animals for burnt offerings and peace offerings on God's altar [[Exodus 20:24]]. The loss of the **herd** was a sign of judgment and desolation [[Habakkuk 3:17]].
* **Metaphor for God's People:** The imagery of animals in a pasture extends to God's relationship with His people. Israel is described as "the **sheep** `{{H6629}}` of his pasture" [[Psalms 100:3]], and their leaders are rebuked for failing to properly feed the **flocks** [[Ezekiel 34:2]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7471}}` is a precise term for **pasture** whose importance is understood through its singular context. Its appearance in the list of Solomon's provisions [[1 Kings 4:23]] serves as a marker of prosperity. Though rare, the word is tied to a network of related terms for livestock that are central to the biblical concepts of divine blessing, sacrificial worship, and the metaphorical relationship between God as a shepherd and his people as a flock.
TRV