רַ֫הַט (ra.hat)
ra.hat
trough; lock
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 raḥat has two distinct meanings in Scripture: a trough for water and a lock of hair. The primary sense is a container or hollow place where water collects, likely used for watering livestock. This concrete image appears in the narrative of Genesis 24:19, where Rebekah draws water from her pitcher to fill the troughs for Abraham’s camels.
A second, more poetic usage occurs in Song of Solomon 7:6, where the beloved’s head is compared to a raḥat. Here, the word likely refers to a curly lock or ringlet of hair, perhaps evoking the shape of a coiled strand or the way water might pool in curls. The connection between the two meanings remains uncertain; some scholars suggest the term originally described a hollow or flowing shape that applied to both a vessel and a curl.
Though rare, appearing only three times, the word bridges everyday rural life and intimate poetic imagery. Translators usually render it "trough" in Genesis and "head" or "hair" in Song of Solomon, reflecting its contextual flexibility. The term reminds readers that biblical language often draws from simple, tangible objects to express deeper relational truths.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Imagine the quiet rhythm of daily life in ancient times: a woman drawing water from a well, filling wooden or stone troughs for thirsty animals. The word raḥat points us to that simple, grounding reality. It speaks of provision and care, showing how God’s people relied on basic necessities while trusting in His guidance. In Genesis 24, Rebekah’s willingness to fill these troughs becomes a moment of divine appointment, revealing how ordinary acts of kindness can open doors to significant blessings.
This word also appears in poetic contexts, where imagery shifts from the practical to the personal. Whether referring to a vessel for water or a curl of hair, raḥat reminds us that God values both the mundane details of our days and the intimate beauty of human connection. It invites us to see the sacred in the everyday, finding meaning in how we serve others and how we are loved.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in the/ drinking troughs2×
- the/ drinking troughs1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָ֣/רְהָטִ֔ים1×
- בָּ/רֳהָטִ֖ים1×
- בָּ/רֳהָטִ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 30:38
He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. They conceived when they came to drink.
This verse highlights the trough as a central point of interaction between Jacob’s methods and the natural behavior of the flock, showing how physical settings influence outcomes.
-
Exodus 2:16
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
Here, the troughs represent the daily labor of Moses’ future mother-in-law’s daughters, establishing a setting where divine providence intersects with human routine.