רָוֶה (ra.veh)
ra.veh
watered
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective raveh describes something that is thoroughly watered or saturated. It appears in only two verses, both found in the prophetic books of Jeremiah and Isaiah. In these contexts, the word paints a vivid picture of land or vegetation that has received ample moisture, moving beyond simple dampness to a state of full saturation.
This term emphasizes the result of watering rather than the act itself. It conveys a sense of completeness, where the water has fully penetrated and satisfied the need. The imagery suggests fertility and life sustained by abundant rain, contrasting with dry or parched conditions. By using this specific descriptor, the prophets highlight the tangible benefits of God’s provision in the natural world.
The rarity of raveh makes its usage particularly striking. When it appears, it serves as a concrete metaphor for spiritual refreshment or divine blessing. The word anchors abstract promises of restoration in physical reality, reminding readers that just as saturated soil yields growth, so too does God’s presence bring vitality to His people. This linguistic precision helps translators capture the depth of nourishment intended in these ancient texts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word raveh describes land that is thoroughly saturated with water, moving beyond simple dampness to a state of full vitality. In Isaiah and Jeremiah, this image anchors God’s promises in physical reality. Just as parched earth transforms into lush growth when fully watered, your spirit can find deep refreshment in His presence.
When life feels dry or uncertain, these verses remind you that God does not offer a trickle of hope but a spring that never fails. He guides you continually and satisfies your soul in the very places where you feel most depleted. This is not about striving for moisture but resting in the One who provides it.
You are invited to look for this spiritual saturation in your daily walk. It is a quiet assurance that God’s care is complete, penetrating deep into the roots of your life to sustain you through every season.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- watered2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רָוֶ֔ה2×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 58:11
and Yahweh will guide you continually, satisfy your soul in dry places, and make your bones strong. You will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters don’t fail.
Here the word paints a picture of continuous divine guidance that results in inner strength and unending spiritual vitality, like a garden that never runs dry.
-
Jeremiah 31:12
They will come and sing in the height of Zion, and will flow to the goodness of Yahweh, to the grain, to the new wine, to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd. Their soul will be as a watered garden. They will not sorrow any more at all.
This occurrence links the state of being watered directly to the end of sorrow, showing how God’s goodness satisfies the soul completely and brings lasting peace.