English · KJV
H7473

רֹעִי

rôʻîy /ro-ee'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom active participle of רָעָה
Meaningpastoral; as noun, a shepherd
KJV usageshipherd.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of rôʻîy — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word rôʻîy, represented by H7473, is a noun meaning shepherd. Derived from a word for pastoral life, it appears only 2 times in 2 verses of the Bible. Though rare, its usage provides distinct metaphorical insight into both the nature of human life and the responsibilities of leadership.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two occurrences of H7473 appear in different contexts. In Isaiah, it is used to describe the transient nature of life, with Hezekiah lamenting that his life is "removed from me as a shepherd's tent" Isaiah 38:12. In Zechariah, the term is used in a prophecy of judgment, delivering a "Woe" against the "idol shepherd" who abandons his flock, signifying a worthless and negligent leader Zechariah 11:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of H7473 in its biblical context:

  • H1945 hôwy (ah, alas, ho, O, woe): This interjection of grief or a denunciation is directly connected to the "idol shepherd" in Zechariah 11:17. It is frequently used by the prophets to announce judgment, as in the "woe" declared against pastors who scatter the sheep Jeremiah 23:1.
  • H457 ʼĕlîyl (idol, no value, thing of nought): This word modifies "shepherd" in Zechariah 11:17, describing the leader as being false and worthless, like a forbidden idol Leviticus 26:1.
  • H5800 ʻâzab (to... forsake): This verb describes the primary failure of the idol shepherd, who "leaveth the flock" Zechariah 11:17. Forsaking one's duty is presented as a grave sin, just as forsaking God invites judgment Ezra 8:22.
  • H6629 tsôʼn (flock): This word represents those who are meant to be cared for by the shepherd. In Zechariah 11:17, it is the flock that is abandoned. Figuratively, it refers to God's people, who are called "the sheep of his pasture" Psalms 100:3.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7473 is concentrated in its powerful metaphors.

  • A Symbol of Transience: The use of "a shepherd's tent" in Isaiah 38:12 poignantly illustrates the temporary and fragile nature of human existence on earth. A shepherd's dwelling is not permanent, but is easily taken down and moved.
  • Failed Leadership: The "idol shepherd" in Zechariah 11:17 serves as a stark warning against corrupt and self-serving leadership. This figure is condemned for being worthless H457 and for abandoning H5800 his charge, the flock H6629.
  • The Responsibility of Care: Implicit in the condemnation of the bad shepherd is the high value placed on a good shepherd. The very concept of pronouncing woe on one who leaves the flock reinforces the sacred duty of leaders to protect and provide for those under their care.

Summary

In summary, while H7473 is one of the less common Hebrew words for shepherd, its two appearances carry significant metaphorical weight. It is used to paint a picture of the fleeting nature of life and to deliver a sharp prophetic judgment against failed leadership. These instances show how the familiar image of a shepherd could be used to convey profound truths about both the human condition and divine expectations for leaders.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 11 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • רֹעֵי
  • רֹעִ
  • רֹעִים

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1945 הוֹי a prolonged form of הוֹ (akin to אוֹי); oh!; ah, alas, ho, O, woe. H457 אֱלִיל apparently from אַל; good for nothing, by anal. vain or vanity; specifically an idol; idol, no value, thing of nought. H5800 עָזַב a primitive root; to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.; commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, H6629 צֹאן or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); als

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah and Zechariah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Isaiah
1
Zechariah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.