Word Study for H7488 (רַעֲנָן)

raʻănân /rah-an-awn'/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom an unused root meaning to be green

Meaningverdant; by analogy, new; figuratively, prosperous

KJV usagegreen, flourishing.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of raʻănân — 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 raʻănân, represented by H7488, means verdant or flourishing. It appears 20 times across 20 unique verses. Its definition conveys a sense of being green, new, and prosperous. In scripture, it is used metaphorically to describe both the vitality of the righteous and, in sharp contrast, the settings chosen for idolatrous worship.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H7488 carries a dual significance. Positively, it symbolizes prosperity and spiritual health. The one who trusts in God is like a tree whose leaf shall be green Jeremiah 17:8, and the righteous are likened to a green olive tree in the house of God Psalms 52:8. The term also denotes freshness, as in being anointed with fresh oil Psalms 92:10. Conversely, it is frequently used to describe locations of apostasy. Prophets repeatedly condemn the worship of idols "under every green tree," highlighting Israel's unfaithfulness on high hills and in lush groves (Deuteronomy 12:2; Jeremiah 2:20; Isaiah 57:5).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide deeper context for the meaning of raʻănân:

H6086 ʻêts (a tree): This word is frequently paired with H7488 to describe the specific locations of pagan rituals, which were often conducted "under every green tree" 1 Kings 14:23.
H2132 zayith (an olive): When described as green, the olive tree becomes a powerful symbol of blessing and stability. The LORD called Israel a "green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit" Jeremiah 11:16 before its judgment.
H1389 gibʻâh (a hillock): Often mentioned alongside "green tree," this term establishes the setting for idolatry on elevated places. Israel's sin is described as occurring "upon every high hill and under every green tree" Jeremiah 2:20.
H249 ʼezrâch (a spontaneous growth, i.e. native (tree or persons)): This word is used to describe the wicked spreading himself "like a green bay tree," emphasizing a picture of arrogant, yet temporary, power Psalms 37:35.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7488 is found in its contrasting applications:

A Sign of Righteousness: The flourishing state of a green tree symbolizes the life of one who trusts in the LORD. They are promised to be fruitful, even in old age, remaining "fat and flourishing" Psalms 92:14. This vitality is a direct result of being rooted in God.
A Marker of Apostasy: The consistent use of the phrase "under every green tree" to describe pagan worship serves as a condemnation of Israel's actions. It highlights the perversion of using a symbol of God-given life and abundance as a backdrop for idolatry and rebellion Ezekiel 6:13.
A Metaphor for Vitality and Judgment: Beyond trees, the word describes the "fresh" oil of anointing Psalms 92:10 and a green bed in a love poem Song of Solomon 1:16, both connoting life and newness. In judgment, however, the branch of the wicked "shall not be green" Job 15:32, indicating a loss of life and prosperity.

Summary

In summary, H7488 is a rich term that signifies more than a simple color. It represents a state of being—vibrant, prosperous, and full of life. This vitality can be a blessing for the righteous who are like a green leaf that does not wither Jeremiah 17:8, or it can describe the setting of spiritual corruption where God's gift of life is profaned by idol worship Deuteronomy 12:2. The word raʻănân powerfully illustrates how the same image of natural abundance can symbolize either divine favor or spiritual decay.

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 an adjective and a verb across 20 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

רַעֲנָן
רַעֲנָנָה
רַעֲנַנִּים
רַעֲנָנָה

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 20 verses across 11 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (6 verses); never once in the other 28.

Deuteronomy

1 Kings

2 Kings

2 Chronicles

Job

Psalms

Song of Solomon

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

Hosea

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.