רֹאשׁ (rosh)
rosh
Rosh
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Rosh identifies one of the ten sons of Benjamin listed in the genealogies of Genesis 46:21 and Numbers 26:38. He appears in these records as a member of the tribe that migrated to Egypt with Jacob, establishing his place within the broader family structure of Israel during the wilderness period.
Although the Hebrew word rō’sh commonly means “head” or “chief,” its use here is likely personal rather than descriptive of rank. The parallel account in 1 Chronicles 8:2 notes that this same individual was also called Rapha, suggesting a dual naming tradition within the family line. This entry serves primarily to trace the lineage of Benjamin’s descendants.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Rosh appears in the genealogies of Genesis and Numbers as one of the sons of Benjamin. While the common Hebrew word for 'head' or 'chief' shares this spelling, here it functions as a personal identifier within the family line of Israel.
Seeing names like Rosh in Scripture reminds us that God cares about the details of human history. Each person listed helps trace the lineage through which the nation of Israel was formed, showing that every individual has a place in God's broader story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Rosh1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וָ/רֹ֑אשׁ1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 46:21
The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
This verse lists Rosh among Benjamin’s ten sons, confirming his role as a specific ancestor rather than a title.