רַב (rav)
rav
archer
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun rav, Strong’s number H7228, refers specifically to an archer or bowman. It appears only three times in the Old Testament, with occurrences in Proverbs, Job, and Jeremiah. The word is not a general term for warrior but points precisely to someone who wields a bow.
In these brief appearances, the term highlights the danger posed by skilled marksmen. For instance, Proverbs 26:18-19 uses the image of an archer shooting at his neighbor to illustrate malicious deception. Similarly, Job 41:29 describes the Leviathan’s resilience against arrows, emphasizing that even a skilled rav cannot pierce its hide. Jeremiah 50:9 also mentions archers in the context of military conflict.
Though rare, this word provides concrete imagery for both human malice and divine power. Its limited usage suggests it was not a common title but a specific descriptor used when the visual of the bow was central to the message. Translators consistently render it as "archer," preserving the distinct role within ancient warfare.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word rav identifies a specific role: the archer. In ancient warfare, this was not just a soldier but a specialist whose skill could strike from a distance. When Scripture uses this image, it often highlights precision and the potential for harm that comes with power. It reminds us that words or actions, like arrows, can travel far beyond our immediate reach.
Proverbs 26:10 offers a striking comparison. It likens hiring a fool to an archer who shoots indiscriminately, wounding everyone in his path. This warns us about the danger of giving authority to those without wisdom. Their influence is unpredictable and often destructive, much like arrows flying without aim.
Yet, this word also points to God’s sovereignty. In Job 16:13, the sufferer feels surrounded by these skilled warriors, yet acknowledges that even their precision cannot escape God’s ultimate judgment or care. We find comfort in knowing that no arrow, whether from human malice or circumstance, flies outside of His watchful eye.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- archers/ his1×
- archers1×
- an archer1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רַבָּ֗י/ו1×
- רַ֥ב1×
- רַ֠בִּים1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 26:10
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
This verse uses the archer as a metaphor for the indiscriminate harm caused by employing foolish counsel.
-
Job 16:13
His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.
Here the archers represent overwhelming external pressure that intensifies the sufferer's sense of isolation.
-
Jeremiah 50:29
“Call together the archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp against her all around. Let none of it escape. Pay her back according to her work. According to all that she has done, do to her; for she has been proud against Yahweh, against the Holy One of Israel.
The command to gather archers against Babylon illustrates the precision and completeness of divine judgment.