רִאשֹׁנִי (ri.sho.ni)
ri.sho.ni
first
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The adjective rishoni simply means "first" in order, time, or rank. It identifies something as preceding all others in a sequence. The sources note its occurrence in Jeremiah 25:1, where it marks the beginning of the reign of King Jehoiakim, anchoring the prophecy to a specific historical moment.
As a basic ordinal term, it lacks complex theological nuance but carries significant weight by establishing chronology and priority. In this context, it serves as a temporal marker, signaling that the events described are part of an initial phase in a larger narrative of judgment. Translators consistently render it as "first" to preserve this clear sequential meaning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word rishoni simply means "first," marking the beginning of a sequence or timeline. In Jeremiah 25:1, it anchors God's message to the very start of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. This precise dating shows that God is aware of history and its turning points.
When you feel lost in uncertainty, remember that God sees the start and the end. He initiates new seasons with purpose. His plans unfold in order, even when the path ahead seems unclear. You can trust that He holds the timeline of your life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ first1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָ/רִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ית1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 25:1
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (this was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon),
This occurrence marks the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, anchoring Jeremiah's prophecy to a specific historical starting point.