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.
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.
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.
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.
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