רְגַז (re.gaz)
re.gaz
to enrage
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb regaz appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Ezra 5:12. In this context, it is used in the Haphel stem to mean "to enrage" or "to provoke to rage." The text describes how the enemies of Judah sought to anger the Persian king Artaxerxes by reporting on the rebuilding efforts, hoping to halt the work.
This word is a cognate of the Hebrew root ragaz (H7264), which typically carries the meaning of trembling or shaking. While the Hebrew form often describes physical tremors or emotional agitation, the Aramaic usage here shifts toward active provocation. It suggests that the agitators were not merely causing fear, but deliberately stirring up violent anger in the ruler’s heart.
The occurrence highlights a specific political maneuver in the post-exilic period. By framing the Jews’ activities as rebellious, the opponents aimed to trigger a royal response driven by fury rather than justice. This single instance shows how language was weaponized to influence imperial policy and protect established power structures against returning exiles.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word regaz describes the act of provoking someone to intense anger or rage. In Ezra 5:12, it is used to describe how our ancestors provoked the God of heaven to wrath. This heavy language reminds us that sin is not just a mistake; it can actively wound our relationship with the Creator and invite serious consequences.
Yet this verse does not leave us in despair. It acknowledges past failure while pointing toward the reality of God’s sovereignty. Even when we provoke anger through disobedience, God remains the ultimate ruler over history. His judgments are real, but so is His patience and His capacity to restore what was broken.
We can find comfort in knowing that God hears our repentance. When we turn back to Him with honest hearts, He responds with grace rather than continued wrath. This word invites us to examine our own lives, seeking peace with God through humility and faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they enraged1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַרְגִּ֤זוּ1×
Key Verses
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Ezra 5:12
But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon.
This verse uses regaz to describe how the ancestors provoked God to wrath, highlighting the serious spiritual consequence of disobedience.